ˈtevel, ˈtavel, 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 connexion 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. tavel1, which appears to have no connexion 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]. |
† 2. To struggle, strive, contend; to labour. 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 Let. 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 Jamieson, Tevvel, to confuse, to put into a disorderly state, Dumfr. |