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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Gorget, n. Also: gorgeat, gorjet. [e.m.E. gorget, late ME. gorgette (11484), OF. gorgete.]

1. A piece of armour to protect the throat.(a) ?1438 Alex. ii. 9870.
Haubrekis and gorgettis [F. gorgieres] … War all to-hewin 1496 Acta Conc. II. 27.
A breistplait, a gorget 1513 Doug. x. vii. 127.
As hym Strymonyus by the gorget grippyt 1540 Acts II. 362/2.
That all vtheris of lawer rent … haif jak of plait, halkrek or brigitanis, gorget or pisane 1540 Treas. Acc. VII. 310.
To lyne the Kingis grace gorjettis and gluvis of plate, half ane elne blak velvet 1560 Rolland Seven S. 9553.
Of his gorget ane buckill or twa he fretts, And straik his gorget doun vpon his breist(b) c1475 Wall. iv. 661.
Wallace … With ire him straik on his gorgeat off steill 1491 Acts II. 226/1.
That ilke gentilman … be … anarmit with bassanat, sellat, quhyte hat, gorgeat or peissane 1505 Acta Conc. MS. XVI. 228 b.
Certane splentis, … ij sellatis & gorgeatis 1510 Rentale Dunkeld. 4.
A gorgeat and twa sellaittis

2. A covering for a woman's neck and throat. 1552–3 Treas. Acc. X. 155.
Blak sating to be cornettis, gorgettis, and other necessares to hir 1605 Crim. Trials II. 463.
He … crewallie grippit the said Katharene Rae be the gorget

3. pl. A form of pillory. 1635 McDowall Hist. Dumfries (1873) 364.
To pay one dollar and wear the gorgets on Sabbath 1640 Kirkcudbr. Min. Bk. 40.
That he shall upon the Sounday thairefter, stand in the gorgets at the kirk of Balmaghie 1679 Wodrow MSS. 4to, XXXVII. No. 65.
[To] put them in the gorgetts on the mercat day