v. Obs. exc. dial. Forms: 3–4 tauel, teuel, 9 Sc. tevel, tevvel. [Origin and primary meaning obscure; it is even uncertain whether there are not here two different words.
Senses 2 and 3 suggest a possible connection with TAVE v. If sense 1 was orig. ‘to contend (in words),’ we might compare Norw. tevla, Sw, táfla, ‘to contend, cope, vie, rival, strive, struggle’; but these go back to ON. tefla to play at tables or draughts, = OE. tæflian, ME. TAVEL, which appears to have no connection with this.]
† 1. intr. ? To talk, converse; or perh. rather, To discuss, argue, contend in words. Obs.
a. 1225. St. Marher., 13. Ich leote ham talkin ant tauelin of godlec ant treowliche luuien ham, wiðuten uuel wilnung.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 822. Þet he þet is nomecuðest & meast con cume cuðe þrof … & teueli [v.r. tauele] wið me. Ibid., 1254. Swa awundret of hire wittie wordes, & swa offearet & offruht, & alle hise feren, þet nefde hare nan tunge to tauelin a tint wið [v.r. teuelin a dint].
12. To struggle, strive, contend; to labor. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 1189. Trwe tulkkes in toures teueled [printed teneled] wyth-inne, In bigge brutage [= brattice] of borde, bulde on þe walles.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1514. F[or] to telle of þis teuelyng of þis trwe knyȝtez, Hit is þe tytelet, token, and tyxt of her werkkez.
3. intr. To behave in a disorderly or violent manner; to rage. Sc.
1828. Carlyle, Lett. to J. Carlyle, 25 Aug., in Froude, Life (1882), II. ii. 37. Gawn up and down the country tevelling and screeching like a wild bear.
4. trans. (See quot.) Sc.
1825. Jameson, Tevvel, to confuse, to put into a disorderly state, Dumfr.
