dial. Forms: 1 ʓilte, 5 yelte, 7 yealte, (8 ilt, 8–9 elt, 9 hilt), 6– yelt. [late OE. ʓilte, *ʓielte = MLG. gelte spayed sow :— *galtjōn-: see GALT, GILT sb.2] A young sow.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 119/25. Suilla, uel sucula, ʓilte.
14[?]. Voc., ibid., 614/30. Suillus, i. parva sus, a yelte.
1562. Withals, Dict., 17 b/1. A yelt or yonge sow, sucula.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 661. We call a young swine a Pigge, A weaning Pigge, a sheate, a Yealke [read Yealte], and so foorth.
1746. Exmoor Courtship (E.D.S.), 409. Es must ha’ wone that es can trest … to zar tha Ilt and tha Barra.
1790. Grose, Prov. Gloss., s.v. Elt, Elt, or ilt, is also a spayed sow. Exm.
1903. E. Angl. Daily Times, 24 Aug., 3/7. Some grand young Boars and Yelts for sale at moderate prices.
