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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tur(r)et(t, Tur(r)at(t, n.¹ Also: tur(r)it, tor(r)et(t, torat, touret(t. [ME and e.m.E. turet, touret (both 14th c.), toret (c1400), turrett(e (1555), torret (1648), OF torete, tourete, L. turris.]

1. A small tower, a turret, chiefly part of the defence of a structure. Freq. in collocation with tour (Tour n.¹). Also fig. and attrib.(a) c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1571.
Ane gret cite … With sikker walles … And mony towres and turet, About vpon the walles set 1416 Exch. R. IV 255.
Unum turnpyke et duos turrites c1475 Wall. viii 1014.
A ryoll sted … With turrettis fayr, and garrettis off gret prid 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1430.
Turrettis 1503 Treas. Acc. II 273.
vij punschionis of plaistir to the turatis of the forȝet in Halyrudhous 1513 Doug. ix ii 30.
Thai … On bos turrettis and on towris hie Enarmyt stude thar fays to abyde 1535 Stewart 14507.
In the wall he ordanit for to be Touris richt greit and turattis that wer he, Quhair men micht stand for strenth to mak defens 1600 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXXVI 7.
I saw ane ding up the lang scoirit window, in the north syd of the turrett upoun the Hiegait 1619 Rec. Univ. Aberd. 278.
The twa turrettis on the heidis of the twa roundis 1681 Stair Inst. ii iii § 66.
All strong holds are presumed to have been built for public defence … wherein turris pinnata is comprehended, having turrets or rounds upon the angles, from whence shot may be directed alongst all the walls(b) a1500 Prestis of Peblis 1253.
This officer but dout is callit Deid: … Is neyther castell, torret nor ȝit tour May scar him 1648 Edinb. B. Rec. VIII 142.
Anent the repairing of Herriotts hospital … that the southwest towre sould be takin downe and made uniforme with the torrets on the north syde 1655–6 Peebles B. Rec. II 198.
They begane to build the toratis of the stipell(c) 1549 Compl. 21/1.
Thebes … hed ane hundretht tourettis ande portis, bot nou … ther is no thyng quhar it stude bot barrane feildisfig. 1562-3 Winȝet II 21/25.
Quhen the prophane nouatioun of the Arrianis, … the Emperour of all first being maid captiue, had subdewit thairefter al the hie turretis of the palice be new lawisattrib. 1478 Liber Aberbr. II 178.
My land … liand aboune the Turratbryg … off Perth c1475 Wall. vii 1007.
Ramsay and Graym the turat ȝet has wown, And entrit in 1577 Edinb. Test. V 276b.
The haill loft abone the kilhous lyand abone the turat brig 1584 Perth B. Ct. 21 July.
The turet brig port of Perth 1622 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 145.
For twa weikis werk in the castell of Edinburgh at the syllering of the torret heidis and wallis thairof 1623 Perth Kirk S. MS 16 May.
Scho went with Alexander Lokart dwm to the turret port

b. An ornamental representation of a turret. 1513 Doug. xii iv 7.
Latyn … With ryall crown of fyne gold burnyst brycht, Quharon stud turrettis twelf, lyke bemys scheyn 1552 Coll. St. Salvator 159.
Ane gret monstir of siluer with ane burrell in the myddis wantand the croce of the heid and part of the turatis about 1552 Coll. St. Salvator 161.
Tua censouris of siluyr with ane schip and ane spwn off siluer the censoris wantand mony turattis and the schip the fut

2. A woman's high, turret-shaped head-dress. Also attrib. 1473 Treas. Acc. I 29.
j½ elne of satyne for turatis to the quene 1562 Treas. Acc. XI 227.
Be the quenis grace precept, to Marie M^cCloid ane elne j quarter of blak welvot to be hude, musell and turet 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 231.
Ane hude and ane turit of quheit velvotattrib. 1578 Inv. Wardrobe 235.
Ane torett claith of holane claith sewit with gold and blew silk Twa torrett claithis of hollane claith sewit with cuttit out werk and gold