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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

SKYLE, v., n. Also sky(i)l, skile, skeil, skäil, skeel; skøl. [I.Sc. skail; Cai. skil]

I. v. 1. To shelter, to screen, esp. in phr. to skyle the lum, to place a board or a piece of turf or stone against the windward side of the roof-opening or chimney during stormy weather to prevent a blow-back of smoke (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh., Ork. 1970). Comb. skyle-a-lum, a piece of wood used for this purpose (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 247:
She could staand at da briest o' wir hoose an' skyle wir lum.Ork. 1911 J. Omond 80 Years Ago 8:
A board used for skylin was shifted to the wind side by a long pole fastened to it . . . No matter how well the lum is skyled, clouds of smoke circle everywhere.Cai. 1916 John o' Groat Jnl. (31 March):
This lum was “skeeled” with a flagstone when the wind was too strong. “Skeeling” the lum was no fun on a winter's night.

2. In gen.: to deflect the wind or the rain by placing an obstructing screen in its path (Cai. 1931, skeel; Ork. 1970).Ork. 1911 Old-Lore Misc. IV. iv. 180:
Should the wind blow not directly in, but slantingly towards the side of the barn, a door was lifted off the hinges and set up on the outside of the barn door to intercept the wind and give it an inward trend. This was termed skyling the wind [in winnowing corn].

3. To shade one's eyes with the hand, to peep, to peer (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), skøl).Sh. 1897 Shetland News (21 Aug.):
Skyilin' wi me haand atween me an' da sun.Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 68, 215:
Ye can skyle at him while pirtending ta be spaekin ta me.

II. n. The piece of wood or turf used as a screen on the windward side of a chimney or roof-opening to prevent smoke from blowing down (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 201, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1970).Sh. 1874 Trans. Highl. Soc. 202:
Holes in the roof, protected by a skyle, which is moved by a pole from the inside when the wind shifts, are more common, as yet, than chimneys.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (25 Nov.):
Da wind is geen sudderly i' da face o' da skyle.