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.
To(u)rteau(l)x, T(o)urtous, n. pl. Also: turteau(l)x. [e.m.E. tortellis (1486), tourteaulx (1530), torteaux (1562), OF tortels, tourteaux.] In heraldry: Circular figures or gules, representing cakes of bread. —1494 Deidis of Armorie 15.
Tourteaux [v.rr. turteaux, torteaulx] & gasteaux is a self thing and suld nocht be bot of colour & of a metall and suld haue nan othir differance 1494 Deidis of Armorie 57.
Tourteaulx [v.rr. torteaux, turteaulx] and gasteaulx suld be maid in armorie off coulour & nocht of metall and representis the breid quharof the body of Crist is consecrat 1494 Loutfut MS 139a.
Thair is in armes besandis turtous [Lindsay MS 42b, tourteaux] & pellottis … al that cumis of gold ar besandis and al that cumis of siluer ar tourtous and al that cumis in any othir colouris ar pellottis quhat colour that euir thai be of
