Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

Tounes hous, Townes hous, Toun hoos, n. Pl. toun housses. [e.m.E. towne house (1530).] a. A dwelling house belonging to a municipality, a house situated in a town. b. A municipal building housing the public offices. —a. 1580 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 186.
[The provost, bailies and council] vnderstanding that Thomas Cok hes had thislang tyme bygane the townes hous on the town wall … for ane small dewty … discharge the said Thomas … of all forther melling thairwith … and that the sam be rowpett … to be sett to sic as sall bid maist thairfore 1633 Aberd. B. Rec. III 63.
For scairstie of chamberis and want of beddis to serve the haill studentis within the said colledge sindrie of the schollares wes forceit to ly in the toun housses quhair they wer buirdit to the great hinderance of thair studies —b. 1625 Linlithgow B. Rec. 24 June.
For leiding of steanis for bigging of the townes hous in Blaknes 1638 Aberd. B. Rec. III 141.
If thair be ane chosen [sc. to be sent as a commissioner to the General Assembly] that we be callit and conveinit in the tounes hous, and consent to his instructiounes 1670 Glasgow Burgesses 189.
I was inwitted by the magistrats to ther tounhoos to be mead burges