Now dial. Forms: 1 sal, 3 sol, 4, 6, 9 sole, 5 soole, 7 soale, 9 soal, etc. (See also SALE sb.3) [OE. sál, = OS. sêl (MLG. and LG. sêl, seil), MDu. seel (Du. zeel, Fris. seel), OHG. and G. seil, ON. seil, Goth. *sail (cf. insailjan vb.). Cf. SEAL sb.3 and v.2]
† 1. A rope, cord, etc. Obs.
Beowulf, 1906. Þa wæs be mæste … seʓl sale fæst.
c. 1000. Gen., 372. Me … rideð racentan sal.
c. 1275. XI Pains of Hell, 162, in O. E. Misc., 151. Of heom hi token vnriht mol, For-þi hi drayeþ myd such sol.
1345–6. Ely Sacr. Rolls (1907), II. 139. In soles empt. pro dictis Bauderykk.
2. spec. A rope or cord for tethering or tying up cattle; a wooden collar or yoke used to fasten a cow, etc., in the stall.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 463. Soole, beestys teyynge, trimembrale,… ligaculum.
1530. Palsgr., 272/2. Sole, a bowe about a beestes necke.
1547. Salesbury, Welsh Dict., Aerwy, sole.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 38. Soles, fetters, and shackles, with horselock and pad.
1647. Hexham, I. A Sole to tye beasts.
1660. Chirk Castle Acc. (1908), 93. 3 dozen of soales to tye the cattle.
1826–. in dial. glossaries and texts (N. Cy., Lancs., Chesh., Derby, Shrops., Heref.).
1890. Gloucester Gloss., 145. Sole.… The noose or loop made of wood attached to one end of the foddering cord, in order to strain the cord up tight.
