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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.

Tilth(t, Teilth, n. Also: tilthe, tylth(e, tylt(ht, tilche, tylch(e, telche. [ME and e.m.E. tilþe (a1200), tilth (Cursor M.), telthe (15th c.), tilt (1674), OE tilþ.]

1. The action or fact of cultivating land, cultivation, tillage; an instance of this. Also attrib. with tyme.To mak tilthe, to cultivate; to bring to tilthe, to bring into cultivation.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxix 450.
Telemen left the tiltht … & folouyt hym c1420 Wynt. iii 219.
Na had yhoure tylch [W. telche, C. tilche] bene wrocht Wytht my qwy [etc.] 1502 Orkney Rentals i 24.
Thair entre to the first tilth in Februar the yeir of God I^m v^c & thre yieris 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 241.
The said Katrine wes wranguisly … eieckit furtht of hir saidis landis … in the hendering of hyre tyltht 1556 Black Bk. Taymouth 126.
Variabil vodyr lityl tylt 1559 Liber Melros II 648.
[They] hes causit to mak tilthe ane grete part of the said pasture 1581 Reg. Privy C. III 424.
[He] withhaldis fra thame thair … steding of Cliftounhall … and gif they be not haistelie repossest thairto, thay will tyne thair tilth and seid 14.. Acts (1597) ii 48.
Oxen … forbidden to be poynded … during the time of the tilth ?1549 Monro W. Isles (1961) 80.
All this tilth is delvit with spaidis 1611 Reg. Panmure I xcviii.
The first tennants quha hes rewine furthe newe landis and broucht them to tilthe be plewine [etc.] 1636 Peebles Gleanings 165.
To visit Kaidmure hillis anent ane new tilth thairof(b) 14.. Acts I 67/2.
Al that … may nocht eyr na mak teilth wyth oxin thai sal wyth thar handis and thar feit delf the erdeattrib. 1607 Rec. Earld. Orkney 178.
In tilthe tyme

2. (A piece of) cultivated land.Also ane plewcht tilth, ? a ploughland (Pleuch n. 4) of cultivated land and pleucht tylthe, ploughed (Pleuch v.) or cultivated land. a1400 Leg. S. xxix 326.
The feynd towne & tilth al mad wast 1544–5 Acts & Decr. II 34a.
The thirle multure of his cornis that grew … apon his landis … extending to ane plewcht tilth ȝerlie 1545 Corr. M. Lorraine 143.
As towart ther awnin teyndis sa fer as thai occupy be ther awin pleucht tylthe and manis we have sufferit thame to intromet therwith themselffis 1601 Rec. Earld. Orkney 175.
[To] mak tham part and partlyik acording to thair brethir part, debt, tilth, yarromang, and to mak aiche of thair partis alse gud as utheris is 1617 Orkney Rentals ii 150.
The takismen of the teilthis within the said bishoprick 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II 4.
For visiteing Homildone, and breaking ane tilth therupon [etc.] 1665 Peebles B. Rec. II 69.
The persones nominat for finding out of the tilth, reports the samyn wilbe found betuixt the Welshhoussis walles and the Wham foote 1676 Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct. Deeds II 93.
[Tack … by James Gordon … to Thomas and John Clerkis and Margaret McKie … of that part of his Maynis of Carletoun … they entering presently to the] tilth

3. Further examples of Oxin-tilth n. an oxgang of land. 1501 Acta Conc. III 64.
The landis … war worth v li. of silver and xvj oxin tylth befor the tyme of the assedacione 1556 Sc. Hist. Rev. IX 345.
Ane steding of aucht oxin tiltht with the haill plennissing thairof