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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.

Turs, Trus(s, v.¹ Also: turs(s)e, twrs, torss, tirs, truch, truce, trous(e. P.t. also turst, terssit, tross(it, trist. P.p. also turset, turst. [ME and e.m.E. trosse(n (1297), trusse(n (c1300), trus (c1440), truss (a1533), trowse (1545), OF trusser, trosser, to(u)rser.] tr.

1. To tie in a bundle, pack up. Also const. prep. and fig. b. To load (a pack animal) with bundles.(1) pres. 1375 Barb. xvii 859.
He gert turs his ger in hy And … Till Ingland hame his way he tais 1530–1 Treas. Acc. V 411.
For vj faddum of corde to turs the said speris with to Striveling xij d. 1535 Stewart 56307.
In Cummerland tha left nocht worth ane sow, … Syne all the laif, … To turs or carie that wnganand wes … tha brynt it all in as ?c1675 J. Gordon Hist. III 126.
Others residents in the towne, wer tursing ther baggage and houshold stuffe with intentione to remove from Edinburghp.t. 1375 Barb. v 391.
Syne all the gudis turssyt [C. tursit] thai That thaim thocht thai mycht haiff away … namly wapnys & armyng Siluer and tresour and clethyng 1375 Barb. xix 722.
Apon the morn all preuely Thai tursit [C. turst] harnays and maid redy ?1438 Alex. i 73.
Thir knichtis of Grece … And squyaris wicht … Tursit thair harnes halely, And led thair guid steidis thame by c1475 Wall. viii 941.
Thir gud wermen … Tursyt tentis, and in the contre raidp.p. 1375 Barb. v 395.
Tursyt 1529 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 6.
Quhen thai [sc. candlemakers] pas throw the towne that thai [sc. candles] be honestlie tursit(2) a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 224.
Thai turssit vp tentis and turnit of toun c1475 Wall. ix 1223.
Thai … Turssyt furth ger, that Sothroun had brocht thar a1500 K. Hart 751.
Dame Plesance … airlie affoir the sone scho gan to ryse Out of the bed and turst vp all hir geir 1676 Lauder Notices Affairs I 109.
My Lord Argile … trussed up bag and baggage, and away to Strivelingfig. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 200/38.
Sum in his toung his kyndnes tursis 1602 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 1051.
[The alliance with Florence is not so strong … besides that the French king … is already matched with Florence and who knows what] pactiouns [or] trusis [them]b. a1570-86 Maitland in Maitl. F. 38/44.
We waist far mar now lyk vane fulis We and our page to turs our mulis Nor thai did than

2. a. To pack up and carry off in a bundle; to transport (goods, booty, etc.) in this fashion. b. To carry or convey more generally.Also with adverbial complement. Also fig. The Knox quot. appar. refers to a statue.a., b. (1) a1500 Sir Eger 1643 (L).
The helms he might not turse them baith, But to choose he thought no skaith. … The better helm then he it took 1489 Treas. Acc. I 119.
To the ȝong man that dwellis with George of Douglas, that twrs the copburde, quhen his hors wes takin fra him 1498 Acta Conc. II 291.
The sadis persons … reft fra him aucht silver spunis … speris … and al uther insicht gudis that thai micht turse and keist the remanent in the fyre c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 134/18.
The remanes ar eith to turs; I have na preiff her bot my purs, Quhilk wald not lie 1531 Bell. Boece I 76.
[Caesar] returnit in France levand behind him ane huge pray of guddis, quhilk micht nocht be turst for laik of schippis 1533 Boece 44b.
Euery ane for furnessing of his folkis suld apoun cariage hors turs victualis to lest xl dayis 1534 Treas. Acc. VI 209.
For xvj sergis to thame to turs that wes accusit of heresy 1540 Lynd. Sat. 157 (Ch.).
Thocht I ane seruand lang haif bene, My purchais is nocht worth ane preine: I may sing Peblis on the greine For ocht that I may tursse 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 642.
Twa vther fellowis to turse his geir(2) c1420 Wynt. viii 4602 (C).
Schir Thomas … of that hurt deyt he … His corsse withe thaim terssit [R. tursyd] thai syne 1464 Aberd. B. Rec. (SHS) cxi n. 2.
That … na freman na unfre turs na hafe to the monthe … nothir woll hide na skynnis to sell out of the fredome c1475 Wall. i 128.
This jowell [sc. the Stone of Scone] he gert turs in till Ingland c1475 Wall. viii 1070.
Wallace strak off his hed, Jop hynt it wp, and turst [it] fra that sted 1507 Treas. Acc. IV 75.
To the man that tursit the kingis bed to the Hunthall and agane to Strivelin 1513 Doug. i vi 126.
Rewthfull Ene am I, That Troiane golddis tursys [Ruddim. caryis] in my navy, Quham fra amyd our ennemys I rent 1513 Doug. xi iii 88.
Na ces thai not apon the iargand wanys The gret akys to turs away atanys 1513 Doug. xi xvii 18.
On thar wery schuldris … Thar byg bowys onbent has tursyt hame 1513 Doug. xii iv 29.
The bestis furth hes tursyt [Ruddim. turssit] this ilke syre Onto the altar 1513 Doug.xiii iv 78.
This litill rowt [sc. of bees] furth sprentis … Tursand thar byrdyngis … heir and thar 1523 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 8.
The inqueist ordanis … nane to turs his corn in tyme to cum fra my lordis myll quhil the multer of ȝour awin myll be pait to the lordis myllare 1531 Bell. Boece I lvii.
In the time of weir, thay had thair cariagis and vittallis turst with thaim on thair hors 1531–2 Treas. Acc. VI 22.
iiij elnis braid dornik to be ij altare towellis to turs about with the kingis grace 1535 Stewart 15329.
Cattell and corne, and vther thingis small, Tha haif gart turs attouir this foirsaid wall 1539 Glasgow Prot. IV 119.
I wyll Sanct Mungo bell be tursyt ryngand throwch the towne … be the belman 1540 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 217.
Half a boll of quheit … quhilk he trist out of Helistoun 1541 Treas. Acc. VII 456.
For the fraucht of thre fidder of leid turset furtht of Leith 1544–5 Treas. Acc. VIII 345.
To ane other boy quha tursit lettres upoun Andro Hammiltoun of the Medo, to Paslay, xij d. 1557 Irvine Mun. II 10.
The said William producit the kinges confirmatioun … and said it was ane our precious jowall … to turs betuex bourghes 1561–2 Edinb. Old Acc. II 155.
Thre peonaris that turst ane ledder to and fre the gallois c1575 Balfour Pract. 599.
The wardane aucht and sould tak and apprehend all and sindrie our soverane lord's lieges, turseand and carryand nolt, scheip, horse, or victuallis furth of this realme c1604 Dundee Shipping P. 78.
For ewerrei cayrt was tok in we had fowrtein rayallis and we torss in ane hownder and awcht and tuentwi careit [sic] ane halfabsol. a1585 Maitl. Q. 7/31.
Thefis that steillis and tursis hamefig. 1513 Doug. xi xiii 86.
Na litill renowne From thens thou sal do turs away with thé 1513 Doug. xiii iii 56.
Quhou mony slichtis and dissatis quent With thé thou tursis 1558-66 Knox I 74.
I schaip my selfe, within schort quhyle, To turse our Ladie in Argyle

c. In constructions referring to the means of packing or transportation used with the receptacle, etc. as quasi-subject or const. in.(1) 1473 Treas. Acc. I 15.
v elne of braid clath to turs the kingis dowblatis and his hos 1492 Treas. Acc. I 200.
For a bulget to Dave Ogilbe to twrs the commissionis and oderis letteris 1497 Treas. Acc. I 361.
To ane cariage, to tirs that samyn hert to Edinburgh … vj s. iiij d. 1501 Treas. Acc. II 23.
For tua cadgeatis to the king to turs sarkis bonatis hattis and smal gere, l s. 1531 Treas. Acc. V 436.
For the cariage hors to turs the arres werkis quhilkis hang in the abbay, the kingis bowis, arrowis, and uthir geir of the wardrob, to Striveling(2) 1488 Treas. Acc. I 88.
For a sadil to twrs thaim [sc. boxes] in to Edinburgh 1502 Treas. Acc. II 150.
For … scarlait to lyne the cais that the collair of [gap in text] wes tursit in to Ingland 1532 Treas. Acc. VI 25.
For x quartaris canves to be ane poik to turs the kingis bed claithis in 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 172.
Ane horne to turs the said pulder in 1551 Treas. Acc. X 31.
For ane creill to turs nalis in furth of the castell of Edinburght to Arrane 1552 Treas. Acc. X 124.
For ane bonett cais to turs the said confirmatioun in to the Maister of Maxwell 1585 Treas. Acc. MS 111a.
Ane polk to turs vintris in

3. To convey or take (a person) (to, fra a place). Also reflex. Also applied to an animal. 1456 Hay I 58/15.
Thare was sa mony wommen with thair barnis tursit with thame 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1086.
Our horsis flaw and raid nocht, as thocht me: Now out of France tursit in Tuskane, Now out of Flanders heich vp in Almanie 1504 Treas. Acc. II 468.
To ane woman that tursit the More lasses fra Dunfermlyne to Edinburgh 1513 Doug. v xii 116.
Chose ȝong men of hart maste curagious Turs in Itale with thé 1513 Doug. xi xiii 155.
Thy slycht and wylis sal thé nocht beir away, Nor haylscarth hyne do turs thé hame fra ws Onto thy faderis hows 1515 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 52.
Our said soverane lord and his brothir suld have bene takin be craft and subtillite furtht of the castell of Striveling, and thareftir be force … have bene tursit and deliverit in to the handis of Inglis men 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 354.
Ambrose … tuke the charge of bataill on him, and gart turs him apon ane littair betuix twa grete hors 1535 Stewart 56895.
This gude Douglas quhome[of] befoir I ment, Efter the feild wes tursit to his tent 1604-31 Craig ii 69.
Apes turse the whelps they loue from tree to tree

b. To send (a person or persons) away, to send packing. Also reflex., get yourself off. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 504.
Louse thy hose That I may touch thy tone wyth tribulation In recompensing of thy conspiration, Or turse thé out of Scotland; tak thy chose a1540 Freiris Berw. 510 (B).
Thairfoir thow turs thé to thyne awin ressett 1596 Dalr. II 183/13.
Al Scotis … suld be turssed away to Scotland

4. To seize and carry away. 1513 Doug. xi xiv 75.
This ern strenys hys gryp, And with hys bowand beik rentis grewsly … Noyn othyr wys this Tarchon tursys hys pray 1586–7 Rait & Cameron King James's Secret 152.
Ve ar surly advertisit that the berar is to be trussit be the vay for our pacquet so that we differ it til our awn coming

b. fig. To demand, seek, ask for. 1513 Doug. vii i 137.
The pepil … Thar dowtsum axyng tursis [L. petunt] for ansuer, And thar petitions gettis assolȝeit heir

5. a. To tie, fasten, ? line, ? bind (a garment) (with something). b. To fasten, hitch or tuck up (a garment). c. To wear (a garment).a. c1522 Doug. in Doug. (Sm.) I p. cviii.
The kingis riche govnys of moist fyne cloith of gold tursit with fynest sabillis 1565 Gathering of the Halie Signes 24.
The belt quhair-with the aube is trussit, to signifie the band of the luif of God 1567 Crim. Trials I i 493.
A pair of blak velvet hoise, trussit with silver and ane doublet of satin of the same maner 1603 10th Rep. Hist. MSS App. i 31.
Ane wnce of coullors of silk to truch my gounsb. 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 62.
The Capuchin … being bare legged … had … but to truce up his gowen and pass over [the burn] 1682 Kingarth Par. Rec. 134.
She found the las lying on her bake, and Patrick ran away trousing up his clothsc. 15.. Clar. iii 686.
Scho hir denudit of hir vestur … And left no thing upon hir bodie … Except hir sark … scho them frelie offerit … All that scho tursit, but hir litill chaine

6. To tie or fasten (ropes) on board ship. 1513 Doug. v xiv 6.
Than all sammyn, with handis, feit, and kneis, Did heis thar saill, and trossit [Ruddim. crossit] doun ther teis