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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.

Twelft(e, Tuelft, adj. Also: twelvth, tuelveth, tuelfet, twelt(t, twelteth, twelth, twolt, twal(l)t, tuelt, tuelth, tualt. [ME and e.m.E. twellfte (Orm), tuelfte (1297), twelft (Cursor M.), twelþe (c1380), twolthe (c1420), twelþ (1450), twelfyth (1530), OE twelfta, MDu. twal(e)fde, MLG twelf-, twalf-, twolfde, ON tólfti, -te.] The ordinal numeral corresponding to the cardinal Twelf num., the twelfth in sequence.

1. Qualifying a noun. Cf. Twelf num. A 4. a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 190.
Mair of his life vnto the twelft ȝeir The Ewangellis makis na mencioun 1513 Doug. xii Prol. 306.
Syne thus begouth of Virgill the twelt buke 1600-1610 Melvill 257.
That Witsonday … was the twolt tyme I haid flitted sen my mariage

b. As part of a date. 1417–18 Durham Priory Reg. II 11a (6 March).
Of oure gouernale the twelft yere 1535 Stewart 42997.
Into the tuelt ȝeir efter of his ring, And of oure Lord ane thousand ȝeir also, Ane hundreth sextie and fyve ȝeiris mo 1555 Montgomery Mem. 153.
At Edinburgh, the tuelt day of Januar 1596 Dalr. I 332/5.
He departes this lyfe, and in Dunfermiling … is buriit, the tuelfet ȝeir of his rigne 1608 Inverurie B. Ct. 12 Jan.
At Innerrowrie the twalt day of Januar the ȝeir of God ane thowsand sex hundreth & aucht ȝeiris 1636 Annandale Corr. 32.
The twelteth day of January nexte 1676 Rothesay B. Rec. 344.
The twelth day of August j^m vi^c and seventy sax yeires 1693 Swintons App. ccxv.
Ane free fair … to be holden yearly upon the twelvth day of October, to be called Saint Frances's Fair

c. Expressing time. Also, the striking of twelve o'clock.(1) 1622-6 Bisset II 280/3.
His triumphand resurrectioun wes the fyft day of Apryle fra the twelt houre furtht eftir none [etc.] 1673 Argyll Justic. Rec. I 34.
A litle eftir the twelt hour of the day 1681 Craven Ch. in Orkney 97.
Betwixt the eleventh and twelt hour(2) 1620 Grant Chart. 326.
To the belman for halding bak the twelft hour till the caus wer reasoned at lenthe, xxiiij s.

2. ellipt. and absol. Chiefly as part of a date, esp. the twelfth day of the month. Cf. Twelf num. B.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vi 431.
The tend gre is [etc.] … The twelfte: that men be ay reddy To bere thir stagis sekyrly c1520-c1535 Nisbet Rev. xxi 20.
The fonndementis of the wall of the citee war ournit with al precious staan. The first fonndment, iaspis … the tuelft, amethistus(2) 1417 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 216.
The yher of grace a thousande four hundre and sevynten and of our gouuernail the tuelft — 1562-3 Winȝet I 39/4.
We haif kepit silence … sen the twelft of Marche 1588 Bk. Univ. Kirk II 732.
That he be warned to compear before them upon the tuelveth of this instant 1618 Maxwell Mem. II 195.
Vpone tweltt of this instant, I cam post to Leithe 1633 Annandale Corr. 31.
Meit me … upon Wedinsday, the tualt of June, at aught a clok in the morning 1647 Fam. Innes 238.
Subscriwed vith my hand … the twallt off Jullay 1669 Bk. Carlaverock II 57.
The King's Majestie, … hath by his letter of the tuelt of Junii last, signified to ws that [etc.] 1696 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 317.
The haill inhabitants … to redevouze … on Thursday nixt, the twelth instant be ten aclock in the foirenoon 1700 Conv. Burghs IV 307.
Att Edinburgh, Dumbartoun and Glasgow the tuelth, tuentie eight and tuentie nynth dayes of June