A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Turbat, -et(t, n. Also: turbit(t, -ut, -ot, towrbot, (turbo(n, turwait). [ME and e.m.E. turbut (c1300), turbutt (1377), turbot (c1450), turbet (1570), OF tourbout, torbout, MDu. turbot. Also in the later dial.] A turbot, the fish. Also attrib.1373 Exch. R. II 451.
[In ostreis, lampredis … albis piscibus … salmonibus et turbotis 1525 Household Bks. Jas. V 17.
Empt. … vc albi pisces, ij turbones … j leing [etc.] 1561 Reg. Episc. Morav. 404.]
Pro uno lie lyng 2 denarios; pro uno lie turwait 4 denarios 1598 Stirling Ant. III 308.
Ane grit towrbot … ix skaittis … xvj codlyngs a1600 Aberd. B. Rec. (Jam.).
Gryt lyne fische, sic as leing, turbat, keling, & skaitt 1602 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 8.
Donald Smyth is dempt to quyt himselff of the breking of David Spence skeo and taking ane turbit of fische out thairof, with the saxter aithe 1661–80 Lady Bark.
You must grant odds betwixt turbut and fluke 1683 Coll. Aberd. & B. 100.
The sea affords white fishes here in abundance, which are keeling, skaitt, turbett, and codfish a1688 Wallace Orkney 17.
In the sea they catch ling, keeling, haddok, whitting, mackrel, turbot, scate [etc.]
b. attrib. With fluik (Fluke n.1). Appar. in this usage merely a term for a flat fish. Cf. Plaice-fluke n. (cf. also e. mod. Latin pectunculus (1570, Latham) plaice, flounder).(1) 1525 Household Bks. Jas. V 9.
[iij girlsis … j turbo pecten … v warcodlingis 1528 Household Bks. Jas. V App. 15.]
ij pectines turbonis 1596 Dalr. I 41/24.
Turbat, fluik, and plase fluik 1597–8 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne 18 Feb.
Ane turbet fluik 1597–8 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne 19 Feb.
Ane turbett fluik 1598 Household Bks. Jas. VI and Anne 10 May.
Ane turbitt fluik 1684 Sibbald Scot. Illustr. iii 24.
Rhomboides. An qui nostratibus the bonnet-fleuk? an turbot-fleuk?(2) 1631 Buccleuch Household Bk. 3 Oct.
A turbit heid
