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.

Toun man, n. Also: town-, tounis-, tounes-, touns-, townes-. [ME and e.m.E. toune men (1399), towne men (1450), OE túnman.] A man who lives in a town.(a) a1500 Rauf C. 521.
Thair is mony toun man to tugill is full teuch, Thocht thair brandis be blak and vnburely 1538 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 195.
Ve vill nocht geif the service be na electiones bot allanerly be the bailyeis, alderman and communite of the town, as ouris forbearis gaif it ay to ane toun man, burges or borne man thairin 1540 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 223.
We ordand all our wodis in common … and geif onland townmen cuttis or ryffis up be the ruttis to be inditit thairof 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 326.
Thair wes nane that preist to red the samyne [sc. a fire] bot the toun men 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 41.
For drink breid and cheis to the toun men that wrocht 3 dayes in hailling up the cannoun(b) 1572 Bann. Memor. 240.
The tounes men of weir salbe halilie voydit furth of the same 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 231.
For this wappinschawing, my lord regent buir greit indignatioun at the tounis men remaning thairin 1596 Dalr. II 272/28.
The gouernour obteining the victorie entiris in the toune and toward the tounesmen vses gret lenitie and gentlenes 1621 Aberd. Council Lett. I 341.
Ye pas to Sanct Nicolas paroche kirk … and thair … laufullie warne the tounsmen … to exhibit any of thair childrene that hes past thair course in grammar and ar apt and meit foir ane of the saids bursaris c1650 Spalding II 171.
And for his brave seruice knightit him … to the gryte honour of the brughe of Abirdene, being ane of oure tounismen borne 1661 Rothesay B. Rec. 69.
The judges … ordained ewerie on of them to tak tuo honest townesmen who know best the valeritie of the landis to mak a just yeirly rent thairto