Meaning of kevil | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A lot (object used to determine a question by chance or independently of human choice).
   Scotland
2. A sturdy belaying pin for the heavier cables of a ship.

Examples

“1821 [1802], Walter Scott (transcriber), Fause Foodrage, W. Scott (editor) Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border⟳, Volume 3, 5th edition, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, page 4, And they cast⟳ kevils them amang, / And kevils them between; / And they cast⟳ kevils them amang, / Wha suld gae kill⟳ the king.”

“1887, Transactions of the Buchan Field Club, Volumes 1-2, Buchan Field Club, page 176, "Casting the kevils" was and still is a common mode of deciding a thing.”

“The following new ones will have⟳ to be supplied: Two pairs of sheave chocks similar to those now in use⟳ on board⟳, and twelve large kevils at least four feet long and of heavy pattern.”

“The halliard is belayed on the kevil with figure-of-eight turns (not hitched), and the coil is carried up to the pin-rail, where the 1-inch rope is passed round it, the eye at the end⟳ of this rope being finally passed over the pin.”

CEFR level