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.
Tos(s, Tost, v. P.p. also to(t)cheit, tochit, tost, tos't, toist(it. [e.m.E. toss (1506), tosse (1545), tost (1606), Norw. and Sw. dial. tossa to spread, strew.]
1. tr. To pitch (a ship, etc.) to and fro (on the sea). Also fig. and in fig. context.1540 Lynd. Sat. 609 (Ch.).
I … am cum heir now at the last, Tostit on sea ay sen Ȝuill day, That wee war faine to hew our mast 1571 Sempill in Sat. P. xxviii 4.
The mutabiliteis Of this inconstant warld sa variabill, Lyke to ane schip that saillis on the seis, Tost with winds 1591-2 Rob Stene 22.
Schippis can not be thocht sa hable, As veschell fragill and unstable, Toist heir and thair … Lyk that inconstant element, Quhairon thay saill 1611-57 Mure Dido & Æneas i 277.
Thus tos't with stormes … Each to some speciall office him betaks: Some sailes pull in, others the oares imploy [etc.]fig. 1602 Colville Paraenese 8.
In the schip of Crystis church tosted this day … to and fro 1604-9 Grahame Anat. Hum. 58.
We are all … tosting and tumbling vpon the large and depe seas of this world; threatned with the devouring gulfes of temptations 1632 Lithgow Trav. v 215.
The whirlwind of time, still so speedy posts, That like it selfe all things therein it tosts
2. To afflict, agitate, trouble (a person or his soul). Chiefly fig.1567 G. Ball. 153.
I was betin … With scurgis … And as ane fule mockit, Euill tocheit [v.rr. totcheit, tochit] and rockitfig. 1560 Acts II 526/2.
Lang have we thristit … to haue notifeit vnto the warld the soume of that doctrine quhilk we profesis … sick hes bene the rage of Sathan against ws … that to this day na tyme hes bene grantit vnto ws to cleir oure consciences … for how we haue bene tossit a haill ȝeir past the maist parte of Ewrope (as we suppois) dois vnderstand 1603 Philotus 442.
Lyke as the captiue with ane tyrant taine, Perforce with promise toistit to and fro 1603 E. Melville Godlie Dreame 21.
My sillie saull was tossit to and fro, With sindrie thochts quhilk troublit me full soir c1610 Melville Mem. 61.
The tresorer began to delait what troubles his Maieste had been tossit with during his minorite 1626 Garden Worthies 40.
Your mother countrie … with intestine tumults tost 1632 Lithgow Trav. v 199.
Thus was I tost … With strugling doubts 1638 Henderson Serm. 283.
Albeit thou be tosted to and fro thus with divers afflictions 1685-8 Renwick Serm. 205.
Tossed and troubled and herried 1687 Shields Hind Let Loose Pref. xi.
They are thrust at, and tossed on both hands, by enemies and professed friends a1700 Charters Spiritual Disc. 103.
Tossed and agitated by diverse lusts and passions; the fumes of these … darken the minds of men
b. intr. or absol. To throw oneself around in agitation.a1605 Montg. Sonn. xlv 9.
They turne, they tost, they rave, they rage, they rost, As catives crost, vhill they ȝour favour find
c. To have (one's name) the subject of debate or rumour, or bandied about.1678 Lauder Observes 274.
It had been [more] for Brughton's oune advantage to have done so, then to have suffered his name to have tossed, and that odious cryme to have been ript up as it was
3. tr. To spread, circulate (a rumour).1569 Sc. Hist. Rev. I 40.
The brwt off this conspiracy was tossed vp & down al Edinburgh the self same day that the persown tald it vnto me
4. To turn over in one's mind, consider, examine closely; to discuss.1572 Buch. Detect. (1727) 14.
This answer quhen scho had ane quhyle tossit in hir mynde, and knew that he said treuth 1699 Forrester Bishops Claim i 69.
This trite and often baffled argument … has been so frequently scanned and tossed by writers
