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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Vigil(l, n. Also: -ile, -ell, wigil, -el. Pl. vigilies. [ME and e.m.E. uigil(e (Ancr. R.), vigilies pl. (Piers Plowman), vigilie (Wyclif), vygyle (1417), vigille (1432-50), wygellus pl. (c1484), F. vigile, L. vigilia.]

1. The eve of a feast day, holy day or other anniversary kept as a time of religious observance. b. The eve of a feast day, etc. used as a date for regulating other events.(a) 1375 Barb. xi 389.
For the vigil [C. vigill] off Sanct Jhane Thai fastyt 1469 Acts II 97/1.
For samekle as the Setterday and vthir vigillis ar nocht of law biddin haly day bot fra evin sang to evin sang that therfor … craftis men … sall wirk on the Settirday and vthir festuale evinnis quhil foure houris eftir none c1520-c1535 Nisbet John xix 42.
Thare thai put Jesu, for the vigile [P. vigilie] of the Jewis feest 1526 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 154.
We sall sing … ȝeirlie one the day of the deces of the said Johne ane obit for him and the said Jonat his spouis that is to say placebo and dirige one the vigill of his deces with ane soung mes one the said day 1526 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. I 155.
The hand bell of the said tovnn to pas ȝeirlie in the vigill of the said obit throu the tovnn to prouok the … kyne and frendis to cum(b) 1573-1600 King Cat. in Cath. Tr. 210/18.
Obserue the fastes commandit … in Lent … and in the euinnes of vigilies of certane solemne daiesb. 1460 Ayr B. Ct. 12 July.
On the wigil of Sant Jhon the Babtist 1536 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 140.
Jugis … sall … finaly … decern heyr intill betuix that and the vigell of Sanct Androis nixt thair efter

2. One of the (four) periods into which the Romans divided the night; a watch of the night. b. The action or duty of watching or standing guard for such a period. Only in Bell. 1531 Bell. Boece I 23.
That Fergus, … at the first vigill [L. prima noctis vigilia], sall set on the wache of Britonis 1531 Bell. Boece I 259.
The Romanis … at the thrid vigill [L. tertia vigilia] maid thaim reddy to battall 1533 Bell. Livy II 65/35.
As the fourte vigill he rasit his baner 1533 Bell. Livy II 190/17.
Posthumeus … bad thame refresch thare bodyis with mete & slepe, that thai may be reddy at the fourt vigillb. 1533 Bell. Livy I 284/5.
The Romanis … be wilfull eruptiouns fra thare statiouns and vigilis [B. wigelis; L. ex stationibus ac vigiliis] effrayit the Equis