- this occurs in street-names throughout much of Scotland, including the Glasgow Vennel in Irvine, the Boat Vennel in Ayr, Friars Vennel in Dumfries, Northgate Vennel in Peebles and The Vennel in Edinburgh. The word derives from French venelle 'little street', and is found in Scots texts from the fifteenth century onwards. In the Charters of the City of Edinburgh, there are references to the comon venale callit Sanct Leonardis wynde and in the Calendar of Writs preserved at Yester House (1471), we find mention of a venelle called Leichwynd.
But caw canny — odd things can happen in vennels. The records of Perth Kirk Session for 1583-4 report that Walter Bog was
accused of cursing and biting of his mother-in-law... in the common vennell.