Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1704-1719, 1827-1901
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CABAL, CABBLE, Caball, Cabawl, n. and v. Also †gabal, v., to quarrel, dispute. Cf. Gaval. Sc. usages and forms of Eng. cabal. [kə′bɑl, kɑbl]
I. n.
1. A group of people met together for gossip or drinking. Known to Abd.19, Abd.22 1938.Sc. 1704 Second Book Sc. Pasquils (1828) 66:
Ye're all A druken, rebellious and senseless caball.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shepherd's Calendar I. vi.:
Think what the town would say, if I were to keep cabals o' drinkers in my sober house.
2. A violent dispute (Bnff.2 1938, cabble).Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 318:
What for did the painters cast out among themselves, and whence a' this cabawl?Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 21:
Faht's a' the cabble aboot?
II. v. 1. To quarrel, dispute. Ppl.adj. and vbl.n. cabal(l)ing.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 21:
Ye needna cabble aboot it wee 'im.Ags. 1719 Dundee Kirk Session Records (17 Aug.):
Guilty of breaking the Lords day by cabaling with vagabonds.Arg. 1901 N. Munro Doom Castle iv.:
Some months of caballing with our friends — even our Hielan' friends — in the France, left me with an unwholesome heart that would almost doubt my father in his grave.Ayr. a.1843 J. Stirrat Poems (1869) 87:
For sic a gaballing, ligg-lagging and scauling Has rous'd peacefu' Willy to sue them at law.
2. To find fault; known to Bnff.2 1938. Ppl.adj. cabblin', querulous.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 21:
He's eye cabblin' at the puir bit thing o' a lassie aboot faht she canna help.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 21:
He's a cabblin' bodie.
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"Cabal n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/cabal>
