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: 1584-1631
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Tormoyl(e, n. Also: tormoill, turmoyle, tourmoil(e. [e.m.E. turmoyle (1526), turmoile (1568), turmoil (1698).] Disturbance, trouble, agitation; disquiet. —sing. a1585 Maitland Quarto MS 249/5.
The beatin bark … dunge with wavering wind Into the port hir self sho castis … The pilgrim wereid with tormoill and transing monye a land … vnto his native soill … doeth mak haist 1596 Dalr. I 138/21.
Nathir in al this truble and tormoyle of the Scottis was the Pechtis frie of truble 1628 Mure Spirituall Hymne 109.
His plaints procur'd thy soules turmoyle —pl. 1630 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 109.
The civill tormoyls and contentions of state 1631 Laing MSS 189.
They are so taken up … with solistations for Session maters, submissions … and other empeshments, which brings perpetuall tourmoiles to men in such place and credit
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"Tormoyl n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/tormoyle>
