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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Feal(e, Feall, n. Also: feiall, feyall. [?OF. feal adj., in sense 2 influenced by Fe n.² 6. See also Fial(l.]

1. a. Fealty, allegiance. 1420 Antiq. Aberd. & B. IV. 181.
The forsaid Earll of Mar is becum man of speciale feale and reteneu till the forsaid Dvck of Albaney 1468 Ib. 405.
George lorde Gordoun to quhome I ame mane of feale and speciale retenu

b. Feudal tenure. 1463 Acts XII. 28/2.
That ȝe will dedenȝe to assigne to me the said half landis, … as in feall on to ȝoure age of xxj ȝeris 1478 Acta Conc. 10/2.
The personis that has the landis of the Levenax in feale of the lord Glammys

c. A feudal tenant. 1558-66 Knox I. 123.
The Cardinalis baner was that day displayed, and all his feeallis war charged to be under it c1575 Balfour Pract. 127.
All tenentis … haldand landis of ane baron. sould swear … that thay sall be leill feallis to him

2. A payment assigned to a person; an allowance, salary, or fee.(a) 1473 Exch. R. VIII. 153 n.
Landis of Kyrkhill … liand within oure shirefdome of Linlithqw, in lyfe rent for all the dais of his lyfe in feale and horse met 1477 Lennox Mun. 115.
The … paying to him of his feis, fealis, and dewiteiz 1508 Reg. Privy S. I. 270/2.
A lettre made to James Dowglas, of xl lib. of feale … to be payt to him ȝerely 1545 Stirlings of Keir 390.
Grant me thre hundreith crownis of the sone to pay seruandis fealis 1560 Treas. Acc. XI. 22.
To Schir Williame Makdowale maister werk, for his feale(b) 1499 Exch. R. XI. 435.
Andro bischop of Murray … deschargeit all feall gevin to ony persoun be the said Ferquhar 1522 Fife Sheriff Ct. 255.
The said Johne Kellock wes noucht the lardis … kynnisman nore ȝhit he tuke na feall of him 1550 Treas. Acc. IX. 449.
To Florence Cornetoun … for ane ȝeirlie feall of xl li. granttit to him … for his service 1584 Argyll Fam. Lett. 65.
I leif my haill servandis to be payit of thair feallies and rewairdis honestlie 1605 Stirling B. Rec. II. 114.
To pay yeirlie to Moses Fergusoun, in feall, for uptaking of the psalmes within the kirk … fourtie pundis yeirlie 1635 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 38.
The watter bailyea sall have of yeirly feall ten pundis moneyattrib. 1581 Acts III. 236/1.
The saidis abbot and convent ar nocht able to pay the feall thride of the said abbay according to the first assumptioun(c) 1599 Reg. Privy S. MS. LXXI. 16.
To … mak payment to the said Harie of sic ȝeirlie feyall and leveray as is knawin to appertene to the said office 1604 Crown Chart. MS. (Reg. H.).
Alexander Erle of Linlithgow … grantis and dispones to the said Robert in feyall and pensioune ȝeirlie … The sowme of fourty povndis 1656–7 Glasgow B. Rec. II. 536.
To Mr. Iohne Stewart, ane vther of the doctouris of the said schole. for his feiall

3. One who is paid for service; an employee or servant. 1518 Perth Hammermen 1.
Quhat maister or brether of craft ressetts or fies ane uthir mannis servand, ethir prenteis or feall, and giffis him ony wark [etc.] 1528–9 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. 360.
Collectouris to all the tounis feallis singaris, baith prestis and clerkis 1546 Acts II. 474/1.
Parsonis quham in he confidit maist traistlie, his fealis, seruandis and houshald men 1561 Inverness B. Rec. I. 59.
Desyrand the sade Thomas to deliver my horse to me … , he beand my feall 1598 Reg. Privy C. V. 456.
The said complainer's ‘feallis, dependeris, and pairttakeris’