[In 16th c. topnet, app. altered from TOPPET (tappet) q.v. Cf. TAP sb.3] A basket made of rushes, in which figs (formerly also raisins, etc.) are imported; also a conventional measure of quantity; = FRAIL sb.1
α. 1524. in Rogers, Agric. & Prices, III. 535/4. [Figs] Top-nets.
1537. in J. H. Blunt, Myrr. oure Ladye, Introd. 31. Dyuerse sortes of Spices and fruyttes … Nutmygges … Corans … Gynger … Isonglas … Figge doodes v Topnettes ij lb.—xj s. ix d.
c. 1550. Customs Duties (B. M. Add. MS. 25097). Figgs dodes, the topnet, xx d.
1882. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, IV. 671. Between 1516 and 1540 the price of figs by the toppet or topnet is a little over 2s. 3d.… Such a price … suggests … that the toppet contained about 30 lbs., and that it corresponds to the earlier frail…. In 1533 figs are bought by the topnet at Cambridge and by the frail at Stonor, at the same price, 2s. 6d.
β. 1553. W. Cholmeley, Request & Suite true-hearted Eng., in Camden Misc., II. 17. Fyggis at xxd the tapnet.
1556. W. Towrson, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1589), 99. Three Tapnets of figges, two pots of oyle.
1682. Privil. Citizens Lond., 71. For Tapnets and Frails of Figs per Ton … xx d.
1812. J. Smyth, Pract. of Customs (1821), 88. Frails, or Tapnets, are baskets made of rushes.
1858. in Simmonds, Dict. Trade.
1910. Grocer, Diary, 47/1. Figs, Faro, tapnets, 28 lbs.
attrib. 1578. Lyte, Dodoens, V. lxxxi. 652. Currantes or Raysens of Corinthe, do not much differ in vertue, from tapnet or frayle Raysens.
