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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Sil(e, Cile, v.² Also: syl(e, syll, seil(l, siel. [Late ME and e.m.E. ceel (Prompt. Parv.), sele (1428), syle (1535), siel (1598), OF celé ceiling of carved wood (Wartburg) (? p.p. of *celer to ceil), med. L. selo (1373 in Latham) to ceil or panel (celum ceiling, canopy, panelling, carving), L. cælāre to carve in bas relief, engrave, f. cælum a chisel, burin.]

1. To line the interior roof or walls of a building or apartment. b. specif. To overlay (with gold).(a) c1450-2 Howlat 671 (A).
A palace of pryce … Pantit and apparalit proudly in pane, Sylit semely with silk(b) a1578 Pitsc. I 336/16.
This palice withtin was weill syllit and hung witht fyne tapistrie 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 44.
To Alexander Tinkler wrycht for hinging sum dores syll the chambers and bred the windowes 1620 Mylne Master Masons 110.
Quhilk kirk … salbe thackit with sklaitt, timberit, rigined with riggane stanes, syllit with fir, flourit with daillis [etc.](c) 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 298.
To cile [ed. tile] the Kingis oratour in the Margret schip xxxv elnis Kendillye 1686 Banff Ann. I 163.
Sir George Gordon … is to cile and pent the upper inner room of the tolbuith at his costb. 1679 J. Barclay Descr. Cath. Ch. 19.
The rooms were stately that I did behold, All pav'd with marble, and all siel'd with gold

c. To provide with a ceiling. Also const. abone, aboue. 1547–8 Stirling B. Rec. I 52.
The said duelling hous … new thekit with thak, weill tymmerit and kaberit, and sylit abone 1649 Cramond Ch. Rathven 19.
A timber stair ascending thereto syled aboue from the midle wal 1699 Thanes of Cawdor 393.
They are lykwise to build two kirnalls or rounds seilled over the wall that the gun holl may clenge the futt therof two wayes

2. To cover or enclose. Also const. abone. (Cf. sense 1 c above.) b. specif. To provide (a bed) with a tester (? and (or) sides). 1533 Bell. Livy II 248 (BM).
Tway preistis to be careit in ane cheriot to be sylit [STS maid; L. arcuato] in maner of ane pend abone thare heid 1542 Acts & Decr. I 140b.
Ane meit almery in the hall for conserving of napry silit aboneb. 1542 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 574.
Ane gret standand bed off aik sylit and hung about with iii cortanis 1542 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 574.
Ane aiken bed, sylit with aik, with ane cortane 1586 St. A. Test. 64b.
Four standand beddis ane of aik silit with fyr(b) 1542 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 575.
Twa fyrr beddis, ane thairof syllit