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

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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Troll, Trow(e, n. [ON troll a giant, fiend, demon. Also, in senses 3 and 3 b below, in the later dials. of Orkney and Shetland.]

1. ? A troll (cf. 3 below).Cf. Jamieson, s.v. Trolie, Troll n.³ ‘Any object that has length disproportionate to its breadth’. 1460 Hay Alex. 16175.
Thare war beistis quhilkis leggis had richt lang And wounder grete, and brawnys had richt strang, And all thare body schorte was of the schene Like till ane troll that of a lynke had bene Ane litill hede vnder the hals a lap

2. ? A small horse, pony. 1503 Treas. Acc. II 389.
To ane man … that brocht ane litill Orknay troll to the king 1505 Treas. Acc. III 159.
To ane man of Schir David Sinclaris in bridilsilvir of tua Orknay trollis giffin to the king, xviij s.

3. In Orkney and Shetland: A troll or ‘trow’, the supernatural being of Scandinavian mythology. Also, sea-trow, a troll whose abode is the sea. 1616 Shetland Sheriff Ct. (ed.) 39.
[For art and part of witchcraft and sorcery] in hanting and seing the trowis ryse out of the kirkyeard of Hildiswick 1640 Spottiswoode Misc. II 49.
[Katharine declared that it was the] sea trow or spirit that was lying upon him 1701 Brand Orkney & Shetl. 115.
They tell us that several such creatures do appear to fishers at sea, particularly such as they call sea-trowes

b. Trowis glove, a sea-sponge. 1640 Orkney Witch Trial in Misc. Abbotsf. C. 167.
Scho … reproved ȝow and said … ȝe had witched hir; ȝe ansuered … that it was but the trow that haid gripped her … the nixt day … ȝe … brought with ȝow the trowis gloue, and folded the same about the said Jonet's craige … and … the byle brak