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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SEIL, n., adj. Also seile, sele, seel, seal, seyle. [sil]

I. n. Happiness, bliss, prosperity, good fortune (n.Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis; Abd. 1825 Jam.), freq. in phrs. sele and weal, seil fa, seil (up)o, as excls. wishing good luck to (someone) (Ib.). Now only liter. Ill seel, bad luck!, rare and prob. erroneous.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 120:
God send us all to do well, and then have hap to meet with Seil.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shep. MS. 120:
Seel fa me, Sir, for that seems now your due Gin I think I my ain twa eyn can trow.Abd. 1787 J. Skinner Amusements (1809) 24:
Sae proud's I am, that ye hae heard O' my attempt to be a Bard, And think my muse nae that ill-fawrd, Seil o' your face!Sc. 1819 Scots Mag. (June) 527:
I hecht me days o' seel and weal, Whan I was auld an' grey.Sc. 1828 Thomas o Yonderdale in Child Ballads No. 253. v.:
O seal on you, my bonny babe, And lang may ye my comfort be!Sc. 1832 A. Henderson Proverbs 57:
Seyle ne'er comes till sorrow be awa.Bnff. 1847 A. Cumming Tales 40:
Adding — “Ill seel o' the pows o' you”.Abd. 1882 W. Alexander My Ain Folk xv.:
Seil upo' them they're a winsome pair.Sc. 1925 H. McDiarmid Sangschaw 26:
Seil o' yer face! the send has come.

Hence 1. seilfu, seelfu, blessed, happy, lucky, bringing good fortune, propitious; pleasant; seelfuness, blessedness, happiness, sweet nature. Now only poet.; 2. seelie, seely, seily, sealy, lucky, happy, blessed. Obs. exc. in combs. seely court, the fairy court, where seely is used euphem.; ‡seelie-hoo, sely-how, sillie-, -y-, a caul on the head of a new-born child, thought to be very lucky (ne.Sc. 1960). See also Ceeliehoo, Hoo, n.², 2.; seelie wicht, a fairy.1. Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 118:
As wysse an' fu' of seelfu'ness an' saught.Abd. 1778 Ib. 12:
Then the first hippen to the green was flung' And thereat seelful words baith said an' sung.Lnk. 1844 J. Lemon St. Mungo 48:
Min' thae seelfu' days, As gif they'd been yestreen.wm.Sc. 1868 Laird of Logan 482:
[Our rede] airts to the seilfu' beild in heaven.Sc. 1925 H. McDiarmid Sangschaw 26:
A fleggit bride's the seilfu' sicht.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Scots 56:
Saut, or seelfu', for the mouth.2. Sc. 1783 Allison Gross in Child Ballads No. 35. xii.:
But as it fell out on last Hallow-even, When the seely court was ridin by.Sc. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads I. 236:
The Fairies, or Peaceable People, whom the Lowlanders call Seely Wights.Sc. 1819 Scots Mag. (June) 527:
An' dinnae curse the Seelie Court, — Bid Him them save and sain.Sc. 1826 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 264:
But gin ye can be seelie wicht, I'll be your freend baith day and nicht.ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 25:
The child that was born with a caul was said to be successful in life. The caul, or “silly hoo,” was much prized.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 33:
When a child was born with a “seelie-hoo”, the verdict was that such a child would nedder droon nor wint.Abd. 1925 Grieg and Keith Last Leaves 265:
I've brewen a browst, but it's nae sealy drink.

¶II. adj. Blessed, happy.Sc. 1928 T. T. Alexander Psalms 19:
Pray that Jerusalem may be Fu' lown, and aye be seil.