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 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tutrix, Tutrice, n. Also: tutris, tutress. [e.m.E. tutryce (Caxton), tutrix (1515), tutress (1599), OF tutreisse, tuteresse, tutrice, L. tūtrix, acc. tūtrīcem.] a. A female guardian or tutour (Tuto(u)r n.). Chiefly const. to the minor involved.(1) 1491–2 Acta Aud. 167/2.
Robert Berclay as are … and Issobell Dundas his tutrice sall [etc.] 1515–16 Reg. Privy S. I 415/1.
The quene, our tutrice and governour in hir wedoheid, gafe [etc.](b) 1514 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 22.
The quenis graice has tynt the office of tutrix of the kingis grace … hir sone … becaus sche has contractit mariage … throw the quhilk the office of tutory cessis in hir conforme to the lawis of the realme 1590 Old Ross-shire I 27.
The Erle of Gowrie and Dame Dorothy Stewart Ladie Gowrie his tutrix 1659 A. Hay Diary 209.
That the lady subscryve her renunciation of her daughters infeftment in her name, as being tutrix 1697 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 7 July.
Two neutrall persons mutually elected be Hahill and the tutrix(c) Urquhart Rabelais iii xxxi 262.
The goddess of wisdom, tutress, and guardianess of such as are … studious(2) ?1516 Crawford Mun. Invent. I 54.
Maukyne Deuchir moder to … Johnne as tutrice to him poindet … ij^c of scheip and xx horse … extending to twa yeris proffitis of the saidis landis 1555 Lochwinnoch Par. 55.
The said lady for hir self and hir saidis sonis, and as tutrix to thame 1558 Admir. Ct. Bk. (St. S.) 53.
The said Marioun … as tutrix gyder gouvernour and lauchfull administratour to hir barnis c1575 Balfour Pract. 116.
The mother may be tutrix to hir bairn, but scho may not be preferrit to the tutor testamentar, albeit scho sould be preferrit to all tutors of law and datives, gif scho promit be word not to marie efter the deceis of hir husband 1592 Edinb. Test. XXIV 134a.
I constitut … my wyfe tutrix & gouernatrix to my bairnes 1595 Edinb. Test. XXVIII 238a.
The quhilk Issobell Grahame my spous I mak … hir tutrix, curatrix, and intromisatrix to … my haill bairnes 1604 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 147.
The said Jeane, being tutrix, at the leist gubernatrix, to the bairnis and airis begotten lawfullie 1606 Edinb. Test. XLI 104a.
I … makis … my said darrest spous … tutrix and curatrix and vniversall gubernatrix to the said Johne Seytounes … soune 1643 Arch. Scot. IV 229.
I leive tutrix to my eldest sone William, and to the rest of hir children, Elizabeth Logan my wyfe 1669 Gunn Lyne & Megget 57.
The Countess of Traquair, tutrix to my lord her son 1672 Edinb. Test. LXXIV 209a.
I nominat my said spouse tutrix to my schildring Williame and Margaret with the schyld in hir bellie 1696 Fountainhall Decis. I 744.
He had indeed named his wife sole tutrix to her children during her viduity(b) 1675 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 29 Sept.
[He] appoints the said Margrat Oakin hir mother and executrix abowenominat to be onlie tutris to the said Jean … indureing hir lyfetym and the said Jeans minoritie

b. Tutrix testementar(e, tutrix testamentrix, a female tutour testamentar (Tuto(u)r n. c), a wife appointed tutour testamentar to her children in her husband's will. 1513–4 Reg. Privy S. I 388/2.
The queyn, tutrice testamentare and governour to the king 1535–6 Reg. Privy S. II 311/1.
Our soverane lord, with avis and consent of his derrest moder the quenis grace his tutrice testamentar for the tyme 1546 Montgomery Mem. 142.
I mak my said spous tutrix testamentar to my air c1575 Balfour Pract. 116.
Gif the mother be maid … tutrix testamentar to hir bairn, and defiles hir bodie be fornicatioun, or committing of adulterie with ony man, scho foirfaultis and tynes the office of tutorie, and the narrest agnat … succeidis in hir place as tutor of law 1580 Edinb. Test. VIII 369b.
I Dauid Nichole … makis my welebelouit spous Jonet Forrester … tutrix testamentar to James Nichole 1584–5 Misc. Spald. C. II 343.
I mak … the said Dame Agnes during her wedoheid tutrix testamentar of my saidis barnis executouris forsaidis and failyeing of hir be deceis or gif it salhappin hir to marie … I mak and constitut George Sinclair … and Gilbert Hay … tutoris testamentaris 1626 Edinb. Test. LIII 215a.
I … nominatis my said spous tutrix testamentrix and gubernatrix to oure said child 1644 Edinb. Test. LXI 54a.
I … ordaines … my spous to be only tutrix testamentar to … my bairnes 1698 Discharge in Atholl MSS.
I Elizabeth Menȝies … tutrix testamentar to John Stewart my eldest lawfull sone

c. Tutrix dative, a female tutour dative (Tuto(u)r n. e). 1569–70 6th Rep. Hist. MSS App. 655/2.
Swyttis in Court. That sche [sc. Countess of Murray] may be maid tutrix datyue to her dowchtar youngar c1575 Balfour Pract. 117.
Ane woman may be gevin and constitute be the king tutrix dative, speciallie the mother to the dochter or sone 1667 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 27 Feb.
Margaret Stewart his relict and tutrix dative to Johne and Robert Ewartis thair bairnes