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.
Quotation dates: 1595-1699
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Turnour, n.2 Also: turnor(e, -er, -ouer, (turnbore). [Appar. altered f. Tournais adj. (n.).] a. A copper coin usually valued at two Scots pennies.1629 Lowther's Jrnl. 43.]
[A turnamoure aliter a bodwell or a black dog, the 6th part of an English penny 1595–6 Frasers of Philorth II 251.
Tua penny peices, callit turnouris 1637 Banff Ann. I 78.
Turnoris 1631 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 77.
Memorandum the turnors in the new 3 thrissle weyis thribule off the turnors that ar last strikin 1631 Stirling's Royal Lett. II 538.
Turnbores 1633 Lithgow Poet. Remains 111.
Turners 1634 Stirling's Royal Lett. II 782.
Ther ar some who have presumed of late to vent … false and counterfyted turnours 1639 J. Gordon Hist. III 88.
A whyle befor … Sir William Alexander … then Earle of Sterlin … a man extremly prodigall, had purchased a licence for to coyne above the value of ane hundereth thousands pounds Scottish … of thes small turnors, for to be some recrute to his creacked fortune 1639 Acts V 598/2.
And ordanis the strykouris of all fals turnouris to be punished with death 1639 Acts V 599/2.
All mylned turnouris beiring the stamp … to pass only for ane pennie whair they had cours befor for two pennies c1640 Dundonald Par. Rec. 524.
Let George Wschart … receave the tickets from them who entred in to the tables … Let him tak good heid … that he receave not … turners insted of tickets 1640 Aberd. Council Lett. II 198.
Warne all freinds to have their turners and dispeche them. For I fele they salbe callit doune to half penneis 1640 Glasgow B. Rec. I 422.
Thretie dollours and ane halfe of good dollours, and alevine and ane halfe of turnouers [pr. turnovers] quhilk sall be put in the touns commoune chist 1640–1 Misc. Spald. C. V 157.
The comptar aucht to be discharget of the soume of sex punds four shillings of new turnors … becaus the same ar not current moneyis a1649 Drummond II 243.
Bishopes are like the turnores, most men say; Though now cryed down, they'll vp some other day 16… Dalyell Darker Superst. 154.
[Another charm consisted in taking from the owner] thrie turnouris, rubbing thame vnder the lap of his cot … and caussing thame to be cassin in a tub full of cleane water, not suffering it to tutche the ground: [and of this a cow being] braine wood for the tyme, should drink c1650 Spalding I 235.
King Charles turnouris, stricken be the Erll of Striviling, be virtue of the kingis gift, wes, be proclamatioun … cryit doun fra tua penneis to ane penny; King James turnouris to pas for tua penneis, becauss thay war no less worth; and the kaird turnouris simpliciter dischargeit as falss cungȝie … this proclamatioun wes schortlie recallit, becaus there wes no other money passing to mak change, and so wes sufferit to pas for tuo penneis for a tyme c1650 Spalding I 263, 264.
Yow sie befoir … sum order taking with the passing of turnouris, quhairof sum wes apointit to pas for ane penny, bot now thay wold giue nothing, penny nor half penny, for King Charles turnouris, bot King James turnouris onlie sould pass. Quhairby all chenge and tred wes takin away throw want of current money, becaus thir slicht turnouris wes the onlie money almost passing throw all Scotland 1659 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III 482.
Each turner to be the weight of ane drop and ane halff 1661 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. I 59.
Counterfit turners … a thrid pairt lighter then the current turners of this kingdom 1662 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 178.
Turnours … are coyned at two merks in the pund which is … neir the intrinsick value 1676 Lauder Notices Affairs I 125.
Ane addresse to the Secret Councell for ordering the coining of more copper money in turners 1676 Rec. Convention of Royal Burghs III 667.
The convention considdering the scarcitie of copper coyne, viz., turners … think fitt that ane humble adress be made to his majesties privie councill for procureing warrand for inbringing the saids forraign coyns to pas at the rates forsaid 1695 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 249.
To put the sword and scepter supporting the croune in place of the cypher of the King and late Queens names upon the turners or two pennie peice 1699 Foulis Acc. Bk. 255.
To Jamie Gray to change for turners to the poor folk £1 8 s.
b. ? = Tournais n.1663 Cramond Ch. Alves 45.
30 shillings of French turners commonly called dytes 1675 Strathblane Par. 332.
Thar remaynes no more till this lyne of poors money bot the gud turnours and of French turnouris 12 sh. 8 d.
