sb. and a. Also 6 torquess, 7, 9 torquis. [L. torquēs, torquis a twisted neck-chain or collar, f. torquēre to twist.]
A. sb. 1. = TORQUE1.
1693. Pepys, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 211. Your account of the Torquis spoken of in your … Letter.
1695. Gibson, Add. to Camden, 658. In … 1692 an ancient golden Torques was dug up … near this castle of Harlech.
1778. Eng. Gazetteer (ed. 2), s.v. Pattingham, Where, in 1700, was found a large torques of fine gold, 2 feet long, 3 pounds 2 ounces weight…. These torqueses were worn by the ancient Britons.
1865. Pall Mall G., 24 Oct., 5. There is no torques, no finger ring … nothing but the seal of Tirhaka, King of Æthiopians.
2. Zool. A collar or ring-like marking round the neck of an animal, formed by hair, feathers, etc. of special color or texture.
1891. in Cent. Dict.
† B. adj. Twisted, bent. Obs. rare–1.
a. 1568. Wedderburn, in Bannatyne Poems, 695/27. With ane bow torquess diuerss Greikis did scho kill.
