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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Tab(b)ie, Tabin(e, n. Also: tab(b)y, tobby, tabe(i)ne, tabyne, tobene, tobin. [17th c. Eng. taby (1638), tabby (1654), OF atabis, f. the Arabic.] A variety of cloth, probably a type of silk.(a) 1612 Bk. Rates (Halyb.) 327.
Silk stockingis … Tabins … Taffateis 1627 Edinb. Test. LIV 49a.
xlii ellis tabine at xl s. the elne 1635 Edinb. Test. LVII 54b, 55a.
Sevintene elnes of tabeine at four pundis the elne … tuentie aucht ellis of narrow tabene 1638 Tailor's Acc. Bk. B 37.
Ane dowblet of tabeine and cloik & breikis of claith 1646 Edinb. Test. LXII 221a.
Aucht elnes of black tabeine at viij lib. the elne 1659 Bk. Dunvegan 187.
3 ell and half and half quarter light walert tabie at 5 lb. 16 1660 Bk. Dunvegan 188.
8 ell feine buf color tabie at 6 lb. 1660 Bk. Dunvegan 187.
Taby 1661 Edinb. Test. LXX 38a.
Ane black lyned cloak with tabin 1666-7 Blakhall Narr. 34.
She hath one gowne of Naples taffeta, and another of tabbie 1681 Douglas Corr. 279.
I intrett yow will send me as much black morallay tabie as will be a piticott 1688 Douglas Bequest 24 July.
½ ell broad black tabbie 16… Bk. Dunvegan 196.
Taby watered an ell £5 13 s. 4 d.(b) 1643 Edinb. Test. LX 292a.
Fourtie ellis tobene cullouris of stuff estimat all to liiij lib. 1645 Edinb. Test. LXI 118a.
Certane black cullourit satines with tobins plaine and wrought 1649 Edinb. Test. LXIV 301b.
Ane blake cloak lyned with tobene

b. attrib. With goun, doublet, lyneing, etc.(a) 1632 14th Rep. Hist. MSS App. iii 235.
Ane pink colourit tabbie goun, laid over with sylver lace 1639 Tailor's Acc. Bk. B 54.
Maid to ȝour vyfeis tabyne govne ane baiske and ane rowell 1657 Edinb. Test. LXIX 23b.
Ane black tabin suite 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 96.
The tabby doublets with the silk (called wats) furring within are also in faschion 1673 Edinb. Test. LXXIV 281b.
Ane tabie justicott 1685 Soc. Ant. LVIII 359.
A shirrie colloured morallae tabie coller cloath 1696 Edinb. Test. LXXX 191b.
Ane blew moyhair and ane gray tabbie pitticoats 1696 Edinb. Test. LXXX 191b.
Ane silk gowne with a tabie lyneing(b) 1682 Lennoxlove MS (The Duke of Hamilton) F1/482/1/1.
For makeing a prinnaly gown with a blew tobby petticoat to Lady Susanna