Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Turkas, n. Also: -asse, -es(s, -esse, -is, turcas, turquas. [ME thourkeys (1390-1), OF turcaise, -quaise, etc. = Turkish. Cf. Gael. turcais, durcais.] A pair of farrier's pincers, pincers generally. 1590–1 Newes from Scotland in Crim. Trials I ii 222.]
[His nailes … were riven and pulled off with an instrument called in Scottish a turkas c1475 Wall. vi 412.
He gert a smyth with his turkas rycht thar Pow out his eyne 1502–3 Treas. Acc. II 358.
Ane hammyr, turcas and othir punschioun irnis 1503–4 Treas. Acc. II 419.
Ane turcas to tak out teith c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 152/87.
Quhen thay wer entrit in the dance, Thay wer full strenge of countenance, Lyk turkas [M. With tortchis] birnand reid 1513 Doug. viii vii 186.
Thai grisly smythys gret … with the grippand turcas [Ruddim. turkes] oft alsso The glowand lump thai turnyt to and fro 1541 Aberd. B. Rec. I 176.
Ane resp, ane turcas, and four cuchin nailis of irne 1597 Edinb. Test. XXX 290b.
Twa turcassis at j s. iiij d. the pair 1619 Breadalbane Doc. No. 428.
The heall graith within the castell … Item of turquas of irone, j 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 151/355.
His [sc. Hercules'] handis no handis but strongest turkess [1591 turkesse] ellis 1629 Boyd Last B. (1629) 197.
Like a tooth … the deeper roote it hath, the more paine it causeth when it is in drawing out with the turkesse 1632 Edinb. Test. LVI 23b.
Irone turkisis 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 4.
Turkasse 1650 Irons Leith II 37.
His tongue was drawn out with ane turkis by the common hangman