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

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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Forteres, Fortres, n. Also: forteresse, foretres, fortrest, fortras, fortrace. [ME. forteresse, fortresse (c 1330), OF. forteresse.] A fortress.The singular form is sometimes used for the plural.(a) 1386 Rotuli Sc. II. 85/2.
Takyng of castels, of forteresses, & wallid tounes c1420 Wynt. viii. 5010.
Syne all the forteris that than War in to Fyffe he wan 1513 Doug. viii. xi. 39.
Sum vndermyndand the grond … So that almaist thai wan the forteres 1565 Reg. Morton I. 12.
All vtheris keparis, havaris, and withhalderis of the castell and forteresse of Lochlevin a1586 Lindsay MS. 15.
The capitanis war … to keip the forteresis and to wittale thame(b) c1420 Wynt. viii. 3697.
All the wallys thai kest doun thare, … Swa thai lefft thare na fortres 1456 Hay I. 115/20.
To mak castell, or fortres for sekernes, or seurtee of men or contree 1475 Reg. Cupar A. I. 203.
Lattyn, to Agnes Broun, … al our landis of Glentulach, … with the fortres halely 1513 Doug. ix. ix. 23.
Turnus the prynce … Ane byrnand bleis leyt at the fortres glyde 1560 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 69.
Douncasting and demolesyng of wallis and fortres of Leythe a1578 Pitsc. I. 70/12.
They wairdit the rest in strang haldis and fortressis 1627 Reg. Privy C. 2 ser. II. 126.
Citadells, foretressis, rampeirs, bulwarkesfig. 1573 Cath. Tr. 3/16.
The euill foundet fortres my adversar hes builded aganis the veritie(c) Brus x. 155 (C).
Fortrassis that war then Gouernit and led vith Ynglis men ?1438 Alex. ii. 4513.
Of the auld wall … He maid ane fortrais c1475 Wall. viii. 521.
Fortrace thai wan, and small castellis kest doun Ib. ix. 443.
Fortras thai brak, and stalwart byggingis wan 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 640.
Fair weill, Falkland, the fortrace of Fyfe 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 245.
The castellis and fortraces that … has bene accustomed to be fortified and gardit a1578 Pitsc. I. 57/4.
Money gentillmen … contenned thame self … within strong fortrassis