Obs. exc. Sc. and dial. Forms: α. 3, 5 strencle, 4, 6 Sc. strenkil, 4–5 -kyll(e, 5 strenkel, -kill(e, strengkyll, 4, 9 strenkle, Sc. strenkell; β. 4, 6–9 Sc. strinkle, (6 Sc. strynkle, strinkill, 7 strinckle, 9 Sc. strinkel). [Possibly an altered form of SPRINKLE v. (which, however, is later in our quots.), due to association with strew.]
1. trans. To sprinkle (a person or thing with holy water) (obs. exc. arch.); to sprinkle or strew (a surface with something); also with over. Also fig.
α. a. 1300. [see STRINKLE sb., STRINKLING vbl. sb. 1].
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter l. 8. Ysope is a medicynall erbe,… whorwiþ who so is strenkild in penaunce, it purges him.
a. 1400–50. Wars Alex., 3224 (Dubl. MS.). Þat [wall of gold] was strengkyllyd [MS. Ashm. streken] full of sternez & strykyn with gemmys.
c. 1420. Anturs of Arthur, 590 (Douce MS.). Stones of Iral þey strenkel and strewe.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xxviii. 108. Luf makys me, as ye may se strenkyllid with blood so red.
14[?]. Promp. Parv., 479/2. Strenkelyn, or sprenkelyn, MSS. K., H., S. aspergo, conspergo.
c. 1520. M. Nisbet, Heb. x. 22. And be our hartis strenkilit [Wyclif spreynt, spreined] fra ane euile conscience.
1819. W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 199. Strenkellin’ … the fechtars’ faces Wi’ its out-waffin’ water.
β. c. 1330[?]. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls) 11194 (Petyt MS.). Menyuere sirinkled with gris.
1536. Bellenden, Cron. Scot. (1821), II. 219. Bot Ilay … come with his ii sonnis, strinklit with dust and sweit o … attal.
1567. Gude & Godlie Ball., 123. With Isope Lord thow strinkill me, And than I sall be clene.
1733. P. Lindsay, Interest Scot., 153. The Ground is fallowed…; and at sowing it is all strinkled over with human Ordure.
1764. Eliz. Moxon, Eng. Housew. (ed. 9), 98. When they [sc. eels] are almost enough strinkle them over with a little shred parsley.
1819. W. Tennant, Papistry Storm’d (1827), 156. A streap o’ blude … Strinkel’t his ilka haffet.
2. To sprinkle, scatter, strew (something on, upon, among).
α. 13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 307. [God speaks:] I schal strenkle my distresse & strye al togeder, Boþe ledez & londe & alle þat lyf habbez.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 12145. Hir blod all aboute aboue hit was sched, And strawet in þe strete, strenklit full þik.
1850. T. Bewick, Howdy & Upgetting, 10. Bring him … a shive oh Butter an Breed … an strenkle a leapyt ov sugar on’t.
β. 1513. Douglas, Æneis, IV. ix. 27. And to the walkryf dragon meit gaif sche,… Strynkland [L. spargens] to hym the wak hony sweit. Ibid., 80. And euir the wattir strinkles sche agane.
1581. N. Burne, Disput., 11 b. This christian man … did hallou valter,… and strinkle it vpon the lyme.
1607. Markham, Caval., III. 44. Giue him … a handfull or two of well sifted Oates, and a prety quantity of this scouring strinckled amongst them.
1721. Wodrow, Hist. Ch. Scot. (1830), II. II. xii. 354. They … had nothing but snow-water, strinkled upon some oatmeal, to drink.
1764. Eliz. Moxon, Eng. Housew. (ed. 9), 102. Strinkle in a little salt and mace. Ibid., 108. Strinkle at the top a little flour.
1829. Brockett, N. C. Gloss. (ed. 2), Strinkle, to spread by scattering.
1877. N. W. Linc. Gloss., s.v., ‘They’ve gotten a strange good cart at Brigg to strinkle watter aboot to lay th’ dust.’ ‘Strinkle a bit o’ Indian corn for them pigeons.’
Hence † Strinkled ppl. a.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 479/2. Strenkelyd, or sprenkelyd (Pynson strenkled), aspersus.
