Obs. Forms: 5 fordele, -deel, 6 fordaill, 6–9 fordel(l, (7 fortell). [f. FOR- pref.2 + DEAL sb., part; = Du. voordeel, Ger. vorteil.]
1. Advantage.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, V. viii. The bataille was grete, and oftsydes that one party was at a fordele and anone at an afterdele.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxx. (Arb.), 78. Reynart the foxe and alle his frendis and lignage sorowen and thynke to preferre the honour, worship, fordeel and proffyte of theyr lord.
1523. St. Papers Hen. VIII., I. 143. Which newes beyng true, shalbe a mervailory fordell to your intended purposes.
1637. R. Monro, Exped., I. 74. The enemy also, had another fortell, or advantage by reason of a new worke, which was uncomplete, betwixt the Ravelin and the outward workes, where he did lodge himselfe.
2. The first place, precedence, preference. Sc.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, V. iii. 99.
| And now hes Pristis the fordaill, and syne, in hy, | |
| The big Centaur hir warris, and slippis by. |
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., III. 276.
| That tyme thair wes … | |
| Ane flatterar and fenȝear for ane fordell, | |
| Semdill in the kirk and richt oft in the bordell. |
a. 1651. Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 574. Can never thinke themselves in full securitie so long as men of vertue and honour, to whom of right that rowme ought to apperteane, sall stand a fordell, to controll their abusings and wicked proceidings.
