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

Tuiche stane, n. Also: tuich-, tuitch(e-, tuch-, tueche-, tweche-, tweich-, twiche-, towtch-, touch-, and -staine, -stein, -stone. [e.m.E. touch stone (1481-3), tutch stone (1584), tuch stone (a1647). Cf. OF touchepierre.]

1. A smooth, fine-grained black stone, used for determining the quality of gold or silver, by comparing the streak produced by rubbing them on it with the streak produced by specimens of known quality.See also the Burne Disput. quot. in 2 below. a1578 Pitsc. II 60/5.
The goldsmyth knaweth the fyne gold frome the wnprofettable by the tuiche stone 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 225/219.
The goldsmith makis his tuichstaine fitt for any golde he gettis

b. Applied to stone of a similar type or, perhaps, a further example of above. c1670 Gordon's Aberd. 23.
His tombe stone of black towtch stone

2. fig. and in fig. context: Something which serves to test the value of anything; a criterion, a standard. Also, const. of something.Freq. applied to the Bible.(1) 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 226.
The trew twiche stone, Quhilk is the auld and new Testament 1562 Bk. Univ. Kirk I 21.
That ye wald have suffered your religioun … to have bene tryed by the trew tuich-stane, the written word of God 1563 Davidson Answer MS 12b.
And the lawis and decreits of the Romane kirk be brocht to examinatione, to the tweich staine [13a, tueche stane] the worde of God, … thare salbe mony of thaim found full of superstitione 1558-66 Knox II 173.
You mon be conversant in the Scriptures, quhilk ar the tuichstone to try the rycht from the wrang 1573-1600 Burne Disput. in Cath. Tr. 124/27.
Giff ye vill examine the vrittinis of the fatheris be the tuichestane [sc. the word of God], ye man proue your selfis to be fineuris, lapideris, and goldsmythis … for euerie man hes not that skill suppose he haue the tuichestane to examine the treu gold 1610 Reg. Privy C. IX 576.
Fullie expecting your majesties … favourable constructioun of oure proceidingis, wisseing thay may prove good mettell quhen thay come to the tryall of the trew tuitch-stone [Melrose P. 83, tuitchestone], unto whome we do most humelie pray for the continewance of all happynes a1651 Calderwood VII 635.
Your Majestie may find most just forces of reasoun to accuse him in my petitioun to the Parliament, which sall serve for a tuichstone to your Majestie, and a tuichestone to me and manie other Scotish men(2) 1562-3 Winȝet II 7/2.
This is … a general reul to al richt, an ewin lyne of lawtay, a tweche stane of the treuth 1585 James VI Ess. 61.
Ȝour eare man be the onely iudge, as of all the vther parts of flovving, the verie twichestane quhair-of is musique 1593 Innes Rev. III 102.
I suppone ye hef suspendit your censour … that ye may understande gif being at libertie I wald conferme my former depositiouns quherontill I wais compellit quhilk is the tuichstein of tryall in ane doutsome mater a1605 Montg. Sonn. xlv 13.
Ȝit trying tyme, the touchstone of my treuth c1616 Hume Orthog. 20.
Al tongues bear with sum slippes that can not abyde the tuich stone of true orthographie 1658 Tayler Hist. Fam. Urquhart 57.
The tuch stone of satisfactorinesse is to be made apparent