Middle English Dictionary Entry
tor n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tor n. Also (in names) torre, torra, ter; pl. torres, (early) torræs. |
| Etymology | OE torr (from Celt.) a projecting rock. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A rocky peak or hill; (b) something resembling a peak or hill; (c) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.184; surname quots. spelled tor may belong to tour n.(1) 10.].
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)130/10 : Þa heahȝæ torræs & clifæs þe heaȝæ stondæþ ofer alle oþre eorðæ..þe mare rune nimæð, ȝyf heo feringæ to eorðe fællæþ.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)875 : A hue from heuen I herde þoo..as þunder þrowez in torrez blo.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4863 : Þare was so hedous & so hoge hillis..Cloȝes at was cloude, he clynterand torres.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)951 : Clowdes clustered bytwene, kesten up torres.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1983 : There a tempest hom toke on þe torres hegh.
c
- (1182) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames352 : Robert de Torra.
- (1207) Doc.Jocelin in Archaeol.51309 : Sub monte qui appellatur Le Torre.
- (1238) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)522 : Torre Briane.
- (1271) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)37 : Torbiri.
- (1274-5) Hundred R.Tower 2223 : Johannes de la Tor.
- (1278-9) Hundred R.Tower 2682 : Thom' Tormaisoun.
- (1296-7) Acc.Cornw.in RHS ser.3.68228 : De 22 s. 4 d. de 33½ ac. terre de Blaketorre.
- (1327) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames212 : Gilb. atte Terr'..Editha atte Torre.
- (1329) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)475 : Baggatorre juxta Wydecumbe.
- (1332) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames212 : Joh. atte Torregg'.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2109 : Þan vp he clame to a cliffe..Þe Tor of Tare to taken.