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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

STAINCHEL, n., v. Also stenchel, -chill, -shel, -tial; stensel; stanchel(l), staunchel, stantial, standshill. [′stenʃəl]

I. n. An iron bar, gen. as part of a grating for a gate, window, etc. (Lth., Slk. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1905 E.D.D.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 268; Ayr., sm. and s.Sc. 1971); a bar for making fast a door or gate (wm., sm.Sc. 1971). Also attrib.Sc. 1727 Six Saints (Fleming 1901) I. 343:
Hanging some of them at the stenchels of windows.Ork. 1747 P. Ork. A.S. (193–4) XII. 48:
An Iron Stensel of one of the Store-house windows.Edb. 1781 Session Papers, Petition J. Johnston (19 Jan.) Proof 7:
You will seldom find one bar in fifty of stential iron that is not twisted or thrawn.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xvii.:
At the airn stanchells five doors abune Gossford's close.Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) 87:
Getting into their claws, or ahint their stanchel windows.Fif. 1887 S. Tytler Logie Town II. viii.:
The thrashing-mill — and the very “stainchels” or shafts to raise the stacks.Kcb. 1897 T. Murray Frae the Heather 64:
I'd gang to thy burial proudly, Lay an awesome big slab on thy head, Wi' airn stenchels screw it down stoutly.

II. v. To fit a window with iron bars.Sc. 1709 Compend of Securities 276:
To have no Lights or Windows at all on such Sides of his House, or to have them stenshelled, tirlised, or latticed.Edb. 1737 Proposal for Retrieving the Sinking State of Edb. 12:
Stencheling and tirlissing windows upon their own proper charges.Sc. 1773 Weekly Mag. (10 June) 350:
To stanchel or need-nail their windows.Dmf. 1805 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 701:
The theme o' whilk is Satan's titty Airn stanchel'd like a thief in you.Clc. 1882 J. Walker Poems 91:
Through twa wee stanchell'd winnocks.