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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Taburn(e, Tabo(u)r, n. Also: tabern(e, tab(b)orn(e, tabro(u)n(e, tabrowne, tabouryne, tauburn(e, taubroun, tawbern(e, tawbero(u)n, tawbron, talburn, talborne, talbrone, talbroun, talberone, tabar(e, taber, tabuir, talbert, tabret, tambour. [ME and e.m.E. tabour (c1290), taber (1325), tabourn (1330-40), taburn (a1340), taberett (a1377), tawburn (c1400), tambour (Caxton), tabbern (1559-60), OF tabur, tabour(in, tambour, med. L. taburna.] A (small) drum, a tabor or taborin, freq. used to alert public attention. Also swesche tabroun (see Swesch(e n. 1 b).Also, once, appar. erron. tr. Latin tubicines.(a) ?1438 Alex. i 827.
Trumpetis, taburnes [F. tambors] and hornes blast Soundit sa hideously … The greatest hoist … Suld of that sicht abasit be 1460 Hay Alex. 5847.
The trumpis and taburnis blew anone 1533 Bell. Livy I 238/13.
Causit horsmen with swasche and taberne [L. cornicines tubicinesque] to play all nycht about the trynschis 1535 Stewart 11888.
Tabernis 1535 Stewart 13587.
Tabborne 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 136.
The din of instrumentis, Of tabrone, trumpet, schalme, & clarioun 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 103.
Taburne 1543–4 Ayr B. Acc. 93.
Tabroun 1544 Treas. Acc. VIII 278.
To twa men that playit upon the swesche quhilkis had thair tabronis brokin thair be the Inglischemen … xliiij s. 1561 Edinb. B. Rec. III 114.
The maisteris and seruandis of thair craftis to be in radynes to cum to the said prouest and baillies at the sound of the common bell, trumpet or tabroun, in armour and wappinnis 1567 Edinb. B. Rec. III 244.
The prouest baillies and counsall … ordanis that na swesche nor tabroun be strekkin within this burgh without command and licence obtenit thairto 1558-66 Knox I 259.
Tabornes and trumpettis, banerris and bage-pypes 1574 Aberd. B. Rec. II 21.
Johnne Cowpar … playand upon the almany quhissil, with ane servand with him playand on the tabroune 1575 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 334.
The Toun of Dumfries … brought a reader of their own with tabron and whisle, and caused him read the prayers a1578 Pitsc. I 374/20.
Tabrowne 1579 Mill Mediæv. Plays 224.
Tabouryne 1579–80 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 155.
This act wes proclamit throw the toun … be sound of the tabern(b) ?1438 Alex. ii 1504.
Thay hard trumpettis and elephantis, Tauburnes and seir instrumentis 1489 Treas. Acc. I 110.
To Pringill to mende his tawberne, at the kingis commande xviij s. 1504 Treas. Acc. II 457.
To Cloffies, be the kingis command, quhen Cuddy Rig tuk his taubroun, xxviij s. 1504–5 Treas. Acc. III 132.
To the Moryen taubronar to pay for paynting of his taubroun, xxviij s. 1513 Doug. ix x 66.
Quhar as the quhissill rendris soundis seir, With tympanys, tawbronys [Ruddim. tawbernis], ȝe war wont to heir 1533 Bell. Livy I 238/19.
The noyis of swasche and tawberon [L. sonitu] 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 336.
Tawberoun(c) c1450-2 Howlat 760 (A).
The trumpe, and the talburn, the tympane but tray a1500 Seven S. 2521.
Thai blewe organis & rang the bellis With trumpe & talburn playit lowde 1535 Stewart 13679.
Talborne c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2505.
Thay beir ane auld stock image throuch the toun, With talbrone, troumpet, schalme, and clarioun 15.. Clar. iv 2346.
When all hade servit God, and syne disjunit, Talbrounis and trumpits syne up tunit 1563 Acts II 543/2.
That nane of our souerane ladyis liegis … put on armoure cleith thame selfis with wappinnis or mak sound of trumpet or talberone or vse culueringis, displayit banners, anseinȝeis or vthers instrumentis bellicall … without the speciall licence of our said souerane lady(d) 1460 Hay Alex. 3396.
Thai blew thare buglis, thare trumpettis, thare tabouris 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) ii 43.
The devil … beats all hell up with a taber, To make reformers lose their labour(e) 15.. Clar. ii 1476.
Talbert(f) 1636 Re-examination of the Five Articles 139.
That complaint be made upon the towne of Dunfreis, for … convoying a reader to the church with tabret and whisle, to reade prayers(g) 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 123/81.
A tambour couured uith a simple muttunis skinn

b. transf. A drummer. 1542 Treas. Acc. VIII 150.
To the four trumpettis of weir and twa taburnis, for thair pensioune and fee 1561 Treas. Acc. XI 83.
To the tabroun be the said space, vj li. 1586 Reg. Privy C. IV 111.
[Two] taboriis [and] phipper, £10 each 1590 Edinb. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 199.
To foure tabareis & ane peper the day of the musteris … iij li. vj s. 1591 Edinb. B. Rec. V 56 note.
I gaif to the pfefer and tua tabouris for thair panes … 33 s. 4 d. 1605 Glasgow B. Rec. I 227.
The baillies … hes ordanit the tabuiris [pr. tabuirie] to pas throw the towne [etc.]

c. ? A further example of b above or ? indicating a signal for the commencement of some activity, hence belonging to the main sense. 1597 Cal. Sc. P. XIII 47.
[My brother parted to Calais and there took some order with his host of his lodging for his surfeit charges which he and his company were forced to make and left his friend who accompanied him there in] paindes [= pawn] [till his return … and took a] tambour [and came to Boulogne from thence thinking to come here to have made his overture]