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: 1887
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CHIRNEL, Churnel, n. “A kernel or small hard swelling in the neck of a young person” (Sc. 1887 Jam.6). Pl. churnels, swollen glands (Ib.). Also found in n.Eng. dial., mostly in comb. waxing chirnels (E.D.D.). Cf. Kernel, n., 2. [′tʃɪ̢rnəl, ′tʃʌrnəl]Sc. 1887 Jam.6:
This ailment is also called waxen chirnels, a corr[uption] of waxing (growing) chirnels, because it is common to young people during periods of growth.
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"Chirnel n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/chirnel>
