YELL, one of the islands of Shetland, lying north-east from the main land, and divided from it by an arm of the sea, called Tell-Sound. By some it is thought to have been the Thale of the ancients. In the old descriptions it is said to be 20 miles long and 8 broad. It is very mountainous and full of moss; but there are pretty considerable pastures in which they feed a great many sheep; and it also affords plenty of peat. It has eight large harbours, which would not be thought despicable in other countries. Anciently it seems to have been pretty populous, since there are in it three churches, twenty chapels, and many brughs or Picchill forts.