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

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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Recul(e, v. Also: -cuil, -cool, -cueil. [ME and e.m.E. recoil (Ancr. R.), -cul(e, -culle (c1380), e.m.E. -cuyll, -cuyel(le (1470–85), -cuil(e, -coyle (16th c.), OF reculer (12th c.), med. L. recul(l)are (14th, 15th c.).]

1. tr. To drive back. 1494 Loutfut MS 29a.
He … wes a gret man & mychti & recueillit al folkis & put thaim furth

2. intr. a. To draw or start back (bakwart, abak); to go back again; to recoil. b. To retreat or retire before an enemy.a. 1513 Doug. ix xiii 38.
And he [sc. a lion] … Seand the scharp poyntis, recullys bakwart 1565 Knox VI 423.
That we recule not back in the beginning of this battel c1590 J. Stewart 68/133.
At that suddan clak Thair bodies bold no thing recuild abak 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 151.
We did not advance nor recule for want of wind 1595 Anderson Winter Night 11.
As with the virgines which … lacked oyl: They got not in, but caus'd recule [: also, fool], And barred out that dayb. 1533 Bell. Livy II 91/4.
Posthvmeus, evil hurt in the hede … , recvlit of the feild 1558-66 Knox II 11.
Fy, … that we sall recule for Frenche schybaldis 1375 Barb. (1571) xiii 217.
That thay reculit [H. recooled] ane lytill we 16.. Herries Mem. 103.
They were forct to recule in disorder

c. To draw back from (fro) an agreement. 1639 Fugitive Poetry II xv 2/3.
God's covenant thus, quyt recooling fro