A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Lattoun, Latoun, n. Also: -on(e, -un, -yn, -en; lettone, -in. [ME. latoun (1340), -on, -en (15th c.), e.m.E. latten, -in, -yn, OF. laton, leiton.]
1. A kind of brass of yellow colour often hammered into thin plates; yellow or hammered brass, latten.An alloy of copper and calamine, and distinguished from the darker and less costly ‘brass’, later known as bronze, made from copper and tin.(a) 1502 Treas. Acc. II. 199.
For brases and stuthes of lattoun to the harnessingis of thir sadilis 1502–3 Ib. 359.
To Johne Auchlek, goldsmyth, to by lattoun 1508 Ib. IV. 111.
For j ram of lattoun and tua of steil for the Kingis culveryn 1513 Doug. viii. Prol. 92.
Sum latyt latton, but lay, lepys in lawyd lyt Ib. x. 68.
The lyght legharnes … Witht gold and burnyst laton puryfyde 1587–8 Reg. Privy C. IV. 265.
[He] sinkis and makis irnes, instrumentis and matriceis, alsweill for prenting of silver as of lattoun c1590 J. Stewart 48/13.
The … prentes … fyns the gould frie from the laton 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 46.
That na maister [goldsmith] tak on him to work ony work in latoun or copper or gilt the samyn 1593 Edinb. Test. XXV. 231 b.
Four stane … of rollit latoun estimat to xxx li. 1595 Ib. XXVIII. 94 b.
lxxvj pund lattun at viij lib. grit the hunder 1597 Bk. Rates MS. 12.
Inuarte Custumes … Veir of lattoun, v li. 1613 Edinb. Test. XLVII. 334.
Ane caldroun of lattyn weyand tua stane weycht, … ane kettill of lattoune 1630 Skene Mem. 198.
All and haill that pairt … of the … dominioun of New Scotland [etc.] … with … mynes of iron steill tyne lead coppar brass lattoun(b) 1558 Treas. Acc. X. 386.
To James Cokkie, goldsmytht, for his laubouris in making graving of ane horolage of lettone
b. Attrib. : Made of latten; resembling latten.(1) 1537–8 M. Works Acc. (ed.) 215.
For thre hankis irne wyre, … ic xlvi pund latoun wyre coft in Flanderis 1610 Brechin Test. II. 82.
Threittie ffyue dussone lattoun ringis pryce iij lib. Ib. III.100.(b) 1641-8 Skipper's Acc. (Smettone) 1 b.
It. for 2 lettin muges 1s. 8d.(2) 1513 Doug. vii. Prol. 4.
Phebus … [with] Cleir schynand bemys … In laton cullour alteryng haill of new
2. Blak latten, = Lattoun-bras n. Shaven latten, the thinner kind of sheet brass.1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 318.
Latten, shaven the hundreth weght xl li., blak the hundreth weght xxiiii li.
