Sc. Also 6 thyrile, thyrll, 6–8 thirle. [f. THIRL v.2]
1. a. Astriction (usually to a particular mill; in quot. 1564 to a smithy): see THIRLAGE 2. b. The duty and liability of tenants in thirlage. c. The astricted lands or district, = SUCKEN.
1564. in Reg. Mag. Sig. Scot. (1586), 301/2. Cum astrictione fabricandi ferrum infra terras suas de Angus (the haille thirle of the inne werk of oure landis of Angus usit and wont).
1582. Calr. Laing Charters (1899), 258. In primis, The thyrile, the haile toun … to haif twa chaldyr of schilling. Ibid., 259. This is the just thyrll that we fermoraris of Crummy aw to our mile.
1681. Stair, Inst. Law Scot., xvii. § 19. 351. A Clause of thirlage granted by a Town to a Miln … found to be extended to all Corns Kilned or Steeped within the Thirle.
a. 1722. Fountainhall, Decisions (1759), I. 276. That the building a mill within his thirle could be interpreted to be done with no other design but in aemulationem vicini.
1773. Erskine, Inst. Law Scot., II. ix. § 20. The astricted lands are called the thirl, or the sucken; and the persons subjected to the astriction get the name of suckeners.
1821. Scott, Pirate, xi. Plaguing themselves about baron’s mills, and thirls.
2. A bondsman, a thrall. rare.
1871. Waddell, Ps. lxxix. 11. Lat the sigh o’ the weary thirl win ben afore yer sight.
3. Comb. thirl-band, chain or bond of servitude; thirl-folk, bondmen; thirl-man, bondman, serf; thirl-service (see THIRL v.2 2, quot. 1609).
1871. Waddell, Ps. ii. 3. Lat’s rive their thirlbans syndry. Ibid., lxxxix. 50. O Lord, hae min’ o’ yer thirlfolk’s pine. Ibid., lxxviii. 70. He lightit on David his thirlman.
