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.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375, 1438-1568, 1626-1676
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Tursing, Turssing, vbl. n. Also: turrsyng, tussen, thurrsyng. [ME and e.m.E. trossinge (Ayenbite), trussyng (1367).]
1. The action of packing up for transportation. (Turs v.1 1.) ?1438 Alex. ii 323.
At that tursing men micht here Great noyes and din, quha had bene neir ?a1450 Florimond 173.
Philip gart mak his tursing thair, And his folk reddie that suld fair 1501–2 Treasurer's Accounts II 132.
For ane pund caddas to the relique of Sanct Ninianes arme for the tursing of the samyn, iij s.
2. The action of conveying goods, etc. (to a place); transportation, carriage. (Turs v.1 2.) 1474 Treasurer's Accounts I 53.
For the tursing of the arres clathys to the abbay … and vthir smale expensis … iij li. vij s. vj d. 1494 Treasurer's Accounts I 250.
For tussen of the stede to the smede, viij d. 1495 Treasurer's Accounts I 242.
For the tursing of the kingis letacampbed … to Dunbertane 1503–4 Treasurer's Accounts II 415.
To Maister Thomas Dikson for the expens maid on the tursing of the Beschop of Sanctandrois to Sanctandrois to be beryit 1505 Treasurer's Accounts III 139.
For tursing of the Ewcrist fra Strivelin to Edinburgh in ane mannis hand iij s. … for tursing of ane letroun and ane buke xviij d. 1517 Treasurer's Accounts V 117.
For tursing of iiij cartis with ger out of the castell to the abbay 1523 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 182.
Lang sadillis, gadmuschis, and all uthiris thingis necessar for tursing of cariage 1541 Treasurer's Accounts VII 441.
For tursing of ane coffer witht the clathis to Striveling … vj s. 1546 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 457.
For the turssing of glassis witht watteris furth of Edinburght to Lynlythqw 1567–8 Treasurer's Accounts XII 96.
For crelis for careing and tursing of the saidis heidis, leggis and armis and candle for paking thairof x s. 1626 Peebles Gleanings 69.
To James Wilson, smith, to mend ane quheill of the knock, for ierne and his awin wark, and for tursing up of the quheill, 48 s. 1676 Corshill Baron Ct. 136.
He saw Johne Montgomerie … turssing away of the strae
3. attrib. a. Able to be transported, portable. b. Used for packing or tying up.a. 1374 Coldingham Priory lxxv.
j pelvis turrsyng cum lavacro 1495 Treasurer's Accounts I 226.
iij boltis of fustiane, to be fustiannis to his tursing bed 1538–9 Treasurer's Accounts VII 128.
Ane cais to ane tursing lawerb. 1374 Coldingham Priory lxxv.
j par de thurrsyngcoffres 1507 Treasurer's Accounts III 335.
For xxxvj fawdoum of tursing cordis
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"Tursing vbl. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/tursing>
