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.
Quotation dates: 1549
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Topinell, n. (? f. or f. as Du. toppenant (Woord. der Ned. Taal), Germ. toppenant (Grimm) one of the pair of ropes attached to each extremity of the yard arm and passed through a block on the top of the mast, thence to the deck, used to hold the yard of the sail in balance.) — 1549 Complaynte of Scotland 41/15.
[After the main sail has been unfurled] Than the master cryit top ȝour topinellis, hail on ȝour top sail scheitis,vire ȝour liftaris and ȝour top sail trossis & heise the top sail hiear [etc.]
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"Topinell n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/topinell>
