Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Hedetow, Hed-tow, Heid-toll, n. [Hede n.¹ 12 b. Cf. MDu. and MLG. hovettouwe.] Head-rope, a head-rope. a. Of a tent. b. Part of the rigging of a ship. — 1496 Treas. Acc. I. 291.
For xxxiij fadowme of hedetow Ib. 293.
For viij fawdom of tow to be a hed tow for the kingis hall 1540 Acta Conc. MS. XIV. 152.
The heid tollis, crocis, and takle [of a fishing vessel] a 1612 J. Melville Celeusma Naut. MS.
With this heid tollis began to clatter, And doun the stormes could blatter