Sc. and north. dial. Also 6–7 whittell, 9 Sc. whuttle. Reduced form of WHITLOW. Also † whittle-flaw = whitflaw (see WHITLOW); whittle-grass, melilot (cf. whitlow-grass).
1596. J. Melvill, Autob. & Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 366. We feill mair a whittell in our fingar nor the helthe of the haill body.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, II. 66. Sea-water … relieves whittle-flaws before they exulcerate.
1774. Maclaurin, Argts. & Decis., 94. A distemper incident to the thumb, vulgarly called the whittle.
1825. Jamieson, Whuttle-grass.
