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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.

PALE, n., v. Also peal, pail (Sc. 1818 Sawers Dict.), pele (Sc. 1825 Jam.). [pel]

I. n. 1. An implement like a small shovel or scoop, used for taking samples of food, esp. of cheese (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Lnk., Gall. 1965), “of cheese, ham, butter, etc.” (Sc. 1832 A. Henderson Proverbs Gl.); the sample so taken.Lnk. 1816 G. Muir Minstrelsy 46:
If this hauds true Ise gi'e a cheese O' twa stane weight, the very wale, To try it ye may bring a pale.Dmf. 1958 Dmf. & Gall. Standard (9 Aug.):
Single stilton cheese, Cheddar make, not more than 13 lbs., two pales allowed.

2. A plug or peg used to control the flow of liquid in a pipe or faucet, a spigot, e.g. of a cask (w.Sc. 1741 A. M'Donald Galick Vocab. 90); comb. cock and pail, spigot and faucet (Ork. 1965). See also Cock, n.¹Sc. 1726 Rules for propagating . . . Lint and Hemp 22:
Let go that Water by the means of a Spigget and Fosset, or Cock and Pail.Sc. 1737 J. Dunbar Industrious Country-Man 8:
The Water may be conveyed in with a Trough into the Pipe-stand or Fleck-stand. . . . a Peal in the lower End of the Pipe-Stand, to let the warm Water run off by Degrees.Sc. 1743 R. Maxwell Select Trans. 288:
You may have a Barrell above the Pipe-stand at a Side, so as a Peal may run in cool Water.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 68:
Just whan the tapster the first chapin drew; Then bad her lick the pail, and aff I flew.Ayr. 1821 Galt Ayr. Legatees vii.:
A tree of yill . . . for their draw and drink, with a cock and pail.Sc. a.1828 Fair Annie in Child Ballads No. 62 J. xlv.:
The pale's out o my wine-puncheon, And lang it winna rest.

II. v. 1. To pierce with a pale, to remove a sample (of cheese, etc.) using a pale or scoop (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Kcb. 1965).Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 46:
Demure he looks. — The Cheese he pales, — He prives it good, — Ca's for the Scales.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch vii.:
A famous Dunlop cheese, at fivepence-halfpenny the pound — I blief [sic] I paled fifteen, in Joseph Gowdy's shop, before I fixed on it.

2. To puncture or tap for dropsy (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.).