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.
Torch(e, n. Also: tortche, (toicht). Pl. torche(i)s, -is, tortchis, torscheis, tortys(e, -ise, -es, -as, -asis, -(w)ais, tortoches, turches. [ME and e.m.E. torche (c1290), torches pl. (c1330), OF torche, late pop. L. *torca-, f. torquēre to twist.] A torch, a light, chiefly carried in the hand, esp. in processions and the like. Chiefly pl. Also attrib. with Hede n.1 5 c (q.v. for a further example), and Licht n.1 3 and comb. with Makar n.sing. 1456 Hay I 6/13.
As dois a grete torch [schyne] be a small litill candill a1500 Lanc. 1189.
The maden in hir hand hath ton O torche, and to the stabille ar thei gon 1551 Hamilton Cat. 121.
Evin sa aucht ye to use the law … of God as a torche, bowat, or lanterin 1556–7 Edinb. B. Rec. II 261.
That na … persone be fund on the hie gait … efter x houris … without ane lycht, viz.: lantern, bowet, torche or candill with thame 1565 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 33.
That … ever ilk ane of thame have ane torche agane the mornyng serwice c1615 Chron. Kings 179.
Ane licht tortche of tua pund(b) 1560 Stirling B. Rec. I 72.
Ane tangis, … ane elcrwk, ane pair of pot bwlis, … chopin, ane toicht [? erron. for torch]pl. a1400 Leg. S. x 250.
To mak hyme sacrifice … Vith incense & lampis lycht & tortyse al brynnand brycht c1420 Wynt. v 4879.
Wyth bleisys lycht and gret tortys, … Abowte the cyte for to ga, In honowre off Dame Februa a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1255.
Torcheis 1488 Treas. Acc. I 83.
A dosoune of torchis 1494 Edinb. Hammermen in Mill Mediæv. Plays 225.
For mendin of the iiij gret tortas & makin of iij gret knoppis of gren walx to thaim 1494 Edinb. Hammermen in Mill Mediæv. Plays 225.
Tortasis 1495 Edinb. Hammermen 9a.
To the men at bure the bannaris & tortes & candilhedis 1498–9 Acta Conc. II 297.
Twa torches, the price x s., twa cappis of torches, the price vj s. viij d. 1503 Edinb. Hammermen 44b.
Tortoches 1508 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxi.
iiii pece wax … maid in torchis and pricatis a1570-86 Dunb. in Maitl. F. 15/87.
With tortchis [Dunb. (OUP) 152/87, turkas] byrnand reid 1512–13 Aberd. Trades 52.
Every craft … sall have a pair of torcheis … maid of four pund of wax, to decoir … the sacrament on Corpus Christi day 1529 Linlithgow B. Ct. 8 Nov.
Tortais 1535 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 71.
That all nichtboures … furnis tortise [pr. cortise] till pas and convoy the provest fra the kirk till his awin hows after evin sang in the haly dayes 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 181.
To the payntour for vj dosane of armes to put about the queir and upoun torchis and candillis, price of ilk dosane xx s. 1585 Elphinstone Mun. 23.
Thre irne lanternnis with sum tortwais for licht making about the wallis 15… Reg. Soltre 213.
The sacristen … sall find … in the furth gangeyn and incummyn of the sacrament four torscheis 1655 McPherson Prim. Beliefs 21.
[Some of their seamen] superstitiously carried fyrr torches about their boats [on the last day of December](b) 1552–3 Edinb. B. Rec. II 274.
For candill and turches at the rowping of the commone gudeattrib., sing. c1610 Melville Mem. 18.
Wha was compellit to ryse from his supper and fle fourth of Ynsbruck with torche liecht c1650 Spalding I 74.
The Marquess corpis … wes convoyit … to the kirk of Belly … He had torche lichtis in gryte number careit be freindis and gentillmenpl. 1496 Edinb. Hammermen 16a.
ix lib. of new walx … to eik our candillis & tortas hedis with 1497 Edinb. Hammermen in Mill Mediæv. Plays 227.
For flouris & pak threid … to the tortas & candilhediscomb. 1460 Hay Alex. 12224.
I am ane torche maker be Godis grace
