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

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
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Target, Terget, n. Also: targett, -gat(t, -gate, tarcat, (tageat), tergett, -gat(t, -gate. [Late ME and e.m.E. target (c1400), targat (15th c.), tergett (Cath. Angl.), F. targete, -ette.]

1. A shield. Cf. Targ(e n. 1380 Exch. R. III 654.]
[Duodecim targete(a) 1494 Loutfut MS 144a.
To blason feldis that is of half colour fra the myddil of the targat abuf the myddil poynt of the targat [etc.] 1507 Treas. Acc. III 396.
Tua suordis to fecht on fut with the targat 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 119.
To William Dalgleisch, lorymar, for … foure bukkilles for targettis 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 121.
Payit to William Dalgleisch, lorymar, for ane sicht of ane tarcat 1513 Doug. vii x 73.
Thar targettis [R. targes, Ruddim. targis] bow thai of the lycht sauch tre 1513 Doug. viii vii 171.
Maste craftely to forgyng thai began A hug gret semly target [Ruddim. tergett, Sm. targat, 1553 tergane], or a scheild 1570 Calderwood II 517.
If there be anie stout carle that will fight … I sall give him a targatt and scrotchard c1650 P. Gordon Brit. Dist. 94.
Eight hundreth … highlanderes, weell armed with habershones, muriones, and targates 1681 Colvil Whig's Suppl. (1681) i 15.
He hath … a target of a seven-fold hide(b) 1507 Treas. Acc. III 394.
To Simon Glasfurd, buklarmakar, for hornyng of foure tergatis 1513 Doug. vii xii 39 (Ruddim.).
Tergatis [C. targatis, Sm. tergettis] 1513 Doug. viii vii 148.
The horribill terget [Sm. tergate] bustuus Egyda Quhilk is the grevyt Pallas grysly scheild(c) 1491 Acta Conc. I 195/2.
Twa tageatis [sic] price of pece x s. thre basnatis [etc.]

2. A (? circular) ornament of precious metal, appar. chiefly worn on headgear. Also fig. 1507 Treas. Acc. IV 15.
Tua targetis for bonetis hornyt with gold for bonetis 1511–12 Treas. Acc. IV 331.
To Mychele, goldsmytht, for … ane tergat, weyand vj crounis of wecht 1512 Treas. Acc. IV 213.
For ane tergat … for the quenis hud 1531 Treas. Acc. V 421.
Targate 1516 Acta Conc. MS XXVIII 34.
Ane targatt of gold with the ymage of Ouer Lady 1530 Treas. Acc. V 408.
Terget 1535–6 Treas. Acc. VI 258.
Deliverit be Thomas Rynd to be put in ane velvet bonet to the kingis grace … xix pair of hornis with ane tergat 1538 Treas. Acc. VI 414.
For the making of ane terget of gold, with ane marmydine in it of dyamontis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 85.
With scarlet cap … With trim tergattis weill wrocht & properlie Circumferat with stanis subtellie 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 439.
Nocht haueand respect … To wardlye ryches nor dignytie, To tergats, chenis, nor goldin ryngis 1590 Burel Queen's Entry 254.
Vpon thair forebrows thay did beir Targats and tablets of trim warksfig. a1568 Bann. MS 228b/13.
The chafrone sett with fyne favour … Ane targate of trewth hingand thairat