Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tabil(l) men, Tabell men, Table men, n. pl. [e.m.E. tabylle man (1483), table men (1534).] The pieces used in a board game. Also, once, in sing. 15… Edinb. Test. CC 8/8/1, fol. 187b in Sanderson Rural Soc. 169.
[Chessmen and] tabill men 1539 Inv. Wardrobe 49.
Ane pair of tabillis of silvir ourgilt with gold indentit with jasp and cristallyne with table men and ches men of jasp and cristallyne 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 241.
Ane polk with table men 1585 Perth B. Ct. 10 Sept.
Ane chaker with tabill men 1604 Argyll Acc. 18 Sept.
For tabill men to hir Ladyship 1632 Edinb. Test. LV 280a.
Four stand of tabell men pryce of all xx s. 1632 Edinb. Test. LVI 24b.
Ellevin stand of tabilmen of tymber 1656 Sutherland Bk. III 200.
To my grandchyld … my tablemen of whalebonsing. 1652 Montgomery Mem. 318.
A litle timber box in nature of a table man