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: 1399-1640
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Topas, -ace, -aze, Thopas, n. Also: topias, -as(s)e, t(h)opasius, topacius. [ME and e.m.E. tupace (a1272), topace (a1300), topasie (Wyclif), thopas (Lydgate), topeus (c1420), topase (1584), OF topaze, -ace, -ase, L. topasus, later, topasius.] The topaz, a yellow coloured precious stone. b. In heraldic usage: In blazoning by precious stones, the tincture gold (or once, appar., silver).(a) a1400 Legends of the Saints vi 279.
Brycht & schenand preciuse stanys, As sardiane, topias fyne, iaspis [etc.] ?1438 Alex. ii 3708.
The ches of sapheris … And of topace that richest is 1460 Hay Alex. 1861.
His cot-armes was all of topas treist a1500 Taill of Rauf Coilȝear 473.
Bricht braissaris of steill … Blandit with beriallis and cristallis cleir, Ticht ouir with thopas 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 12.
Dame Flora … Hir heuinly bed, powderit with mony a set Of ruby, topas, perle [etc.] 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 463.
Hir hair as gold or topasis was hewit 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 37.
Phebus … With … Crysp haris, brycht as chrisolyte or topace 1535 Stewart 37597.
Ane apill … plantit … With turcas, topas, and with amerandis c1590 Fowler I 78/23.
A topas chane insert with fynest gold 1640 Black Bk. Taymouth 346.
Ane targett of gold sett with three diamondis, four topaces or jacincts [etc.](b) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rev. xxi 20.
The fonndementis … war ournit with al precious staan … the nynt, thopasius [W. topasius, P. topacius]attrib. c1475 Acts of Schir William Wallace vii 77.
A suerd … Off topastone him thocht the plumat wasb. 1494 Loutfut MS 10b.
This colour of gold is likinnyt till a … precious stane callit the topasse [Lindsay MS topase] a1586 Lindsay MS 42a.
In stane the gold betakinnis the topaze a1586 Lindsay MS 47a.
Topasius is the ix stane and is last in armes the … colour is siluer in blasoning this stane is lyk to hait … siluer in the fyre in ane goldsmythis pottis