A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1375-1513, 1569-1586
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Holl, adj. Also: hol, hole; houle. [ME. holl, hol, holle, hole, OE. hol (pl. hole), ON. hol-r. Cf. How adj.]
1. Lying in, or forming, a hollow; deep, sunken. 1375 Barb. vi. 78.
He saw … The wattir holl throu slike rynand 1375 Ib. viii. 176.
Sa holl and hye the dykis ware a1400 Legends of the Saints xviii. 191.
In-to that vyld & hole foreste He passyt ay furth 1456 Hay II. 7/11.
He was worthin rycht lene, … with hevy chere and holl eyne 1466 (1471) Reg. Great S. 214/2.
In the said burn anent the holl gate that cummys fra Downycane a1570-86 (Henr.) Maitland Folio MS lvii. 12.
His ene wes houle c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 164 (M).
Full hiddowus holl and holkit is thyn ee 1513 Doug. vi. ix. 98.
Tartarus … Dippis twys als holl down … As that our sight may vp to hevynnys streke 1513 Ib. vii. xiii. 51.
The chil ryver … Amyd holl valeis
2. lnternally hollow. a1400 Legends of the Saints xxiii. 102.
Thai … rest has tane In a hol cowe c1420 Wynt. iii. 926.
He made … a bull of bras, Large and hole [C. hol] wyth-in it was c1420 Ib. v. 3113.
That awtere That wytht four nwkys holl wes mad 1498 Treasurer's Accounts I. 389.
Giffin to Wille wricht to mak … holl barrowis 1513 Doug. ii. viii. 84.
The holl howsis … resoundit For womentyng 1513 Ib. iv. i. 52.
Amang pail gastis of hellis holl cavern
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"Holl adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/holl_adj>
