Obs. Forms: 3–4 tille; also 3rd sing. pres. 3 tilþ, tylþ; pa. t. 3 tylde, 3–4 tilde, 5 tilt. [OE. *tillan, in comb. ʓetillan to touch, reach, attain, atillan to touch; cf. Goth. gatilôn to attain, obtain.] intr. To reach, extend (to a specified point or distance; in quot. 1393, to a specified length).
[a. 1000. Blickl. Glosses (E.E.T.S.), 262/2. Weras bloda & facenfulle na healfe ʓetillað.]
c. 1290. St. Brendan, 616, in S. Eng. Leg., 236. His her tilde doun to is fet, of berde and of heued.
1297. R. Glouc., 174. Fram douere in to chestre tilleþ watelinge stret.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 107. The kyngdom of Deyra tillede and streiȝte from þe ryuer of Humber anon to þe ryuere of Tyne.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. VII. 220. Ich putte hem in pressours … Tyl ten ȝerdes oþer twelue tilled [A. V. 128 tolden; B. V. 214. tolled] out þrettyne.
b. trans. (a) To stretch to, attain to, reach, touch. (b) To stretch (a thing) out.
[c. 961. Æthelwold, Rule St. Benet, vii. (Schröer), 23. ʓif we þone hrof þære healican eaðmodnesse ʓetillan willað.]
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 914. As he tilt out his tung with his tethe grym.
