A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1653-1700+
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Taptow, Tap tu, Taptoo, Tattow, Tatoe, n. [17th c. Eng. tap-too (1644), tapp too (1645), taptow (1675), tato, tattoo (both 1688), Du. taptoe.] A series of drum-beats signalling curfew or reveille, or the beating of soldiers to quarters.sing. 1653 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 326.
A lanterne and candle … to continue lighted fra fyve hours in the evening till the beatting of the taptow 1684 Edinb. B. Rec. XI 125.
The lights to be extinguished nightly at the beating of the tap tow 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 37.
Efter the tap tu the rounds and patrolls may goe throw the cittie the wholl night 1707 Stirling B. Rec. II 112.
John Din hammerman … as drummer … to beat the tattow and travalie at 4 aclock in the morning for the sumer seasone 1717 Stirling B. Rec. II 151.
Tatoepl. ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. I 57.
Drumms wer hearde beatne about four a clocke, the parade or reteering of the gwardes ther taptoos, ther reveilles and marches distinctly 1715 Stirling B. Rec. II 140.
For fyring of gunns … after elleavin aclock … when the garrisons both in the toun and castle and guards thereof were sett and their taptows beat
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"Taptow n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/taptow>
