Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Bestiale, Bestial, n. Also: besti(e)all, besteall, bestall, bei-, beastiall. [Late ME. bestyall, bestiall, earlier bestaylle, bestaile (c 1300), OF. bestaille, late L. bestiālia.]

1. Domestic animals, esp. cattle and horses.In common use throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. a1400 Leg. S. xxix. 317.
The fend … al his bestiale sleu in hy Ib. xl. 427.
One bestiale The commonnis nere lifit hale c1475 Wall. vi. 683.
We may get meit off bestiall in this land 1497 Prestwick B. Rec. 34.
Wrangwisly he brocht in the bestiale he had in kepin on hir hemp 1519 Panmure Reg. II. 292.
Ane oppin gate and lone to his tenentis … to pas and repasse to thair mure with thair bestial 1531 Bell. Boece I. p. xxiii.
The gret fouth of gers, cornis, and bestiall in our landis 1557 Peebles B. Rec. 243.
That euery freman … salbe fre to vse the gers … with thair bestiale this ȝere a1578 Pitsc. I. 62/1.
The earle … turnit hame againe witht goode prayis of guidis and bestieall 1596 Paisley B. Rec. 180.
To by all beistiall for the slauchtir upon the equal expenssis 1615 Highland P. III. 242.
They slew all the beastiall of the ylle, both kowes and horses and sheepe 1658 Stitchill Baron Ct. 15.
The haill tenants … shall provyde themselves with sufficient herdes for keiping of their bestiall 1695 Corshill Baron Ct. 190.
Six firlotis … of eaten corn be his bestiall

2. Animals in general; wild animals. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1657.
Luke weill in eirth all kynd of bestiall 1513 Doug. xiii. Prol. 59.
Als weill the wild as the taym bestiall 1535 Stewart 6231.
With greit abundance of all bestiall, Of wyld and tame 1622-6 Bisset I. 28/35.
Wyld swyne with uthir savaige and distroying bestiall