Sc. Also 6, 9 tor, 7 torre, 8 torr. [Origin uncertain: Welsh torr belly, bulge, boss, knob, has been compared.]
† 1. An ornamental knob upon a piece of furniture, as a chair or a cradle. Obs.
1560. Rolland, Seven Sages, 55. Betuix thame twa, the Creddill ouir thay cast, With boddum vp, and on the Toris it stude … That the four Toris sauit the Childis face.
a. 1572. Knox, Hist. Ref., IV. Wks. 1848, II. 404. The Quene … wes placeit in the chyre, haifing twa faithfull supportis, the Maister of Maxwell upoun the ane tor, and Secretour Lethingtoun on the uther tor of the chyre.
a. 1825. Balankin, xi., in Child, Ballads, IV. (1886), 323/2.
| Balankin he rocked, | |
| and the false nurse she sang, | |
| Till all the tores of the cradle | |
| wi the red blood down ran. |
2. The pommel of a saddle. rare or Obs.
a. 1672. Sir A. Balfour, Lett., ii. (1700), 33. To Carry one … in a Carpet Bag … tyed to the Tore of my Saddle.
1751. in Burton, Crim. Trials Scot. (1852), I. 62. Placing her body across the horse upon the torr or forepart of the saddle.
1828. Thomas o’ Yonderdale, in Whitelaw, Scot. Ball. (1874), 147/1. On the tor o’ her saddle A courtly bird did sweetly sing.
