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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TIRLESS, n., v. Also -es, tirlas(s), tirlies, -ieze, -is(s); terlass, -iss, turless; and reduced form tirlie. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. trellis. [′tɪrlɪs, ′tɪrle]

I. n. 1. As in Eng., a lattice, grille or grating of wood or metal, esp. for a door or window-opening (Sc. 1741 A. McDonald Galick Vocab. 84, 1808 Jam.). Also attrib.Edb. 1701 Burgh Rec. Edb. (1967) 2:
Where there are any suspected windows in dwelling houses out of which filth or excrements may be casten that the same be made with tirles or other wayes closed as the Magistrats shall think fitt.Gsw. 1713 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1908) 507:
3 mutchkins oyle to collour the new tirlies.Edb. 1714–24 D. Robertson S. Leith Rec. (1925) 29, 44:
1280 foot of tirles weir att 3s 6d per foot . . . Instead of wyre turlesses to put timber broads or shutters upon them without.Sc. 1720 History and Mistery of France and England 5:
There were Priests sitting in Places like Fruit Wives Stands, and a Tirless Window on every side, where there were People sitting on their Knees speaking thorow the Tirless confessing their Sins.Sc. 1726 W. Macfarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 200:
Having several passages for water to run through, in which passages there are fleaks of timber made after the manner of a Tirliss.Sc. 1756 M. Calderwood Journey (M.C.) 219:
A fine dressed-up Virgin in every one of them, and a tirless door to let her be seen!Per. 1765 Atholl MSS.:
My two Pheasant Hens were murder'd the other day by a wanton cat who broke thro' the Tirless.Edb. 1898 J. Baillie Walter Crighton 265:
To climb up on the window on the ground floor and scramble up the tirlies.

2. A barred wicket or small grate (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.), a turnstile (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 449; Ork., Bwk., Lnk., Kcb., Rxb. 1972, tirlie). Also in comb. tirlie-door, tirless yett, id. (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Gsw. 1722 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1909) 128:
The Barras port be taken down and the door of the Green be made a tirlie door.Sc. 1736 Crim. Trials Illustrative of “H. Midlothian” 330:
He came the length of the tirles and entry to the said walk.m.Lth. 1756 Session Papers, Watson v. Houison (12 June) 11:
Baron Clerk left a Passage through his Inclosures by a Tirlas.Ork. 1783 B. H. Hossack Kirkwall (1900) 163:
A Ribed Gate or Door with a Tirlie for the conveniency of foot passengers.Abd. 1795 Session Papers, Leslie v. Fraser (29 March 1805) 86:
A tirlis or roundabout, for letting in people, and keeping out beasts.Sc. 1864 St Andrews Gaz. (26 March):
A neat tirlass or metal post shall be placed to prevent ingress by cattle.Slg. 1883 W. B. Cook Local N. & Q. I. 125:
The “Tirliss” or stile above the village of Raploch.

‡3. A grid or rack for drying articles indoors, specif. a hanging framework with shelves for drying cheese, a cheeserack (Abd. 1913); a three-cornered rack for drying fir-candles (Bnff.⁵ 1926).Bnff. 1930:
Lat's see doon that kebbuck aff the tirliss.

†II. v. To fit (a window, etc.) with a trellis, to lattice, grate. Vbl.n. tirlising, ppl.adj. tirllest (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Now only hist.Sc. 1709 Compend of Securities 276:
To have them [windows] stenshelled, tirlised, or latticed.Fif. 1740 A. W. Houston Auchterderran (1924) 365:
Glasing and Tirlising and broads to the west window of the Church.Gsw. 1761 Session Papers, Simson v. Spreul (14 Nov.) 16:
The Window in the Kitchen remained constantly and entirely close glassed and tirliezed.Sc. 1965 Weekly Scotsman (2 Sept.) 11:
One could not throw rubbish out at any time, oh no! If you did, then the bailies or (High Constables) would come and “terlass” your windows for a period of six months.