Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Kittil(l, v. Also: kit(t)le, kyttil, kytle. [Late ME. ketil (Caxton) and north. kytylle (Cathol. Anglic.), also north. ME. kitlynge, kitellynge vbl. n. (a 1340), late OE. kitelung, prob. f. ON. kitla. After the 15th c. chiefly Sc., and in the mod. dial. Sc., and north. and north midl. Eng.]

1. tr. To tickle. 1549 Compl. 66/22.
Thai dancit … Cum kyttil me naykyt vantounly c1575 Balfour Pract. 509.
Gif … the band quhairwith thay ar bund tuich or kittle his [sc. the horse's] sair bak c1610 Melville Mem. 120.
The Quen … culd not refrain from putting hir hand in his nek to kittle him smylingly 1619 Misc. Bann. C. I. 211.
At which words he leugh as if he had bein kittled

2. fig. To titillate, stimulate, stir emotionally. 1513 Doug. v. xiv. 2.
Glaidnes and comfort than … Begouth to kittill Eneas thochtful hart Ib. xii. Prol. 229.
May … that sesson nutrytyve, Quhen new curage kytlys [R. kitillis] all gentill hartis 1622 D. Lindesey Heavenly Chariot 58.
Darest thou attempt to advise me, being kitled with anie deceuiable lust, to abuse this my flesh