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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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Turn, Torn(e, n. Also: turne, turnn, twrn(e, tourn(e, towrn(e, torrin. [ME and e.m.E. turn (Ancr. R.), tourn (14th c.), turne (c1325), torn (c1380), AF *torn, t(o)urn, OF to(u)r, L. tornus; Turn v.]

1. An action or deed; an exploit, feat. Also proverb.1375 Barb. ii 438 (C).
Giff thai will chace Quyt thaim torn but [E. corn-but] sum-dele we sall 1456 Hay (Glenn) III 60/153.
Traist … that quhasa discoueris ony secrete, or reuelis it quhare it aw nocht tobe reuelit, … sone efter grete mischef … sall fall him, the quhillk God kepe thé fra, and that thou do sa dishonest a turne a1500 Henr. Fab. 1557.
This is the samin lyoun That grantit grace to me quhen I wes tane … Cum help to quyte ane gude turne for ane vther; Go, lous him sone ?a1500 Remembrance of the Passion 422.
Think, than how mekill thow art behaldin till Him … and be doand all the gud turnis for His saik a1538 Abell 65a.
It is callit the coif of the ewill spreit for the wikkit turn at wes done thare for with ane ax thai slew Sanct Constantin 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 4721.
To hir husband scho did schrewde turnis thre 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 571.
He … wald not ceis till he did hir sum uther evil turn 1590 Reg. Privy C. IV 560.
He had done greitar turnis nor to ding oute all thair harnis 1596 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 14.
Torrin 1597 Scottish Notes and Queries 2 Ser. III 78.
If a gude turn unto thé hes bein wrocht, Remember their upon 1604 R. Brown Paisley I 215.
Onie person or persons … to be apprehendit … bulying, drinkand, vag'and, or doand onie turns upon the Sabbath in tyme of preichings 1604 Elgin Rec. II 125.
They depone that thei hard hir say scho promeisit to them all ane iwill turne 1618 Scottish Notes and Queries 2 Ser. I 1.
I know I will die upon a scaffald. Thair is ane evil turne in my hand, quhilk I avow to God presentlie to reform 1638 Select Biographies II 23.
Even as if … Jesus Christ our Lord … had never done, nor could never doe, a turne but of necessitie, and nothing of frie-will 1639 Justiciary Cases I 301.
It is declairit … that the wordis of threatning … specifeit in the dittay … beirand the defenderis to have oppinlie avowit to ane evill turne to the defunct … is only aganis Thomas Bryce 1653 Fugitive Poetry II xxvii 5/132.
Whosoever will nott come … Shall pay five pound … and forfeite him's land … And gett a farre war turne when hee comes downe 1690 Cramond Kirk S. III 9 Oct.
Being asked why he concealed it? He answered he feared if he should have revealed it, that Arthur Forbes had done him an ill turnproverb. 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 17a.
Gif yow do ane ewill twrne to ane, ane wther will recompence thé 16.. Peden Serm. ii 25.
Ae ill turn makes ay way for another

2. A task, a piece of work, a job; something one has to do. Also proverb.1513 Doug. v xiv 102.
To beit thar mystir … Sum to this turn, sum to that, start atanys 1584 Reg. Privy C. III 683.
He and his said spous past … to the mercat for doing of thair lefull effairis and bissines; [and] efter thai had endit thair turnis [etc.] 1594 Breadalbane Lett. 11 Aug.
I haif socht out the register and hes taikin als gret paynis as I wald haif done in cace that turne had bene my awin 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 3/38.
Gods employing of him [sc. the Devil] in a turne 1587-99 Hume 31/176.
Ilk labourer as he thinks gude, Steppes to his turne againe 1635 Dickson Wr. 193.
He sets himself to this one thing; he takes not many turns in handproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 365.
He that does his turne in time, sits half idel a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 1565.
There came never gude of a laiched turne

b. A purpose, requirement, need.1568 Buch. Indict. 44.
Sche … past to Setoun, having that place appoyntet as sche thoucht guid to hir towrne 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 27b.
If thow anewche hes To satisfie thi twrne, thow hes na caus to murne ?1599 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 36b.
Thes to remember me of my wyfes tornes that I haue to bye to her quhane God sendis me to Londene God wollyne 1605 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs II 203.
Sindre burrowis … alreddy hantis … that tred of fisching vpoun the sey and hes thair shipis and barkis meittest for the turne

c. To serve one's (owne), (another's, the) turn, to be sufficient for one's, etc. purpose, fulfil one's requirements. d. To do one's (another's, the haill, etc.) turn, to serve one's needs, be sufficient for a particular task or meet with requirements; to carry out a task or duty, do what is necessary.c. 1570 Leslie 261.
Amangis all politique devyses … none was thocht so guid to serve thair turne … as the cullour of reformatione of the religion 1572-5 Diurnal of Occurrents 141.
My lord regent and remanent nobilmen joynit with himself, condiscend to sik heidis [and] articles as may redound to our souerane lordis moderis honour adwancement and commoditie and may best serue hir turne 1579 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 114.
Sic sufficient wecht of syluer as mychtest serue thair turn 1584 Gowrie P. 77.
To serve his owne tourne [he] respecteth neither fayth, honour, nor common honesty 1650 Glasgow Wrights Acts 11.
[Sey masters] sall appoynt him [sc. a burgess wishing to be admitted freeman] no longer tyme for the perfytting of the sey nor so much as may serve the turne 1658 R. Moray Lett. 2 April.
Till I met with [this pen] … I seldom turned the leafe & rarely two. But now I think I have come fair off if 3 or 4 serve my turn when I write to youd. a1538 Abell 113a.
He feft the almwshous of Sanct Leonardis. He thekit the kirk all with leid [etc.] … Mony odir notabill turnis he did eftir and before at I wes in that place 1572 Satirical Poems xxxii 35.
[They] brocht thair butter and egges to Edinburgh Croce, and did na vther turne 1587–8 Aberd. Council Lett. I 19.
Be diligent thairin … that we may do our turnes be you and not be constrainit to use uther meins 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 41.
He hes appointed only ane signe in baptism, to wit, water, because water is sufficient aneugh to doe the haill turne. … water … represents fullie the washing of our sauls with the blood of Christ, quhat mister then have we of ane uther signe? 1592 Analecta Scotica II 171.
You of your stipends will not want one stuir, Ye cry for kirks for furnishing of your luir, Not takeing tent how men may do the tourne 1596–7 Misc. Spald. C. I 92.
Ther was na wind to window ony malt, and thow said thow suld get wind anuch to do thi turnn 1589–1600 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 66a.
Thes is the count that I haue deborset for tornis that I haue to do for our schepe ine Norawaye c1616 Hume Orthog. 2.
The printeres and wryteres of this age … wil not paen them-selfes to knau whither it be orthographie or skaiographie that doeth the turne 1638 Henderson Serm. 525.
We must pray with the heart … and not use lip-labour only, for that will not do the turn 1650 Dingwall Presb. 180.
[He … declared] that he would doe his owne turne, let judicatories doe quhat they list 1653 Binning Wks. 605.
Imputed righteousness comes in as a covering over the man's nakedness, and doth the turn of perfect inherent holiness 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 345.
We are called to use ordinary means, but when ordinary means will not do the turn, then they may look for something extraordinary

3. With reference to the turning or rotation of a wheel, etc.c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 184/8.
Fortoun sa fast hir quheill dois cary Na tyme bot turne can it tak rest 1603 Ellon Par. 57.
[Summoned before the session for profanation of the Sabbath by] schewing of schoone … [he] confessit only that he turneit ane scho airlie in the morning … [He was] absolvit in respect it was airlie in the morning and the turne small

4. A change in direction. b. fig. A change in circumstances, a change in the direction of events.1513 Doug. xii xii 119.
Turnus … Socht diuers wentis to fle throu owt the plane; With mony wyndis and turnys … Now heir, syne thar, onsovirly he socht 1596 Dalr. I 21/7.
Be mony turnes and boutgangings thay dryue the pray, now on this syd now on that syd of the riuer 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxx.
Both of them [sc. hares] ran away without a turn, and both of them escaped with their lives without a turn 1627 Kellie Pallas Armata 128.
The great turne to the right aboutb. 1626 Bk. Carlaverock II 75.
I wish their were a turn, and thei had thair tym about of waiting, to see if thei sal proove better husbandis a1658 Durham Comm. Rev. 486.
When reformation began, and the Popes kingdom took a turn 1674 Aberd. Council Lett. V 341.
It is now high tyme to remitt the money I was warranted to profer … 50 lib. to the persone mainlie concerned and fyve peaces to the gentleman I communed with, bot the last is to meane for so many turnes and froes we have had in it

c. A curve or bend in (part of) a building or structure. Also attrib.The 1529 and 1590 quots. may be a shortened form of Turngrece n.1529 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 7.
Lokkis … to the laicht dure in the turn in the tour at passis fra the sellaris 1535–6 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 190.
To the iii lychtis in the boise wyndo of the samyn [wairdrup] with … the ii small lychtis in the turne thairof 1670 Peebles B. Rec. II 82.
Gavin Thomsone … to poynt and mend the hoilles of the outsyde of the toun wall betuixt the Eist Porte and the turne of the wallattrib. 1590 Cart. S. Nich. Aberd. II 391.
For ane nek lok to the turne dur of the stepill 1650 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 253.
At the turnehied on the West Port thair would be planted twa small guns

5. An opportunity or occasion to do something.1513 Doug. xiii xi 81.
Eneas … Quham … Julian Doith clepe and call … Indigites, quhilk is alsmekill to say As god induellar, at thar sudiornys ay; And, in remembrans of this ilk turn [Ruddim. torne], Thai gan hys templis wirschip and adorn

b. An opportunity to do something in succession with others. Also by turns, in turns.(1) 1587 Reg. Great S. 464/1.
Cum advocatione ecclesie parochialis de Duffus be the thrid turne ab antiquo ad dictas terras spectante 1604 Ellon Par. 57.
[The poor of the parish are to be allotted among the householders, who are to] interteine him ilk ane their turne about in their houssis for the space of sax oulks 1637 Reg. Great S. 272/2.
Una cum terna vice lie turne advocationis rectorie et vicarie ecclesie parochialis de Benholme 1662 Inverness Rec. II 212.
To furnische … sufficient men in their stead … quhen ther or aither of ther tournis is to watch 1682 Cramond Kirk S. II 17 Sept.
The session this day considereing that the deacons did not keep their turnes of collecting for the poore, enacted that thesse who would not keep their oune day for collecting … should pay for each dayes absence, halfe a marke(2) 1592 Cal. Sc. P. X 683.
That nyne of these, to witt, three of everye sorte shall attende and remaine together by tourns for the space of three moneths at Edenburgh c1650 Spalding I 209.
He had about ane hundreth brave muskiteiris quhairof fyftie wes still in seruice be turnes 1682 Musselburgh 49.
The Counsell appoynts the inhabitants to be wairned by turnes to assist at the redding of the harberie 1744 Dunkeld Presb. II 51.
The brethren were removed by turns, and the usual questions having been proposed to each of them … there was nothing censureable found in any of them

6. A matter or situation, esp. one requiring change or direction; a matter of dispute requiring to be resolved.1590 Reg. Morton I 170.
The turne betuix ȝow and … [him] mon ather be dealt furth be sum vther men that can lyk ȝou beyth or ellis mon continew quhill I returne 1590 Crail B. Ct. 25 Nov.
The bailleis off this burght ar putt to extraordinar expensis … be reassoun off thair office … for furtherance off the comoun turneis and effairis off the guid town 1600-1610 Melvill 368.
I have a calling to com heir be Chryst Jesus … and his kirk, wha hes speciall entres in this tourn, and against quhilks directlie this conventioun is mett 1600 Facs. Nat. MSS III lxxvi.
Vse all expeditione for the twrne vold nocht be lang delayit 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 107.
I dowt nocht butt ȝour moist sacreid maiestie will swa settill thatt turne, as heirefter thay be na cawisse of gruge on alther syd 1608 Bk. Islay 126.
We and some otheris of your Majesteis counsell … had some privat meetings … for the furtherance and advancement of that turne 1610 Breadalbane Lett. 21 July.
Ȝour maister neidis to dout na mair bot frelie proseid and end this langsome turne betuix ȝour maister and Weime c1650 Spalding I 240.
The Marques convoyis ilkane of his tua mareit dochteris to there owne houssis. … He procures ane saif conduct … to his sone Lodovick … Thir turnes satlit, the Marquess [etc.] a1651 Calderwood IV 712.
I have learned … that yee … make your advantage of all turnes that come in your maniement

7. A measure of the estimated amount of grain to be produced viewed as a multiple of the amount of seed sown.1597 Crail B. Ct. 27 April.
Sawin in the ground thrie firlottis twa pekis quheit estimat to the thrid turne 1597 Crail B. Ct. 3 Sept.
Sawin nyne bollis beinis estimat to the ferd turne inde xxxvj bollis 1627 Brechin Testaments 13 Aug.
Sawin nyne bollis aitis estimat to the thrid turne extendinge to tuentie sewin bollis aitis

b. pl. With possess.: One's personal affairs or circumstances.1590 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs I 313.
That Maister Thomas Menzes … and Alexander Rutherfurde pretending thame selffis commissioneris be remowit … becaus they haue chosin furth thame selffis, or at leist ar onlye chosin be ane few number of thair awin freyndis priuatlye … for advysement of thair awin turnis 1590 Reg. Morton I 170.
Being myndfull till haif spokin with the Erll of Huntlie heir in sic turnis of my awin as I wreit of to ȝour Lordship affoir c1598 Milne-Home MSS 72.
Quhether the Kingis twrnes had moir ned of me heir or my owne ther I vot not 1607 Lett. & St. P. Jas. VI 113.
We have satlit all our awin towrnis amangis ourselfis 1612 Edinburgh Testaments XLVII 62b.
As concerning his warldlie turnis he nominatis … his twa bairnes to be his only executoris 1619 Thanes of Cawdor 247.
Hawe a cair of your awin turnis in the northe 1629 Maxwell Mem. II 202.
As to my Lord of Nidisdeillis awin turneis, sua far as I can larne, thay go hardle