Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: <1700, 1700, 1793-1824, 1885
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ATTEAL, ATTEILLE, ATEILL, ATTILEDUCK, AWTEAL, n. The name of a water-fowl, wintering in Ork. and Sh., and variously described as a variety of the teal, the pochard, and the widgeon. The name occurs in Gall. as awtcal.Sc. 1692 Account Bk. Sir J. Foulis (S.H.S. 1894) 145:
For 2 wilducks and 2 ateills . . . £1.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Atteile, atteal. This species of duck seems to be the wigeon, being distinguished from the teal.Sh. (Dunrossness) 1793 Stat. Acc.1 VII. 394:
There is a large species called the stock-duck, and smaller species called teales and attiles.Ork. 1806 P. Neill Tour through . . . Ork. and Sh. 196–197:
Dr Barry seems to think, that the "atteal is only a variety" of the teal; but according to the description I received, it must be the pochard, or poker.Ork. 1813 G. Low Fauna Orcad. 145:
I have seen another bird of the teal-kind here called Atteal. It is found in our lochs in great numbers in winter; is very small, brown or dusky above, and a yellowish belly; but I have not been able to procure specimens of it, so as to distinguish it properly.Ork. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 160:
Atteal, attile-duck. The Pochard.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 35:
Awteals — A small kind of teal, little larger than snipes.
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"Atteal n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/atteal>
