Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Tarledder, -le(a)ther, n. Also: tairledder, terlether, taire leather. [Gael. tàrr the lower part of the belly (Dwelly) and Ledder n.²] The skin taken from an animal's belly. Cf. (ane) tard ledder Tar(r)it ppl. adj. b. b. Such skin used as a thong or lash. 1566 Edinb. B. Rec. III 226.
The saidis flesheouris pullis the haill skyn fra the hals doun to the taill throw all the wambe thairof and cuttis ane tarledder of the skyn thairwith, diminisching thairby bayth the skynnis and the woll in lenth and breid 1570 Conv. Burghs I 21.
Tar letheris c1575 Balfour Pract. 579.
Challenge of fleshouris … That thay tak tar ledderis aff the hides, and thairefter affirmis the samin to be haill and not dismemberit 1714 Stirling B. Rec. II 135.
That no fleshers take any tarleathers off their hidesfig. a1689 Cleland 109.
Some's for the top some's for the taile … Tho our great court when it doth gather Should cut away the foul taire leather, That doth impede interpretation, [etc.]b. a1500 Colk. Sow i 282.
His banair … A flekkit sowis skyn faw With terletheris tyit hy a1585 Polwart Flyt. 591 (T).
His schewin schoulderis schawis the merkis but dout Of tarledderis [H. tairledders] tewch, tyris and vther tawis 1677 Craig-Brown Selkirkshire I 497.
[Money given for a tarleather for the bell-tongue]