Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
TOWT, n., v. Also towte, tout(e). Double dim. form toutagie (Cai.). [tʌut]
I. n. 1. A slight or temporary ailment, sometimes implying one of a recurrent nature an indisposition (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Ayr. 1813 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 693; Cai. (tout(agie)), Abd., m. and s.Sc. 1972). Adj. tout(t)ie, subject to frequent attacks or slight illness (Sc. 1825 Jam.; em.Sc.(a), wm.Sc., Wgt. 1972).Per. 1803 Letters J. Ramsay (S.H.S.) 106:
I trust by this time your toute is evanished.Ayr. 1819 Kilmarnock Mirror 134:
Gif ony o' their bairns teuk a backgangin' — ony o' the kye a towt.Sc. 1831 S. E. Ferrier Destiny III. xii.:
The baby had a sad towt with its teeth.wm.Sc. 1835 Laird of Logan 262:
Leezie was subject to “bits o' touts” now and then; and in these ilnesses was always ready to cry out.Dmf. 1873 A. Anderson Song of Labour 149:
He'll live an' bless us a', if ance This tout he warstles through.Per. 1910 W. Blair Kildermoch 107:
This last tout I had took awa' my pith.Sc. 1935 W. D. Crocker Further Poems 72:
O' hoasts an' touts he had nae fears; He leeved for near a thousand years.Arg. 1946:
She's aafu towtie; she taks a towt wi' the leastest wee thing.
2. A sudden mood or fit, esp. of ill-humour, a crotchet, pet, huff (Ags. 1808 Jam.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Ork., n., em.Sc.(a), Dmb., Wgt. 1972).Abd. 1787 A. Shirrefs Jamie & Bess i. ii.:
Anither tout may change his mind.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xii.:
He taks the tout at every bit lippening word.Edb. 1881 J. Smith Habbie and Madge 8:
After ilka tout that gied them pain, They took a kiss, syne joyfu' 'greed again.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd ix.:
Ye sud never min' 'im fin he's in's touts.Abd. 1961 Buchan Observer (14 Feb.):
Nae to be obleegt tae her gin she be on ony o' her touts.
Hence adj. towtie, -y, tout(t)ie, -y, (1) touchy, quick to take offence, irritable (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Abd., Slg., Clc., Fif., Dmb., sm.Sc. 1972), also used subst. of a testy, irritable person (Sc. 1808 Jam.); (2) of things: fitful, uncertain, changeable.(1) Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 5:
Twae prood and towty countries 'at canna grei an are aye cuissen-oot.(2) Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy G. Chalmers 29:
Gae towtie weather this, for some time bypast.Lth.
1835
T. Watson
Poems 17:
Through this touty path of life, The Lord, oh, may he bless ye!wm.Sc. 1843 Whistle-Binkie (1890) II. 165:
As fractious an' toutie as Lizzie's machine.
3. A teasing remark, a taunt (Bwk., Rxb. 1972). Cf. II. 2.s.Sc. 1933 Border Mag. (Sept.) 133:
“A wean's crossin', man,” muttered 'Sneck, with a tout.
II. v. 1. To be seized with a sudden fit of illness (Sc. 1825 Jam.), or bad temper (Id.). Ppl.adj. toutit, bad-tempered, sulky, in a huff.wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 280:
Dinna be sae toutit about it.
2. To tease, vex, annoy, upbraid, taunt (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Bwk., Rxb. 1972).Sc. 1797 Poetry Orig. and Sel. III. No. 17. viii. 8:
I fear nae want o' claes or nout, Sic silly things my mind ne'er tout.Clc. 1850 J. Crawford Doric Lays 33, 54:
To towt ye or tash ye would be a great sin . . . Dinna towt poor baudrons sae!Edb. 1866 J. Smith Merry Bridal 54:
There's nocht to tout ye but a wee drap rain.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 104:
When Jenny Whalbert used to towt me aboot Leezie Fizz.Hdg. 1808 J. Lumsden Th' Loudons 30:
My faith, my Leddy, folk acquent wi' want, Have something else to tout or trouble them.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ iii. xix.:
He towts me wi' things I nevir thocht o'.s.Sc. 1933 Border Mag. (Aug.) 125:
“Nae man ava',” touted 'Sneck, “a weeman's man.”
3. To toss or pull about, to upset, put in disorder (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Freq. form toutle, to rumple, dishevel (woollen) clothes (Bwk. 1825 Jam.).m.Lth. 1812 P. Forbes Poems 38:
An' lang an' sair the claise did tout, Dreaming o' an invasion.Peb. 1832 R. D. C. Brown Hist. Dramas V. 74:
Cries Is'bel; “Losh Preserve us, Bess! At thys tym; and swa towtit!”wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 188:
Naething to tout your stomach.Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 243:
Sair toutit an' tasht, the body came wast, For the gaet it lay deep in the snaw.
