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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.

Ton(e, Tun(e, v. Also: toon(e, toyn(e. [ME and e.m.E. tone (1307-27), tune (1400), ton- (1447), toyn- (1513), toone (1570); Ton(e n.¹]

1. tr. To tune (an instrument, or its strings), to adjust to the correct pitch. Also in fig. context. Also, to tune up. Also transf.(1) c1460 Regim. Princ. 2 (Fairf.).
Rycht as all stryngis ar rewlyt in a harpe In an acord & tunyt [Marchm. timyt] al be ane vth(b) 1562-3 Winȝet I 18/5.
Sen ȝe haif harpit sa lang on that ane string, tweching ȝour lauchfull vocatioun, we exhorte ȝow to schaw it iustlie toneit, or ȝe leif it 1584 Sempill in Sat. P. xlv 180.
He toned his dussie for a spring(c) 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 113/1.
O thou that michtilie dois toone my uarbling holy hairpe 1604-31 Craig ii 156.
Larke and maues shall abone Thy head their small recordars toonetransf. 1535 Stewart 38697 heading.
How the battell junit, And euerie sound so tunit(2) 15.. Clar. v 2087.
When all the trumpits tonit up at onis; Then fra the preis the knightis them disponis c1590 J. Stewart 6/5.
Quho sall toyne vp my tribill string and mak my feiblit muse to ryis? c1590 J. Stewart 256 § 222.
King Dauids harp … Hich toynit vp in Godis praise 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 108/6.
Whett your pens ye imps of heauenlie grace And toone me wp your sweete resounding strings 1657 R. Moray Lett. 68a.
I shall be ready to tune up my pipes

b. To modify or modulate the tone, feeling, etc. of a poem, etc. according to one's purpose. 1513 Doug. i Prol. 506.
I the ilk vmquhile that in the small ait reid Tonyt my sang, syne fra the woddis ȝeid 1513 Doug. vi Prol. 70.
Virgil sawis … Ful riche tresour thai bene and precius graith, For oft by Sibilys sawis he tonys his stevyn 1533 Bell. Livy I 2/4.
Liuius, Quhais curious ressouns tonit ar so hie, And euery sens sa full of maieste, That [etc.] 1566-70 Buch. Comm. on Virgil Eclogues v 14.
Modulans alterna, toonand be couples

2. To subject to (mental or physical) discipline, to develop or improve by correction, exercise, etc.; to chastise, ‘sort out’. Also to tune one's ear.(1) a1568 Bann. MS 280a/2.
Fra raige of ȝowth the rynk hes rune And ressone tane the man to tune The brukle body than is … maid ane veschell new 1572 Sat. P. xxxi 134.
I wed my heid that thai sal tone thame, And trym thame for thair triks c1630 Scot Narr. 93.
He was … not so fitt for discipline and government as for the pulpit and the schooles … His old master, … tuned and tutored him as he saw it fitting. … Much travell was taken for his election(2) 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 261.
How hard a thing it is to flesh to bear the cup of great wealth and long health equal … but except the Lord exercise us … hold us in awe and tune our ear, like fed horse we begin to repine

3. intr. Of an instrument: To sound, to give out a musical sound. 1598 Melvill Propine 117.
The trimbling tract of trumpet blast full terrible did toone

b. tr. Of a person: To utter, murmur, express (a thought, feeling, etc.) in a particular tone. 1600-1610 Melvill 325.
Letting the king planlie to knaw that quhilk dyvers tymes befor … he haid tooned in his ear, ‘That [etc.]’ 1609 Garden Garden 76.
Sigh, sadly sigh, sob for thy sinnes and sound … With tragicke teares toone out thy griefs

4. To tune with, to come into harmony or agreement with (a person), to ally oneself with. 1615 Highland P. III 273.
Sir James' lady … reported to me … that Donald Gorme … and McCloyd had a speciall band between thame and Sir James, as for MakCleane he wes not fullie resolued at that present tyme … Sence my comeing to Lorne I mett with a man, who spak with her ladiship, who reportes that MakCleane hes latelie tunit with them 1615 Bk. Islay 322.
Ronald M^cJames and the otheres hes tunit with Sir James