Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Turnbroch, Turn(e)broch(e, n. Also: (turebrocke). [ME and e.m.E. turnebroche (15th c.), turnbroach (1596), turnbroch (1682).] A person whose duty was to turn the spit, also as a term of contempt. 1496 Misc. Hist. Soc. IX 67.
Lez turnbrochis in dictes coquinis 1508 Exch. R. XIII 127.
Duobus le turnebrochis 1527 Treas. Acc. V 314.
To the turnbrochis for thair coitis xix s. ix d. 1541 Treas. Acc. VII 476.
To twa turn broches in the kingis kecheing, and twa in the courte kecheing, ilk ane of thame xxvj s. 1541–2 Treas. Acc. VIII 65.
Gevin to Gud, the turnbroche in the kingis kecheing, to by him ane cote and doublet, and furnesing thairto lij s. 1570 Cal. Sc. P. III 545.
[She should cut her hair, and blot her face and body with filth, as though she were some] turnbroche [of the kitchen] 1580 Treas. Acc. MS 33b.
Turnebrocheis 1657 Balfour Ann. II 195.
His [sc. the King's] traine consisted of … 8 cookes, skurers and turnebroches, 42 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 379.
Turebrockes