Sc. Also towt. [Origin of sense 1 obscure. Sense 2 evidently goes with TOUT sb.2, and may be a different word from 1.]
1. trans. To toss or throw about in disorder. Also fig. to canvass, discuss.
a. 1568. Bannatyne Poems (Hunter. Cl.), 408/18. To spill the bed it war a pane, Quoth he, the laird will nocht be fane, To fynd it towtit and ourtred.
1596–7. J. Melvil, Diary (Wodrow Soc.), 410. We perceave the purpose is bot to canves and towt our maters heir a whyll, that thairefter men of lytle skill and les conscience may decern in to tham as they pleis.
1812. P. Forbes, Poems, 38 (E.D.D.). [He] lang an’ sair the claise did tout, Dreaming o’ an invasion An’ fights yon night.
1899. J. Lumsden, Edin. Poems & Songs, 250. Their waters mountain high Uprear in never-ending wars And tout the ships an’ flout the sky As if they’d quench the eternal stars.
2. To irritate, vex, tease. Cf. TOUT sb.2
1725. Ramsay’s Gentle Sheph., 718 (E.D.D.). Losh preserve us, Bess! At thys tym; and swa towtit!
1832. Carrick, in Whistle-Binkie, Ser. II. (1853), 124. Weel, weel, Janet, dinna be sae toutit about it—I was awa’ at a burial.
1887. P. M’Neill, Blawearie, 61. If Bob toutit you, very likely ye hae been toutin’ him too.
b. intr. (See quot.)
1825. Jamieson, Tout, to be seized with a sudden fit of sickness [or] ill humour.
