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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.

Towmal, Tum(m)el(l, n. Also: towmel(l)-, -male, -mall-, -mail(l)-, toumel(l)-, -mall-, -maill, tum(m)al(l)-, tumail(l)-, tummoill, -ol(l, tumele, -mule, twm(m)el(l)-, twmal-, tomel(l)-, -maill, tounmol(l)-, townmel(l)-, thowmal, thowellmel(l)-. [Toun n. and ON vǫllr a field.] In Shetland and Orkney: A piece of land attached to a farmstead, ? for use solely by the tenant. Also, rarely, with a house built on it. Also attrib. Cf. Inskift n.Freq. in collocation with housis, toftis, croftis, etc. in listing all that pertains to a particular holding of land.(a) 1483 Rec. Earld. Orkney 196.
Rothe, hows, tofftis, towmalis, fredomis, commoditeis, esmentis and rychtwise pertinentis quhatsumever, to the said land pertenand 1495 Rec. Earld. Orkney 201.
Towmelis 1502 Orkney Rentals i 88.
A towmale callit Holland 1502 Orkney Rentals i 90.
Towmell 1522–3 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 103.
The fornemmit richtis of all and haile … borowlaund and feild laund … with howssis, tofftis, tovmellis, commoditis [etc.] 1527–8 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 109.
Towmellis c1536–7 Rec. Earld. Orkney 222.
Towmallis ?1536–7 Rec. Earld. Orkney 222.
Toftis, croftis, towmells, quoyes 1600 Reg. Great S. 350/2.
Towmaillis 1601 Orkney Rentals ii 109.
Ane towmail and ane cott house thereon, occupyit be William Russland, payis 1½ lisp. butter, [etc.] 1630 Prot. Bk. D. Heart 6 April.
That drogger ludge nixt adiacent to the said towmale and hous 1632 Reg. Great S. 643/2.
Lie towmaill of land 1656 Retours I Inq. Spec. Orkney et Shetland (78).
Toumaill 1656 Retours II Inq. Spec. Orkney et Shetland (154).
Ane towmale of udall land in Overbie 1657 Retours I Inq. Spec. Orkney et Shetland (85).
The lands, towmalls and hous of Sealquoy 1686 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXII 184.
Toumalls 1692 Ch. in Orkney 164.
Ane towmale besyde Bonyma'is hous payis 1 m. cost(b) 1509 Rec. Earld. Orkney 84.
The thowmalis and inskyft of the penny land 1542 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 76.
Vyth howssis, profeittis, thowellmellis, commoditeis(c) 1531 Rec. Earld. Orkney 214.
To all his airis … all and haill twa markis land … wyth houssis, toftis, townmellis [sic], inpastor, and outpastor, onder erde and abone 1589 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 93.
Tovnmollis(d) 1534 Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 64.
Twmmellis 1546 Rec. Earld. Orkney 232.
Six markis of lande … and ony … pertinnens … that may rychttouisly perten [therto in] croftis, toftis, tummellis, inpastor, and outpastor 1565 Reg. Privy S. V ii 7/2.
Tumellis 1579 Rec. Earld. Orkney 147.
Land … with houssis, toftis, tumallis, rycht and roytht of that ilk 1587 Soc. Ant. XVI 202.
Pertinents.—Housis bigings toftis croftis tumailis [etc.] 1589 (1602) Reg. Great S. 460/1.
To be haldin … with housis, biggingis, tummollis, toftis … mwiris, medowis, fischingis, quoyland 1595 Orkney Rentals ii 110.
Ane piece tumail, with ane piece girse perteining thereto, pays ane lispund butter 1595 Orkney Rentals ii 110.
Tumele 1587–16… Orkney & Shetl. Rec. I 210.
Tummalles(e) 1547 Soc. Ant. XVI 197.
Tomellis 1593 Prot. Bk. T. Auchinlek 26a.
Twmalis 1595 Orkney Rentals ii 76.
Tumalis 1595 Orkney Rentals ii 82.
Ane tumail, called Peterkirk 1 meil bear … The tumail of Skaill 2 meils bear 1595 Orkney Rentals ii 82.
Certain tumails reddin by David Scollay and other honest men of the isle, extending to 16 meils 4 s. 16 mks. bear, whereof the commonis and occupiers for the most part refuse to make payment 1597 Prot. Bk. T. Auchinlek 61b.
Tummoill 1600 Reg. Great S. 340/2.
Twmellis a1612 Orkney Rentals ii 2.
Ane tumall is ane peece land whiche wes quoyland, but now inclosed within the dykis 1613 Orkney Test. and Inv. 166.
I leave, assigne and dispone to my said sone William … my landis of Horry, Quoyka and Horshack, with the tumule of the dam of Saba [etc.] 1615 Orkney & Shetl. Ct. Bks. 36.
Tumaillisattrib. 1632 Reg. Great S. 643/2.
Unam denariatam lie udall-land et lie tomaill-land in Southerbie 1686 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXII 186.
The just and equall half of the haill town, both rentall and towmall lands as said is