Middle English Dictionary Entry
toret n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | toret n.(1) Also torret, tur(r)et, turette; pl. toretz, tor(r)ettes, tourettes, tur(r)ettes, (late) tirettis. |
| Etymology | OF toret, touret & AL turettus, torretus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Hawk. Each of the two rings by which the leash is attached to the jesses of a hawk, a varvel; ?also, a pair of varvels [quot. a1450]; peire of toretz; (b) a half-ring or eyelet that is fixed to a flat surface in order to form an attachment point for a chain, etc.; (c) a swivel ring on a dog's collar to which a leash can be attached; also, a ring on the harness of a horse through which a rein passes, a terret.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1312) Will Durham in Sur.Soc.218 : Turrettes et vrtenelys, xij d.; ij paria de Chessys, xiij s. iiij d.
- a1450 Dur-CRO.Bk.Hawking (Dur-CRO Roll D/X/76/7)34/201 : Þer must be a spopell [read: stopell] in þe stak to tye þe hawk þer-to; Also scho must haue a toret.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf b v/b : Hawkys haue aboute thyr legges Gesse..the lewnes shulde be fastened to theym with a payre of tyrettis, wich tyrettis shuld rest vppon the lewnes and not vppon the gesses.
b
- (a1422) Doc.St.Alb.in RS 28.5 pt.2 (Cld E.4)334 : Item, duo superaltaria; unum quadratum..Aliud vero est rotundum..cum uno toret, et ansa argenti et deaurata, per quam posset pendere per parietem.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.2.1 : This ryng renneth in a maner toret [vrr. turret, turet, torret, turette] fast to the moder of thyn Astrelabie.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4916 : I beqwete to Adam Newhawe..my lityll bagge of blakke ledyr with a cheyne and toret of siluyr.
c
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2152 : Aboute his chaar ther wente white alauntz..And folwed hym with mosel faste ybounde, Colered of gold and turrettes [vrr. tourettes, torettys, torettes, torrettes, turettes, torettz] filed rounde.
- (1429-30) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99230 : In 4 renes, 2 colers de coreo novis cum turettes emptis..3 s. 6 d.