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: 1563-1633
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Tocher, Tochir, v. Also: towcher, to(u)char. [Tochir n.] tr. To provide (a woman) with a dowry, also tocher out. Also fig. Also, with the money, etc. involved.(1) 1563 St. A. Kirk S. 186.
Thomas Cuthbert to solemnizat mariaig wyth the sayd Margret Reid … and falyeing tharof to pay to the said Margret twenty marchas to towcher hyr wyth ane other man, … and to bayr his charge of the barn gottyn betuix tham as becummis hym of dewete 1568 St. A. Kirk S. 308.
Tweching the said Elspet desyre to caus the said Henry to marie hir be resoun he deflorit hir … or ellis to tochir hir 1571–2 St. A. Kirk S. 358.
Comperit Johne, declaring that it was of trewtht that Margaret buir ane bairn to hym, and that he deflorit hir virginite; and thairfoir, according to the law of God, promittit to tochir hir 1575 St. A. Kirk S. 411.
To proceid aganis the said George Grig, compelling hym athir to mary or tochir Jonet Myllar 1575 Edinburgh Testaments III 330b.
It is my will & I require thame [sc. his wife & son] … to hald hous togidder … vnto the tyme that the said Nicolas & Bessie be mareit & tocherit with honest parteis 1597 Edinburgh Testaments XXX 136b.
The rest of hir barnes war forisfamiliat tocherit and helpit furtht of the haill hous 1614 Orkney Test. and Inv. 161.
His sone Jon Allane … sall tocher out his tua sisteris … with the reddiest of his geir a1633 Hope Major Pract. I 124.
If the father (being debitor to his daughter) hes tochered her, the debt aweand be him to her will be compted peyed in part of the tocherfig. 1597 Melvill 432.
Your heavinlie Father's guidnes yie sall feill; He sall yow touchar all, and marie weill 1622 D. Lindesey Heavenly Chariot 31.
Jesus hath loved thee so, that he hath married thee, that he has tochered thee, yea that hee hath provided a dowrie for thee(2) a1578 Pitsc. I 125/30.
The king … marieit hir on his brother … and tocharit hir with the Lordschipe of Ballvenie 1622 Douglas Corr. 250.
He sauld his land to my father, and, with the price thairof, tocherit his dochteris 1630 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. I 67.
The father … tochers that daughter with a greater sum than that sum whereon the annual-rent was redeemable
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"Tocher v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/tocher_v>
