Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PAIRCEL, n., v. Also pairsel (Abd. 1931 A. M. Williams Bundle of Yarns 22); pearsle (Uls. 1920 J. Logan Uls. in X-Rays 80); percel (Uls. 1879 W. Lyttle Paddy McQuillan 23; Kcb. 1901 R. Trotter Gatt. Gossip 98); parshel (Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 127). Sc. forms and usage of Eng. parcel. See P.L.D. § 51 (2). A small company or collection (of persons or animals); a group, set, herd, flock (Sh., Ayr., Uls. 1965). Now obs. in Eng. exc. dial.Sc. 1705 Analecta Scot. (Maidment 1837) II. 25:
There came a parcel of English officers, I think, down towards the borders to uplift recruits; it seems they found difficulty to get men.Sc. 1739 Earls Crm. (Fraser 1876) II. 286:
He has taken four or five parcells of cattle out of my own country within this year and an half.Per. 1757 Edb. Ev. Courant (10 Nov.):
Stoln from Fountainhall near Crieff a parcel of Sheep.Slk. 1810 Hogg Tales (1874) 238:
Thus was I . . . sent to herd one of the parcels of sheep.Kcb. 1898 Crockett Standard Bearer xxi.:
Ye will be none the worse of the parcel o' braw lads ye saw at the barn-end.Peb. 1929 T. W. Paterson Sc. Readings II. 85:
I got sittin' doon wi' a' ma paircels.