Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Tour, Towr(e, n.¹ Also: toure, tuor, tu(i)re, turr(e, twre, tor(r)(e, towir, touir, -er, tower. [ME and e.m.E. tur (Ancr. R.), tour (c1290), toure, ture (both Cursor M.), towr (Wyclif), tor (14th c.), torre (a1400-50), tower (Tindale), OE torr, OF tor, tur a tower, L. turr-, Gael. tòrr a conical hill, OIr. tor, túr a tower, W. twr a tower, torr belly, bulge, knob.]

I. 1. A building, taller than those around it, sometimes freestanding but chiefly forming (part of) a defence, part of a castle, church, etc., a tower. Also as part of a proper name or having a particular function. 1629 Lowther's Jrnl. 10.]
[The houses of the Grames … are but one little stone tower garretted and slated or thatched, some of the form of a little tower not garretted(1) 1375 Barb. ii 221.
Perth … wes rallyt all about With feile towris, rycht hey battaillyt To defend giff it war assaylit a1400 Leg. S. ii 781.
Towre c1420 Wynt. i 877, 879.
A towre of huge hycht Wes bygyt … That towre Babell callyde he 1501 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 89.
He sall furnys in hewing vj^c fete of aslaurris to the furnessing and completing of the towre of the tolbuith c1563 Reg. Panmure I cxliii.
The castelle hes beine fowr quarters, … ane hie and square towre, withe ane gryt barmkine wale passand fra towre to towre 1639 Breadalbane Lett. MS No. 758.
The towre is inhabitable quhen thair is any weit(b) 1375 Barb. x 473, 478.
The wardane that was in the tour … quhen he saw The castell tynt … set his mycht for to defend The tour a1400 Leg. S. vi 578.
I with besynes & cure Has bygyt now a wel he toure ?1438 Alex. ii 38.
Babilon, the maister tour 1460 Hay Alex. 929.
That battell was als stark as ony tour 1490 Irland Mir. I 54/14.
A stark toure maid with nobile lyme and seymont 1501 Treas. Acc. II 85.
To Johne Ȝorkstoun, masoun, … for the heding of the fore toure lxvj li. xiij s. iiij d. To Johne Lokhert, masoun, in pairt of payment of the ȝet toure bigging in Strivelin xl li. 1502 Treas. Acc. II 149.
To the mas[onis for] grounding of the kechin toure 1513 Doug. ix ix 11 (Ruddim.).
Thare stude ane toure of tre … With battelling and kirnellis all at richt, … nere by the ȝet, Quham to assailȝe, ouercum, and doun bet With hale pissance all the Italianis [etc.] 1529 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 3.
xxii stanis and ane half maid irne werk in ane greit bande windo to the northt lycht aboun the woltis in the gret chalmer of the tour 1531 Bell. Boece II 476.
The Duk of Albany … brocht him to Falkland, and inclusit him in the tour thairof, but ony meit or drink 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 331.
The regentis grace … past out of the tour of the abbay, throw the inwart clois to the north hall thairof 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 189.
That [he] … caus dimolische … the inner barmkin of the said hous [sc. Draffen Castle] and the tour upoun the south nuke of the samin, as alsua the tour upoun the north nuke at the entres 1596 Dalr. I 16/10.
Johne the last archiebischope of Sanctandrois … erected the tour of the kirke of Paslay 1596 Dalr. I 22/25.
The touris of nobill men sax myles in circuite about this castel ar erected maist strenthie eftir the maner of the cuntrey … abone ane hunder in number, quhilkes are decored with verie fair lugengs 1622-6 Bisset II 332/2.
Severus sone beand governour of Brytoun builded and repared the wall of Adrian stronglie witht touris 1681 Highland P. I 319.
For poynting 17 rood betuixt the turnpyke round of toure and the gallerie with the golden toure(c) 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1433.
A palice stude with mony royall towris … Gilt birneist torris, quhilk like to Phebus schone 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 79.
To Alexander Chalmer and Sir Johne Gylgour payntouris … for stuf to the tua lyonis and torris upon the heid of the tua west roundis [sc. of Holyrood Palace] 15.. Clar. iv 977.
The queinis scaffold … With goldin torris and goldin chainis cleir(d) 1519 Reg. Episc. Aberd. II 178.
The southtest tovir witht Item ane standane bed 1540 Treas. Acc. VII 487.
Twa stane xj pund Spanȝe irn … to be ane irn ȝet to the hed of the tower in the palice of Halyrudehous 1659 A. Hay Diary 41.
The sessioun had agreed with James Broun for his touer to be a schoole and a schoole house 1664 Bk. Dunvegan xlvii.
The gavell next to the little tower(e) 1558 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 295.
For … naills to nalle the skalye … to the tuor of the foir work 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 84.
Thai war commandit to remayne in waird within the auld tuire quhairin my lord of Murray lugeit(f) 1593–4 Edinb. B. Rec. V 110.
The repayring of the toun wall at the West Port, at the turre narrest the said port(2) 1357 Rot. Sc. 799/2.
Super turri vocata Douglas Tour prope castrum nostrum [de Berewico] c1420 Wynt. vii 1678.
In presowne thare he wes In the towre kepyd off Fales c1420 Wynt. viii 6481.
To the castelle throw Dowglas Towre [W. Wallace Toure] Held thare way 1461 Liber Plusc. I 282.
Turris illa vulgariter The Monk Tour 1498–9 Acta Conc. II 312.
The sade Jhone to be warnit at the toure of Trebauch 1510 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 10.
Robert Scot of the Towre, Jhone of Aillmar and Adam Scot 1517 Treas. Acc. V 120.
To Robert Balȝe for fluring of the lordis hall in David tour of the castel in Edinburgh x s. 1546–7 Cal. Sc. P. I 2.
[The principal strength of the said town … called] the Spey towr 1549 Compl. 20/22.
The grite tour of Babilone a1578 Pitsc. I 190/13.
He pat thame in the tour of Londoun and schone heirefter he murdreist thame baith crwelie 1681 Highland P. I 319.
For poynting four rood upon the taylȝeor toure £5 6 s. 8 d. 16… Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 198.
To the northert of Keppoch is the tour of Darlieth(3) 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 352.
Ane stane yrne and virkin of it to be stanschuris to the vatter ture 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 354.
Tua slottlokis to the bell ture

b. In various collocations with castle, fortalice, mansion, toun, etc., esp. in listing the (important) inhabited buildings of an area and their pertinents. See Toun n. 2 for further examples. a1400 Leg. S. xli 92.
Sal I … gif thé far possessione Of castellis, towris, & of towne c1450-2 Howlat 550 (A).
Murray … Deit, and a douchter had till his deir air, Off all his tressoun vntald, towris & townis a1500 Henr. Deth & Man 7.
Waltownis, castellis, towiris neuir so wicht May nocht resist 1512 Reg. Privy S. I 370/1.
The relefe, toure, peill and maner place of Levingstoun 1535–6 Reg. Privy S. II 290/1.
The Manys of the Reidcastell with the tower, fortalice and fischingis tharof 1542–3 Reg. Privy S. III 10/2.
With the tour, mansioun, houssis, and yardis thairof and thair pertinentis a1568 Bann. MS 23a/21.
All cuntreis tour and toun 1586 Grant Chart. 159.
Twre 1596 Dalr. I 139/26.
That steipilis, toures, castel ȝettis, gret pilleris of houses sulde be decored c1630 Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II 155.
There is a verie prettie toure or castell … builded on a rock … in the sea. This castle is called Illand Stalker

c. specif. The Tower of London. 1567 Sat. P. iii 102.
Now, euerie Dowglas of ane hartsum mynde, Think on dame Margaret sumtyme in the towre 1571 Misc. Bann. C. III 118.
Charles … was send to the Towre [sc. of London], quhair he was pute on the rak and racked a little 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxxi.
Robert vos send away in ane shipe to London quhar he wes emprisonet in the Towr 1661 Nicoll Diary 319.
Sir Arthour Hasilrig died in the Tour, prissoner

2. fig. As a type of something high or strong, a peak or height (of goodness, etc.).Some examples may involve both ideas. a1400 Leg. S. x 147.
Men suld make a toure to wyn Hewyne & thare to dwell in That is, be treutht & baptysme, tane, & nocht be warke of lyme & stane 1490 Irland Mir. I 146/10.
This glorius lady and virgin … is the toure and gret dungeone of oure strenthe and fortitude c1500 Makc. MS x 38.
Thow send ws help fra hewynis towr To brek his power & his pres c1500-c1512 Dunb. (STS) lxxxv 75.
Aue Maria, gratia plena! … Trywmphale hall, hie tour [Asl. trone] royall Of Godis celsitud 1562-3 Winȝet II 49/17.
Philip the Empriour … wes … sa excellent that he had ascendit the heich toure of al science 1562-3 Winȝet II 67/31.
The miserable saul fra the toure of the Catholik religioun mot be wappit heidlingis in the pot of hæreseis 1567 G. Ball. 126.
My sweit Sauiour … in this mortall lyfe, he is My strang defence and tour

b. Tower-and-fall-about, ? a height or peak (of experience) and the subsequent fall. 1660 Johnston Diary III 173.
I feared in a review of my waye their was too much of my natural violence and passionat humor and self-interest in my great opposition to the malignants, … without considering that I might have my tower-and-fall-about … ; Alas God hes gotten words from me and Sathan … al the deeds

c. Towrs of tree, ships. 1604-31 Craig i 22.
In fleeing towrs of tree thou croc'd the bounded roares, And brought our queene, thy sacred spouse to Calidonian shoares 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 70/25.
She commaunded Neptune for to be My princely guard and Triton to attend On artificial flying tours of tree

3. a. comb. Tour hous, = 1 above, a tower which is a dwelling-house. b. comb. Furnished with a tower. c. attrib. Of, belonging or pertaining to a tower.a. 1494 Acta Aud. 200/1.
The distructioun … of the tour hous & place of Burnnehous 1685 Lauder Observes 197.
He had fled into ane old tower house of his father's in Renfrewb. 1675 Dunferm. B. Rec. II 303.
Ordains the haill workpeople in the town to goe furth & work at the ture brigc. 1539–41 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 280.
To the … barrowmen for redding … of ane trance … under the chapell in the tour kiching 1544 Treas. Acc. VIII 305.
To William Hill, smytht, for ane new tour lok to the new tour dur of Halyrudhous, xxx s. 1558 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 359.
To tua mortur men xviij d. on the day … for … makin of the ture yett 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 123.
Two men … wer slaine be the peices that lay on Dauidis touer heid 1582 Treas. Acc. MS 83.
Thecking of ane of the roundis of the towrheid 1649 Lamont Diary 9.
The towre-head of the house of Lundie in Fyfe was couered with leade

4. transf. A movable structure used in warfare as a means of attack. 1533 Bell. Livy II 147/33.
The towris, sowis, braid targis and other sindri ingynes that thai maid to wyn the toun

b. A structure on the back of an elephant used in riding and carrying. a1538 Abell 14a.
400 oliphantis with towris on thair bakis

c. The rook or castle in the game of chess. a1649 Drummond Wks. (1711) 146.
For the towers or castles named rooks, these are the walled towns, which serve for a refuge for the conservation of the kingdom

II. A projection.

5. a. Schippis of tour, beaked warships. b. A knob on a piece of furniture. c. A (wooded) hill. d. The pommel of a saddle. e. Part of an ornamental structure in a garden.[Prob. directly Celtic in origin.]a. c1420 Wynt. iv 681.
Twelff hundyre schyppys gret off toure, [STS notes, rostratas naves] And off les thre thousand oure, … gert he Be … layd to se c1450-2 Howlat 774 (A).
He gart thaim se as it semyt … Huntyng at herdis in holtis so hair, Sound saland on the se schippis of towr, Bernes batalland on burde a1568 Bann. MS 249b/35.
Quhen Schippis off tour and ballingeris of weir Be thowsand sailis rycht swiftly ondir saill … Pulland down sailis and landand at Eildoun tre Than will my reuerend lady rew on meb. 1460 Hay Alex. 13438.
That bed … Was nocht bot gold and pretius stanis in it … On everie tor ane grete charbunkill was a1500 Seven S. 442.
The barnis credill was cassyn owre … the torris foure His face wele kepit fra the erd 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1801.
The creddill ouir thay cast … and on the toris it stude 1558-66 Knox II 404.
The quene … wes placeit in the chyre, haifing twa faithfull supportis, the Maister of Maxwell upoun the ane tor, and Secretour Lethingtoun on the uther tor of the chyrec. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 33.
Birkin bewis about, boggis and wellis … Bot torris and tene wais, teirfull quha tellis 1617 Urie Baron Ct. 25.
Thomas Buchan creat froster for the tor and wattersyd of Wrryed. 1562 Prot. Bk. J. Drummond 16b.
He straik the tor of the sadill 1596 Treas. Acc. MS 47a.
Veluet to cover the torris and heid of the saidill 1611 Reg. Panmure I xxx.
His grayhounds killed ane hare, quhilke was hung to ane of the laird's servants saddle's tore c1650 Spalding I 154.
He had ane carrabin in his hand, tuo pistollis be his sydis, and vther tua at his sadill torr 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 78.
Two Dutch ones [sc. pistolets], with their hulsters for the torre of the sadle 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 14.
A horse he never doth bestride, Without a pistol at each side And without other two before, at either sadle toree. a1586 Maitland Ho. Seytoun 35.
In the quhilk gardin I haue sein fyve scoir torris of tymber, about the knottis of the flouris; ilk ane twa cubite of hicht haveand tua knoppis on the heid ane aboue ane vther, als grit everilk ane as ane row-boull, overgilt with gold [etc.]