To carry. A queer word of unknown origin, much used in the Southern States. It has been--absurdly enough--derived from the Latin tollit.
The militia had everlastin' great long swords as much as they could tote.--Maj. Jones's Courtship, p. 39.
Here a boy was ferociously cutting wood--there one toting wood.--Carlton, The New Purchase, Vol. I. p. 167.
My gun here totes fifteen buckshot and a ball, and slings 'em to kill.--Chron. of Pineville, p. 169.
"Goodness gracious!" said old Miss Stallins; "white servants! Well, the Lord knows I wouldn't have none on 'em about me; I could never bear to see a white gall toatin my child about, and waitin' on me like a nigger; it would hurt my conscience."--Maj. Jones's Travels.
And its oh! she was so neat a maid,
That her stockings and her shoes
She toted in her lily white hands,
For to keep them from the dews.--Ohio Boatman's Song.
Tom was liberal [with his honey], and supplied us all with more than we wanted, and toted his share to his own home.--Thorpe's Backwoods.
The watchman arrested Mr. Wimple for disturbing the peace, and toted him off to the calaboose.--Pickings from the N. O. Pickayune, p. 120.