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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.

Tursel(l, -a(i)ll, n. Also: turseile. [Late ME and e.m.E. trusselle (a1400), OF to(u)rsel, troussel.]

1. A bundle, a pack; portable gear. 14.. Acts I 303/2.
Of waynis and tursels … Of a tursel behind a sadyl a halfpeny. Of a tursel in a sadil a peny. Of a tursel befor a man iiij d. 1500 Edinb. B. Rec. I 237.
Tursaill 1533 Boece 569b.
Thir chiftanis … vsit thare avantage that be the armye of Ingland chargeit be cariage & vthir tursellis following with infinite lauboure thai mycht nevir be comprehendit c1575 Balfour Pract. 86.
Tursell

2. A stamp or puncheon used to imprint a trademark on the upper side of cloth, the obverse side of a coin, etc. Cf. Pile n.³ 1558 Old Dundee II 330.
The deacon and the maisters of the walker craft … confessit that they had receivit of the town their marks engravit in pylis and tursellis [pr. cursellis] of irne, respective, to be put to all claith to be dichtit be them 1562–3 Reg. Privy C. I 227.
Michaell Gilbert, burges … producit ane pile and ane tursall maid for cunyeing of certane pecis of gold and silvir, the pile havand sunkin thairin foure lettris, viz. G S I H … the tursell havand thre crescentis [etc.] … togidder with twa punscheownis, the ane berand the saidis letteris of G S I H … and the uther berand the saidis crescentis 1605 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 320.
Pyllis and tursellis laitlie send hame from England and the puncheons for making of ma pyllis and tursellis 1614 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 234.
To mak and forme matricess … for sincking of pyleis and turseileis for prenting of the saidis penny and tua penny peeceis of copper 1641 Conv. Burghs IV 546.
That all money be ordained to pass peill and tursell [pr. tinsell] and be troned, piece be piece