Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1876-1927
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PAIRLS, n. Also per(i)ls; parl-. Usu. with def. art.: paralysis, palsy; a paralytic tremor or weakness (Bwk., Rxb. 1825 Jam., per(i)ls; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Slk. 1965). Freq. in ppl.adj. pairl't, per(e)l't, -d, parl'd, affected with paralysis or a paralytic tremor (Rxb. 1825 Jam., perelt, 1923 Watson W.-B.; Slk. 1965). Also fig. as in 1885 quot.Rxb. 1876 W. Brockie Leaderside Legends 26:
Its mou was twistit roun neist day, as if it had been perilt.Hdg. 1885 S. Mucklebackit Rural Rhymes 56:
Sair she dreads her parl'd brain This yarn will mak' a mess o't.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 17:
Ther chafts war ditherin an bevverrin leike as thay war pairlt.
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"Pairls n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pairls>
