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.
Quotation dates: 1706-1721, 1816, 1879-1962
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TEEL, v., n. Also †teill(e). Sc. forms of Eng. till, to cultivate (ground). [til]
I. v. As in Eng. (Sh. 1972). Specif. to plough. Used jocularly in 1962 quot.Abd. 1706 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. VII. 17:
Teilleing and harrowing the small riggs and cutt.Edb. 1715 Burgh Rec. Edb. (1967) 292:
Whosover ryves out and teels by their oun march stone without consent of their neighbour.Ork. 1721 H. Marwick Merchant Lairds (1939) II. 19:
Twelve horses for teilling, two for harrowing, and six for leading muck.Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 85:
His driver wish'd him wi' the deil, Because at plough he cou'dna teel.Knr. 1891 H. Haliburton Ochil Idylls 45:
We did oor pairt; we teel'd the laund.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae French 87:
The treasure lay in teelin' weel the grun'.Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 60. 16:
Whin head first I just teeled da grund Richt clap-dad at her feet.
II. n. In phr. out o' teel, out of cultivation (Sh. 1972), uncultivated, desolate.Sc. 1879 P. H. Waddell Isaiah xlix. 8:
Till stoop the lan' weel, an' the takks out o' teel till tak-up.
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"Teel v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/teel>
