A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1468-1679
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Smiddy-cole, n. Also: smiddye-, smid(d)ie-, smyddy(e)-, -ie-, smydy-, -ie-, smed(d)y-, -ie-, smethy-, smithie-, smythie- and -co(i)l(l, -coyll, -coa(e)l(l)(e, -koll. [Smiddy n. and Cole n.1] Coal of a small, smokeless type, suitable for burning in a forge. Freq. pl. Also attrib.For many further examples see Treas. Acc. indexes.(a) 1506 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 203.
Smyddy cole 1507 Treasurer's Accounts IV 72.
ix cheldir smyddy cole to laid the King of Denmarkis schip … ilk cheldir xvj s. 1513–14 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 238.
Lie smydde coll [sent for the bridge-work] 1515 Treasurer's Accounts V 39.
Smydde coill 1546 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 454.
Ane chalder of smydde colis 1547 Treasurer's Accounts IX 107.
Smydde cole to the castell of Edinburght 1547 Treasurer's Accounts IX 109.
Ane boy send agane to Kynneill for smyddy cole 1565 Reg. Privy C. I 403.
Smiddy coill 1568 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 35.
Smiddy coalles 1571 Treasurer's Accounts XII 287.
Smiddie coillis for making of the said irnewark 1575–6 Treasurer's Accounts XIII 98.
For certane smyddie coillis to Johnne Bickartoun, smyth 1587 Dundee B. Laws 477.
Smiddy collis 1600–2 Montrose Treas. Acc.
Thrie firlottis smiddye coalis to the mill vark 1616 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 54.
Smyddie coale(b) 1535–8 Aberd. B. Rec. MS XV (Jam.).
Smydy coyll 1615 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 365.
Smydie coaelles 1679 Torry Coal & Salt Wks. 3b.
Smidie coalles hewing at Blaires(c) 1512 Treasurer's Accounts IV 462.
Item, for xj chalder of smedy colis, deliverit to the said skipper Andreis … to haf in Denmark 1585 Acts III 426/2.
The transporting of … grite coillis vndir cullour of smedy coill 1591 Edinburgh Testaments XXIII 50b.
Nyne bollis of smedie coill sauld for iij li. iiij s. vj d. 1615 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 357.
For iii laid of smedie coaellis(d) 1511 Treasurer's Accounts IV 278.
For chercoill, smeddy coill, and glassinwerk mad in the Castele, as his buk beris, vij li. xvj s. 1616 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 18.
For xxxii boillis of smeddie coillis to the castell at xii s. the boill(e) 1468–9 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 24.
Off ilk chalder smethy coillis viij d.(f) 1570 (16 … ) Dundee B. Laws 115.
That no smyth tapt smythie coalles nor buy na mor nor may serve his labor 1588–9 Burntisland B. Ct. 21 Feb. 1609 (16 … ) Dundee B. Laws 137.
That all the inhabitantis … sall be … furnesched with the saids smythie coalles at the loosing thairof [at the port] 1614 (16 … ) Dundee B. Laws 138.
No gild brother shall use any other … meassre in receawing or delywering of thaire salt smythie coalles or wther … nor that whilk aggrieth with the stamp of Lithgow 1650 Arbroath Old Doc. 6/2.
Smithie coallattrib. 1601–2 Montrose Treas. Acc. 8b.
For ane barrell to be ane smyddie koll met x s. 1678–9 Arbroath Old Doc. 13/1.
For girding of the smithie coall mett … 6 s.
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"Smiddy-cole n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/smiddy_cole>
