Now dial. Forms: 4 þixil, -el, 5 thyxyl, -le, -ill, -ille, -elle, (tyxhyl, tixil), thyxtyll, -ill, thistill, 7 thistle, 8–9 thi-, thyzle, 9 thixle, thicksell. [ME. þixil, þixel, known c. 1300, not yet found in OE. = MDu. dessel, dissel (Du. dissel, LG. dessel), OHG. dehsala, dehsla, MHG. dehsel, dichsel, Ger. deichsel, in Upper Ger. dialects dechsel, dächsel; from OTeut. root *þehs- (by-form *þīhs-), Indo-Eur. *teks-: cf. OSlav. tes-ati to hew, tesla ax, Lith. tasz-ýti to hew or shape with the ax, See Kluge, Etym. Wbch., and Schade.] An adz.
c. 1300. E. E. Psalter, lxxiii. 7 [lxxiv. 6]. Als in wodes of trees … In ax and in thixil [MS. E. þixel] þai ite dounecaste.
1404. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 396. j thyxtyll … j thyxtyll goug.
14[?]. Nom., in Wr.-Wülcker, 726/37. Hec acia, a thyxylle.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 491/2. Thyxyl, instrument (S. twybyle, P. thyxill), ascia.
1468. Medulla Gram. (MS. Cant.). Ascia, a thyxelle…. Celtes, a cheselle or a thyxelle [Harl. MS. tixil].
1562. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees), I. 207. j mattoche, j thistill,… iij woumbles.
1611–2. Knaresb. Wills (Surtees), II. 34. One thistle, all my chissils.
1796. Pegge, Derbicisms (E.D.S.), Thizle, an adze.
1847–78. Halliwell, Thixille, an axe, or hatchet.
1888. Sheffield Gloss., Thicksell, an adze…. It has a crooked handle, and is used by wheelwrights, and for making spouts hollow, etc. [E.D.D. gives the forms thixle, thicksell, thizle, thyzle.]
