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: 1959
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KEILER, n. Sc. form of Eng. coiler. See P.L.D. §46; specif. “one who coils ropes in the bottom of a boat, hence used as a derogatory term for a useless or insignificant person” (e.Rs. 1916; Cai.7, Bnff.2 1941). [′kəilər]Cai. 1959:
A young member of a fishing boat crew was hired as cook and keiler. At the hauling of the net the keiler coiled the bush-rope tidily into the hold.
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"Keiler n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/keiler>
