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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

SCOUL, v., n. Also scoull, scool, skool, skaul, skoul. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. scowl (Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.- T. Misc. (1876) I. 61; Edb. 1788 J. Macaulay Poems 146, Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 4, skool; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 244, Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 130, Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 91; Mry. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 33; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Abd. 1969). [skul]

Sc. usages:

I. v. 1. As in Eng. Adj. scooly, (1) of the brow: scowling, frowning (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); (2) transf. of a hat: overshading the face, with the brim turned down in front (Ib.). Cf. II.

2. Transf. (1) of an animal's horns: to turn downwards over the forehead. Hence comb. scoul(ie)-horned, of a cow: having the horns pointed downward (Ayr. 1910, scoulie-, Ayr. 1969).Sc. 1699 Edb. Gazette (6 July, 2 Nov.):
A black Brown old Milk cow, brown Backed, Scoul horn'd. . . . Her left horn Scouls a little.

(2) of a roof-window: to project.Ayr. 1734 Ayr Presb. Reg. MS. (3 July):
Taking down the ffour scouling Windows on the South side and turning them into skielights (allowing the old glass to serve).

3. tr. To draw down (the brow), to knit (the brow) in displeasure.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 185:
Take their wark or at them skaul the brow When e'er they sloth'd their task and let them ken.

II. n. An old hat or bonnet (Rnf. 1837 Crawfurd MSS. X. 199). Cf. I. 1. (2).