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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TANNEL, n. Also taanle, tan(n)le, tanal (Ayr. 1834 Galt Liter. Life II. 215), taunle, -el, tawnel, -le; ta(n)ndle; tendal, -le (Gall. 1870); tennel, -le (Sc. 1887 Jam.). [′tǫ:nəl] A bonfire, lit to burn garden- or other rubbish or to celebrate some popular event (Rnf. 1825 Jam.; Gall. 1870; Rnf., Ayr. 1972), specif. one kindled on certain festival days, as on May-day, Midsummer Eve or Halloween; also dried twigs or other vegetation used for fuel, firewood (Sc. 1887 Jam., tendle, tennel, -le).Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 62:
Thae flirds o' silk . . . Had I our doghter's at a candle, They'd mak' a been an' rowsan tandle.Ayr. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ VII. 622:
An ancient practise still continues in this parish and neighbourhood of kindling a large fire, or tawnle as it is usually termed, of wood, upon some eminence, and making merry around it, upon the eve of the Wednesday of Marymass fair in Irvine.Lnk. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.:
The custom of kindling large fires or Taanles, at Midsummer, was formerly common in Scotland, and to this day is continued all along the strath of Clyde.Rnf. 1825 Gaberlunzie 14:
Every piece of wood on which we could get our hands fell a sacrifice to our tannels.Dmb. 1844 W. Cross Disruption xxxiv.:
The news of his douncum was noe shooner known than tawnels were burning in every dyrechshon.Ayr. 1845 Stat. Acc.² V. 223:
The custom of the “baal-fire” or “Tannel” is still observed on the last of July, St. Margaret's Day. For some weeks previous, the boys perambulate the parish with large horns, soliciting contributions for the purchase of coals for the bonfire. Formerly, it was customary to have a piper, and dance a reel round the tannel, but this has fallen into desuetude.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 7:
They danced aboot the tawnle as it bleezed in the yaird.