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: 1500-1609
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Knell, n. Also: knhell, cnel. [ME. knel (c 1325), earlier cnul, cnyll, OE. cnyll.] Also Saul-knell.
The sound of a bell struck or rung; a stroke or peal of a bell. Also said of a drum.Also fig., To strike a (cruell) knell to a person's heart.(1) c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxxviii. 29.
The knell of mercy fra the hevin is soundit 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I. Pref. xxxvii.
The watch … in Santt Nicholas stepill … quhen he seis ony man … to the toun ridand, gif their be bot ane, [he shall] gif bot a knell with the bell, and gif thair beis tua, tua knellis, and gif thair beis mair … to gif sa mony knellis 1571 Lanark B. Rec. 63.
At the knhell of the bell and squys 1609 Dunf. B. Rec. II. 57.
To be placed in the goiffis on Sonday … fra the first to the thrid knell of the bell(2) 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 2482.
For quhen I hard the noyis into the well, Unto my hart thair straik ane cruell knell 1596 Dalr. I. 148/28.
Quhen Cæsar … hard of the gret afflictione of the Romane nauie … it straik sik a cnel to his harte, that he [left Britain]
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"Knell n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/knell_n>
