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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Turtur dowe, Turtill dow, n. Also: turtle-, trytill- and -dou(e, -dove, dwe. [ME and e.m.E. turtul douue, turture doufe (both Cursor M.), turtill dove (c1530), turtle dove (1535).] A turtle-dove, chiefly in fig. context alluding to the turtle-dove's chastity and faithfulness.(a) 1456 Hay II 157/23.
To fynde in man the proprieteis of bestis … Sum man luxurious as a swyne pork, and sum chaste as a turtur dowe(b) 1560 Rolland Seven S. 757.
Wemen … shaw thame lyke ane turtill dow, and bytis as ane hound 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7622.
His wife maid maist murning. The buriall … Was maid and … Than … scho maid ane solempne vow, To leif ay still as dois the trytill dow 1587 Carmichael Etym. 7.
A turtle doue 1595 Duncan App. Etym.
Turtur, a turtle dowe 1596 Dalr. I 40/11.
The foul called the storke, the fasiane, the turtle dwe … Skairs with us ar fund a1605 Montg. Sonn. xlix 10.
That I micht tak and tame the turtle do[u] and set hir syne vhare that I micht sie th[rou] Ane costly cage of cleirest cristall glas 1630-1651 Gordon Geneal. Hist. 3.
In Sutherland … ther is great store of … capercalegs, … bewters, turtle-doves, herons, dowes [etc.] c1650 Spalding I 18.
No man can expres the … greif of the Viscountis … ladie … disdayning euer the company of man … in the rest of hir liftyme following the love of the turtle dow

b. As the name of a ship. 1591–2 Reg. Privy C. IV 717.
The owners of the ‘Turtill Dow of Leyth’ … the owners of the ‘Lyoun of Dysert’ [etc.]