A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Toust, Towst, n. Also: towist, toist. [AF toste, touste.] A tax levied, chiefly on goods arriving in or leaving a port, and usu. used for the upkeep of the harbour. Also comb.(a) 1570–1 Reg. Privy S. VI 206/1.
The provest, baillieis [etc.] … eftir lang … avisment takin be thame … that the commoun rentis of our … burgh … is nocht abill to big [etc.] … the … bulwerk … and havin of Leith to be … abill … to ressave all maner of schippis … without the help … of ane exactioun and toust of the guidis of the mairchantis and saillaris within our said burgh of Edinburgh and Leith 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 408.
Gif ony towst sould be takin of thair gudis, it wer mair convenient and equitabill to be employit on thair awin werk of the said brig, being a thing sa necessar … for the haill cuntre, nor on the schoir of Dunde, that nowther cravis sa large nor sa present support 1577 Reg. Privy S. VII 172/1.
Ane toust and exactioun grantit to be upliftit of certane guidis enterand within the said port 1579 Crail B. Ct. 5 Oct.
The skippar and maistar of the schippis and boittis quha hes loist thair laiddyngis and schippit thair laiddyngis within the porte … of [Crail] … to mak payment of the haile towst of thair laiddyng 1579–80 Conv. Burghs I 101.
His Hienes and Grace Secreit Counsall to tak ordour with the toust lifted and gatherit for the repairing of the schoir and hawin of Sanctandrois 1579–80 Conv. Burghs I 102.
The commissioners of the burrowis … sall sett ane extent and toust throw the haill burrowis of this realme for seking of redres of the pilleit gudes foirsaidis [sc. stolen by English pirates], be sending of commissioneris ane or ma to Ingland for restitutioun of the samyn 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV 104.
The provost, bailies [etc.] … allegeing that thair peir, bulwark, schoir and havin … is becum ruynous … hes … obtenit a pretendit letter and gift undir the prevey seill, gevand and disponand to thame the towst and exactioun following … twa schillingis for every tun of guidis enterand within the said porte [etc.] 1594–5 Reg. Privy C. V 216.
[The] towst … [viz. … of every horseman 2 d.; of every horse load … 2 d.; of every cow or ox 2 d. (etc.)] to be applyit to the helping, beiting, and mending of the said brig 1596 Aberd. Chart. 98.
To uplift the impost towst [pr. toirst] and exactioun following 1612 Acts IV 516/1.
With the priuilege of the schoir port and heavin … ancorrage small toust quhairin thay … hes bene in vse or possessioun 1659 St. A. Links 6.
[It was ordained by the Town Council that the] toust [and anchorage of the shore should be rouped and set for three years](b) 1574 Reg. Privy C. II 408.
To heir and se thame dischargeit of all rasing and uplifting of the said towist and impositioun in tyme cuming(c) 1602 Adamson Muses Thr. II 52.
They have … ordained the said provost, baylȝies and inhabitants … to be free of the said toist & impost called the shore silvercomb. 1590 Crail B. Ct. 6 Oct.
The bailleis and counsell … hes electit … James Annand to be towst maister and collectour off the impost and towst off sic guidis and geir as salhappin to arrywe and cum in at the port
