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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TAPPIETOURIE, n. Also tappy-, tap(p)i-, -toorie, -toury, with variant dims. -tourock(ie) and etymologising form tappy tower. [tɑpɪ′turi] Anything which rises to a peak or pinnacle, or ornamentally surmounts the top (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Fif. c.1850 Peattie MS., -tourockie; Ork., Per., Fif., wm.Sc. 1972). Also attrib., having or resembling a peak or top, turreted, towering. Specif.: (1) a high pile or heap; a cairn of stones on a hill-top (Mry. 1930).Sc. 1823 M. and M. Corbett Petticoat Tales I. 337:
A tappie-tourie of hens in the middle, a hundred weight of black puddings graced one corner.Sc. 1837 Tait's Mag. (June) 374:
The topmost of the tappy-tourie [of pancakes] destined for the turning-box.

(2) a turret, pinnacle, a towered structure.Ayr. 1836 Galt in Tait's Mag. (Jan.) 34:
A match for a Highland gentleman's tappy-tourock dwelling.Sc. c.1860 Scotsman (13 Sept. 1910):
“Come awa and play at tappie touries” — Come and make mud pies.Gsw. 1863 W. Miller Nursery Songs 21:
The tappie-toorie fir-tree shining a' in green.Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 340:
Garrin't stan' like a tappie-toorie on the lan'.Edb. 1881 J. Smith Habbie and Madge 42:
Wild-beast caravans, an' tappy-toorie things on the grund.Ags. 1887 Brechin Advert. (26 April) 3:
As mony turrets, toories, an' tappie-toories as micht a saired a castle.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 108:
Its craw-steppit gavels and tappie-toorie staircase.

(3) a top-knot of hair, a bun.Edb. 1872 J. Smith Jenny Blair's Maunderings 15:
Chignongs, tapitoories, an' bannits.Uls. 1879 W. G. Lyttle Readings 33:
A big tapitoorie heed o' hair.

(4) a knot of ribbons, wool, or the like on the top of a cap, a tassel or pompom, a bonnet so adorned (Mry., Ags., Per., Lth., Lnk., Rxb. 1972).Lnk. 1867 J. M. Peacock Reverie 199:
Wi' braw tappie-toorie, my bonnet o' blue, Was wove in auld Killie o' guid hielan' woo'.Ags. 1895 J. Inglis Oor Ain Folk 94:
Like the tappie-toorie of a Balmoral bonnet.Bnff. 1925 G. Cumming A'anside Lilts 97:
A big tappietoorie an' ribbons that flew An' flapped roun' my lugs an' my head.

(5) the knob of pastry set on top of the centre hole in a pie (Ayr. 1972).Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie lxxxviii.:
I would gie him the tappy-tourock o' the pie, and the best leg o' the fat hen.Ayr. 1833 Galt Poems 45:
Crumbs and scraps and tappy towers of pies.

(6) a pet name for a hen with a tuft of feathers. See Tap, n.¹, 1.Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 170:
“Are the Fife hens layin?” “Yes, James — and Tapitoury is sitting.”