Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1712-1744, 1820-1827
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†PROPALE, v. Also propail, propall.
I. tr. To make public, divulge, publicise, announce (Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 73).Sc. 1712 Vindication Bishop Edb. 14:
He forc'd the Gentlemen to propale their Matters, by exposing their Books.Sc. 1726 Letter from a Gentleman in Glasgow (1 June) (Broadsheet):
Do not frighten the goodfolk in Glasgow by propailing this.Wgt. 1744 Session Bk. Penninghame (1933) II. 422:
The Presbytery appointed the said process to be propall'd from the pulpit of Penninghame.Sc. 1820 Scott Abbot iv.:
Anxious to propale their misdemeanour.
2. intr. To make an outcry, to exclaim, raise a noise or fuss.Sc. 1827 Scott Croftangry iv.:
To do them justice, they didna propale sae muckle about them as poor Mr. Treddles did.
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"Propale v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/propale>
