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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.

Toilȝe, Toil(l, n. Also: toyl(e, tole, tol-, tulȝe, twol-, twe(i)l-. [e.m.E. toyle (a1529) a net, toile (1575) cloth, toil (1607) a trap, OF teile, toile linen cloth, canvas, L. tēla.]There seems to be some overlap or confusion with Tweill n. (and ? Tweillit adj.) in spelling forms and ? pronunciation.

1. A type of cloth. Freq. toilȝe dor, such cloth shot through with gold threads.(1) c1420 Wynt. v 1699.
Swa in that toyle [W., C. tulȝe] quhill scho wes tyt It wes persayvyt throuch a slyt That scho wes woman 1561 Reg. Privy C. I 172.
Toylis, quhilk is callit lynnyng clayth in oure language 1588 Exch. R. XXI 391.
Quilkis deweteis extendis in the yeir comptit to … 1000 cunnyng skynnis, 167 packis vedmell, 105 doleris for vattill, 120 angel nobillis for toill(2) 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 3.
For thre pecis of claith of gold … ane pece tharof wytht ane dammes champe sett apoune ȝallo silk toilȝe dor simple 1538 Treas. Acc. VII 4.
Ane uthir pece of claith of gold toilȝe dor fresit, havand the ground of gold treit and the fresing of threid of gold and silver 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 52.
Heir followis the charge of claith of gold, and toil dor fresit, and silkis coft be the compter 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 52.
Of tole dor simple xviij elnys 1539 Inv. Wardrobe 34.
Ane gowne of purpour velvot with ane braid pasment of gold & silvir lynit with twoldere and furnist with hornis of gold 1539 Inv. Wardrobe 42.
Ane doublett of tweild doir champit 1539 Inv. Wardrobe 43.
Ane pair of hois of blak velvett cuttit out with toldour with ane small trais of gold 1539 Inv. Wardrobe 44.
Ane pair of hois of crammesy velvett frenyeit with silvir cuttit out on toldoir 1542 Inv. Wardrobe 100.
Ane kirtill of tweldore

2. A type of large net used to enclose deer in hunting. c1605 Pitsc. Add. (1728) 238.
The chase continued about two hours; the deer, being brought within toyles, were killed with musket-shot