Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1914-1956
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KEGEL, v., n. Also kegl(e), kyeggle. [kegl, kjɛgl]
I. v. To tangle or twist, e.g. by careless spinning, plaiting, or twining (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1959), to sprain (Sh. 1959). Also fig. in ppl.adj. kegglit, scatter-brained, full of tomfoolery.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
Da lamb is kegled her tedder.Sh. 1956 New Shetlander No. 43. 21:
It is not to be saying what a young fellow full of maddr'm and life, and a filskit, gegglit, kegglit ting o' lass will be up to when they meet.
II. n. A shapeless lump (Ork. 1929 Marw.); a rough, unwieldy person or animal (Ork. 1930). Adj. kyegglie, shapeless, lumpy (Id.).
[Norw. dial. kjegla, to wind rope by means of a windlass, to twist or wind slowly, Faer. kegla, to wind yarn badly. The noun meaning derives from the v.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Kegel v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/kegel>
