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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tedder, Tether, v. Also: teddir, teder, teather, tather. [e.m.E. tedyr (Cath. Angl.), tedder (1523), teyther (1577), tether (1624).] To confine or make fast with a tether.(a) 1500 Alloway Baron Ct. 31 May.
That all swyn … at ar tedderit sall haif ane rigne in thar neis or ellis thar wort cuttit 1521 Fife Sheriff Ct. 229.
He saw Johne Allerdes … tak away … furtht of the feild quhar he wes tedderit ane blak hors 1576 Digest Justiciary Proc. I 29.
Scho had gane … afeild to tedder hir naigis 1576 Orkney Oppress. 68.
Haiffand licence of his nichtbouris to pasture his guidis in his gers, tedderit sum gudis of his thairintill 16… Sempill P. 46/81.
In the kirk-yeard, his mare stood tedder'd 1605 Prestwick B. Rec. 86.
Nane of the inhabitantis … to suffer ony of thair bestiall … to gang lows pasturand … vnles the samyn guddis be sufficientlie tedderit, in hanyng tyme 1616 Rogers Social Life III 301.
Haveing tedderit hir kow in the said Marable's yaird quhill she sould have spoken with James Spence 1660 Forbes Baron Ct. 226.
No indueller … teder ȝewis besydes thair neighbouris cornes or gers 1665 Rothesay B. Rec. 82.
That nane tedder thair horses on thair nighbours grase without leawe 1672 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 43.
Johne Bulls cow teddirit on the heid of Johne Ingletons Lidgate rige 1681 Kirkintilloch B. Ct. 118.
Foalls, … and all uther sorts of beasts to be teddirit and keipit out of all skaith … under the pennaltie of fortie shilling Scots 1684 Corshill Baron Ct. 167.
They … holdis loose mares and horse (which should be teddered) amongst the milke kyn(b) 1688 Newton Community Bk. 7.
That no inhabitant … tether or pasture any of thair horse or ky within the muirdyke 1697 Annan Rec. 46.
That nane tether their horse out in the night tyme, in the harvest tyme(c) 1631 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. II 436.
Ordanis that na nolt suld be tatherit vpon the grass … quhill Lambes nixt 1685 Peebles B. Rec. II 116.
Whoever hes any weak beasts … to keep them tathered

b. fig. To confine, restrict (oneself, one's ideas, etc.). a1500 Henr. Orph. 456 (Asl.).
Suld our desyre be soucht wp in the speris Quhen It is tedderit on this warldis breris Quhile on the flesche quhile on this warldis wrak 1562-3 Winȝet I 100 marg.
Heir Joh. Knox be his awin sentence aganis wtheris is fast tedderit in the girn 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 341.
[He] is able aneughe to foirsie that the world is not sa tedderit but [etc.] 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. 63.
Be thair expositioun heirof thay tedder Christ and fetteris him to ane place 1585 Calderwood IV 296.
Could yee tedder your self to your booke, and preache simplie the Word [etc.] 1600-1610 Melvill 444.
The cause of the ministers of Edinbruche teatherit me again, sa that I could nocht gett frie

c. transf. Of a boat: To stick fast. 1641 Baillie I 355.
Upon the sea we were fra Wednesday … till Mononday … we were once teddered on a sand-bed