Deilt

Deilt is a historical term found in Scottish and northern English dialects. In these dialects, deilt is used as a verb meaning to distribute, apportion, or divide a quantity among recipients; it is related to the standard English verb deal and to noun forms meaning a portion or share. In some contexts, deilt has also appeared as a noun meaning a portion, allotment, or share, particularly in records referring to land, goods, or household arrangements. The form reflects older Scots spellings and pronunciations and is now largely archaic outside linguistic or historical contexts.

Etymology and related forms suggest a connection to the Proto-Germanic root that produced deal or deel in other Germanic languages. Cognates include Dutch deel and German Teil, all conveying the idea of a portion or division. The Scots spelling deilt illustrates regional orthography and phonology from the medieval and early modern periods, when many dialect terms circulated alongside standardized English.

Attestations of deilt are limited to older texts, legal documents, poetry, and dialect dictionaries from Scotland and northern England. By the 18th century, its use declined in everyday speech and it is now rarely encountered outside linguistic study, regional literature, or discussions of Scots vocabulary. In contemporary usage, deilt is primarily of interest as a historical or dialectal example, rather than as a living term in standard English.

See also: deal, deel, Scots language, Scottish English.