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

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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Pakkald, Packald, n. Also: pakald, packeald; pakcall, packill, -ile. [Late north. ME. pakald (York Plays) a load, appar. f. Pak n.The nature of the suffix is not clear. But the existence of Pauchald suggests the possibility of some derivation distinct from that of Pakket n. (? possibly with the suffix -hald as in houshald). The existence of pairs like awat and awald, faggot and faggald, scherat and scherald, would doubtless encourage a later identification with pakket.]

1 . A package or bundle (of goods or merchandise). = Pakket n.¹ 1. 1543 Elgin Rec. I. 75.
Quhilk pakcall contenit within it ane plaid of ten ellnis [etc.] 1547 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) (Hope v. Tod & Robertson).
The wranguis … avaytaking … furtht of ane schip … of ane pakkald of claytht 1557–8 Edinb. Old Acc. I. 232.
For not entering of ane pakald 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 52.
[A] servand was apprehendit carying diverse packealdis to that murtherer of her husband 1571 Inverness Rec. I. 210.
That quhar he appointit wyth the said Alexander … for careing of ane pakkald and frauchting of the samyn to Barris fair in Dornocht last … and trocht his remanyng fra the said mercat I sustenit greyt skayth nocht onlye of the mercatt bot out of my packald I want tuay peces of clayth, viz. ane pece of Dondye grais contenand vij elnis [etc.] … and ane sek price xij s. wyth ane pece towe and that trocht the lowsing and oppenyng of my pakkald, quhilk pece towe was bundin about the said pakkald 1572 Digest Justiciary Proc. G. 51.
Four pakkaldis of scheip skinis reft … be … theves 1579, 1617 Despauter (1579).
Fascis, a pakald a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 259.
Item, a packald of stampis signatit of Arrols armes 3 [etc.] 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1891) 389.
How loath are we to forego our packalds and burdens

2. A packet. = Pakket n.¹ 2. 1586 Edinb. Test. XVI. 127.
Fyve litill packald of cantalȝeis of worsat 1647 Ib. LXIII. 56.
xiij packills of preins

3. A packet (of letters). = Pakket n. 3.(1) 1516 Acta Conc. MS. XXVIII. 34.
Ane pakkald [v.r. (? e.m.E.) pacquet; 1516 State P. MS. No. 22 (Reg. H.)] of lettrez with ane obligation [etc.] ? 1608 Crim. Trials II. 321.
In thair letter, direct from Restowne to Scotland, in the pakald be post(2) a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 257.
Wharein he fand a great packald directit partlie from noblemen and partlie from Jesuits in Scotland a1651 Calderwood VII. 222.
Yitt the Holie Ghost was closed in packald of letters sent from the court

4. The public mail, the post. = Pakket n. ¹4. 1608 Conv. Burghs II. 261.
That quhen his maiesteis packald passis and repassis that thai refuis nocht to tak the merchand packett to and fra Edinbrugh and Londoun to be delyuerit saifle 1682 New Mills Manuf. 29.
This account is to be … ready … to come in by the packald that comes in here on Munday night

5. Pakile huk, ? a hook (Huke n.¹ 4, Heuk n. 2) for fastening a mattress-cover: see Pakket n.¹ 5. 1563 Dumfries B. Ct. 223.
Twa coverings of bedds with twa pair of pakile huks