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: 1652-1688
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Tortois shell, Torter shell, Tortie shell, n. [17th c. Eng. tortoise shell (1601), torties shell (1632), tortois shell (1688).] a. A tortoise shell. b. attrib. Made of tortoise shell. Also ellipt. —a. 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 25.
If he keep tobacco cut In tortois shell or coco nut —b. 1652 Montgomery Mem. II 318.
Fyue torter shell spoones 1683 Inv. in Donibristle Mun. (Earl of Moray's MSS) 11 (9-10 May).
Tuo litle landskepps with tortieshell frames —ellipt. 1688 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries II 457.
A tortois box full of relicts
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"Tortois Shell n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/tortois_shell>
