A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1604-1613
[0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
Skill, Skylle, v. [ME skil (Orm) scil (Cursor M.), skile (Gower), skyll (a1400), earlier skel(ien (a1200), e.m.E. skill (1509), ON skilja to distinguish, discern, understand, or skila to expound, explain.] a. tr. To understand, comprehend. Also intr., const. of. b. To be believed. c. To explain, expound. d. To arrange, order. —a. a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 1058 (Wr.).
For all the proverbs wee perusde Yee thought them skantly skild 1613 Breadalbane Lett. 7 March.
As for the wirginellis I haif naine heir that skill of them except the ȝowng laird —b. c1420 Wynt. ii 615.
It ware noucht to skylle [L. Nec est credendum] That thir dayis ware kepyt tylle The Egyptis in perplexyte —c. c1420 Ratis Raving 175.
Maisteris gud and kindly skill In thare bukis … That thir thingis … Wyll smyt men that are hail & fere —d. c1610 Melville Mem. (1683) Pref.
A man may many times if he skill it aright give his prince good counsel contrary to his inclinations
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Skill v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/skill_v>
