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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Thrawart, Throwart, adj. Also: thraward, thrauart, thrauard, throuart, throward, thrawit. [Altered form of Frawart adj., prob. influenced by Thraw(e v., Thraw(i)n adj.]

1. Perverse, contrary; obstinate; refractory; malign. Also const. to (a person). Also proverb. Cf. Frawart adj. 1, Thraw(i)n adj. 2.(1) a1500 Henr. Fab. 2661 (H).
I suld be wrokkin on him … For his exhorbetand and thrawart [OUP frawart] pleid a1500 Henr. Fab. 2830 (see Thraw(i)n adj. 3). a1500 Henr. Fab. 2925.
I reid thé fle to matche thé with ane thrawart [Bann. frawart, H. thrawit] fenȝeit marrow a1500 Henr. Orph. 478 (Bann.).
Electo, Migera, and Thesaphany, Ar nocht ellis … Bot wickit thocht, ill word, and thrawart [OUP frawart] deid c1475 Wall. (1570) xi 152.
Thir twa campiounis Of felloun force and thrawart conditiounis c1500-c1512 Dunb. Flyt. 108.
Sic eloquence as thay in Erschry use, In sic is sett thy thraward appetyte 1513 Doug. i v 62 (Sm.).
This Eneas, with hidous barganyng, In Itale thrawart peple sall doun thryng 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I 178.
Reiosing that he began to recover his liberte eftir sa lang raige of thrawart fortoun aganis him Arundel MS 203/280.
Breik our thrawart hertis and mak ws obedient to Thé 1567 Sat. P. iv 103.
Taine be consent of thame he luiffit best Furth of his bed … By thrawart malice and murther manifest 1584-9 Maxwall Commonpl. Bk. 10b.
Gif thow wald leif in cheratie Fra thrawart companie yow flie a1599 Rollock Wks. I 333.
Knawis thou not thy nature how bakward and thrawart it is, sa that except thou be broddit fordward with terroris of judgement, thou wil never addres thee to hevin … be the gait a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xvi 28.
The Weirds I wyt That span with spyt, My thrauart fatall threid a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xx 25.
Thrauard 1644 Baillie II 196.
We have to doe with very many scrupulous and thraward witts(b) 1559 Knox VI 105.
To correct the disobedience of our throward foot men 1581-1623 James VI Poems II 42/15.
Bot quho to throuart uayis do bou Jehoua uill thaim not indure c1590 Fowler I 30/104.
In youthe a meik and modest chyld, bot in his yeiris and aige A cancard throward tyran strong 1602 Colville Paraenese 5.
Obey your princes, euin theis that be throwart or peruerssproverb. a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 219.
A thrawart knaive is ane evill nybour(2) 1551 Hamilton Cat. 82.
The sone quhilk was inobedient, stifhartit and thrawart to his father and mother 1662 Forbes Cantus (1666) xxxiv.
Yet though she be so thrawart unto me I'le love her, or I shal love none

b. Reluctant, obstinately disinclined (to do something). 1640 Baillie I 262.
The ouners and workmen were verie thrawart to doe any service either for themselves or us

c. Reluctantly granted, grudging. a1651 Calderwood IV 441.
Their unkindlie and thraward interteanment during their abode in Scotland

2. Adverse; unfortunate; awkward. Cf. Frawart adj. 2. 1567 Reg. Sec. Conc. (Acta 1559-67) 160 MS (Reg. H.) in Concilia Sc. I clxxii.
[The presence of the nuncio] … mycht haue red ws out of mony thrawart accidentis

b. absol. as noun. An instance of adversity or misfortune. 1597 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 942.
Sundrie of the brethren desyrit to be satisfied of his majesties mynd … anent quhatsoevir thrawarts or accidents that hes fallen out thir two ȝeirs bygane

3. Throwart eied, squint-eyed. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 178/1237.
The throwart eied [Bodley MS uinking eied] enuie