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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.

Towing, Towen, vbl. n. [17th c. Eng. towing (1611).] a. The action of pulling or dragging with a rope. (Cf. Tow v. 1.) b. The action of raising or lowering using a rope. (Tow v. 3.) c. The action of ringing a bell. (Tow v. 4.) —a. 1494 Treas. Acc. I 248.
For a rape … quhilk was brokyne wyth towen of the tymmyr, ij s. iiij d. 1613 Orkney Acc. in Soc. Ant. X 222.
For towing the schip out of Oyse —b. 1672 Lauder Notices Affairs I 34.
The manner of his escape was by winning into the bell-house, and towing himselfe doun from a window theirof —c. 1676 Elgin Rec. I 321.
The counsell hes appoynted that the great bells shall not be rung till the thesaurer giwe order to ring them … and the inhabitants to pay tuentie s. for ilk towing by payment of the officer