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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.

Tormento(u)r, Turmentor, n. Also: tormenter, -ar, turmatur, trummatour, -entour. [ME and e.m.E. tormentor (c1290), turmentour (a1350), tormentour (Caxton), OF to(u)rmenteur.] One who inflicts torture or suffering upon another; an official torturer, an executioner.(a) a1400 Leg. S. iii 685.
His clathis all fra hym he lad, And to the tormentoris of will He gafe thame a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii 250.
Dacyane lud cane rare One his tormentouris 1456 Hay I 204/1.
Thare was nane bot untreuthfull men that was thair tormentouris to geve them the sacrament, as Sanct Peter, Sanct Paule [etc.] a1500 Seven S. 367.
He gart four tormentouris him leid Vnto the gallous to be deid ?a1500 Dewoit Exerc. 106.
Allace, sueit Lord, for that veament pane that thir wickit tormentouris did to Ȝow 1533 Boece 84b.
Athir barne in armes of that foster faderis, aganis the … bouchrie of tormentouris in vane incalling thare helpe … was slane 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 61.
The tormenteris denudit me of all my cleathis … and then band … my soilles betuixt an iron chimlay and a fyre a1578 Pitsc. II 78/35.
Thar was tuo tormentouris send to Mr. George Wischart, the on haveand ane cott of bucrum, the wther certane pokis of pulder a1578 Pitsc. II 80/21.
Then the trumpatis blew and the offiecearis and tormentaris brocht fourtht this poore innocent man to the fyre(b) a1538 Abell 123b.
Thai ȝit lefand thai turmentoris raif out thare bowellis cust in the fire thare maid(c) a1538 Abell 11*a.
Turmaturis of puyr men now ar lardis(d) 1531 Aberd. B. Rec. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 125.
[In the Corpus Christi procession] the craftis ar chargit to furneis thair panȝeanys vnderwrittin the flescharis Sanct Bestien and his trummatouris the barbauris Sanct Lowrence & his trummentouris