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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TOUT, n.², v.² Also toot, tut-. Dim. or freq. forms toutle, tootle. [tut]

I. v. 1. intr. To drink copiously, to take a draught, to swill, tipple (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Lth. 1825 Jam., toutle; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; ne.Sc., Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1972); also tr. with at (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 212:
For now our Gentles gabbs are grown sae nice, At thee they toot, an' never speer my price.Dmf. 1813 A. Cunningham Songs 7:
While she sat singing in the neuk, And touting at the rosie wine.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 118:
The wine-cups whilk they tootet at.

2. tr. To drink down, to quaff, to empty (a drinking vessel) to the last drop (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 4; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also with various advs. off, out, ower, up. Hence touter, a habitual drinker (Fif. c.1850 Peattie MS.); a drink of liquor.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 164:
They'll ban fu' sair the time That e'er they toutit aff the horn.Ayr. 1788 G. Turnbull Poet. Essays 199:
He leugh and toutit up the liquor.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 133:
Lang winter nights we than cou'd tout It swack an' sicker.Dmf. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Sept.) 657:
Ye tout it owre like spring-well water.Slk. 1836 Fraser's Mag. (May) 616:
Wi' that John touts off the great glassfu' o' whisky.Clc. 1852 G. P. Boyd Misc. Poems 1:
Conversin' thus in Dow's tap-room, Owre their bit touter.

II. n. 1. A draught, a swig, a drink of liquor, orig. a large one but now rather implying a small but repeated drink, a tipple (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 194; Sh., n.Sc., Fif., Lth. 1972); a drinking bout. Dim. forms tout(l)ie, id. (ne.Sc. 1972). Adj. toutie, given over to drinking, carousing.Abd. 1787 A. Shirrefs Jamie & Bess i. ii.:
Anither tout may change his mind.Lnk. 1808 W. Watson Poems 54:
Ye'll min' that toutie night, I'll warran', We drank sae lang to drown the herrin'.Rnf. 1842 R. Clark Rhymes 8:
A' bodies say that she likes a bit tooty.Gall. 1881 J. K. Scott Gall. Gleanings 104:
Mair sae them wha tak' a toot.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (21 Aug.):
Doo kens tout aboot is fair play.Mry. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 79:
She pu'd a mutchkin for a toot.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 7:
A juist tuik a toot — a sirple ti seind oot ma mooth.Ayr. 1928 J. S. Gall Muses 21:
If you feel inclined tak' a wee bit toot.

2. A drinker of liquor, a tippler (Kcb. 1929; wm.Sc. 1972). Dim. t(o)utie, toottie, id. (Sc. 1825 Jam.), also jocularly of a child addicted to much drinking of milk, water, etc. (Rnf. c.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) T.143).Sc. 1776 D. Herd Sc. Sons II. 142:
Now all ye men, baith far and near, That have a drunken tutie, O.

¶3. A non-alcoholie beverage, a soft drink.Mry. 1931 J. Geddie Characters 90:
The east side of the school, where the attractions are “toffee” or bottles of “toot”.