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.
Thres(c)hald, n. Also: threshold, threswald, thressald, thraswald, thryswald, treswald, thriswall, thresh(w)ell, thresschell, thraschell, thrashwall, thraschit. [ME and e.m.E. therswald (c1325), þrexwolde, þresshewold, þreschfold (all Piers Plowman), thresshfold, thresshold (both Chaucer), thriswald (c1400), thryshwald (1444), threshold (1586), thressholl (1593), OE þerscold, þerscwold (etc.), ON þreskjǫldr.] A threshold, the piece of stone under the door at the entrance to a house; the sill of a doorway. Passing into: The entrance to a house or building. Chiefly preceded by dure. Also fig.For further examples see Dure n. 4.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xviii 579.
I thrange ful ȝarne amange al tha That in the tempil fyrste can ga … & quhen we come to the thryswald Al had entre … Bot I a1400 Leg. S. xviii 593.
Treswald 1536 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 167.
I saw the greit tymmer and part of brokin pannes … sillis … lyntallis thriswallis, all thingis pertening to the durris 1670 Glasgow Weavers 81.
To Robert Smyth for layeing of thrie threshwellis [19 s.] 1670 Glasgow Weavers 81.
For carieing of twa stones to the treads land to be threshellis [8 s.] 1670 Glasgow Weavers 83.
For 3 stones for thrashwallis [£2](2) 1513 Doug. vi i 84.
Tho to the dur threswald [Sm. thressald] cummyn ar tha 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 337.
None enterit over the durre thraschell [Bann. Trans. 490, thresschell] 1589 Burntisland B. Ct. 4 Nov.
He was nocht putt within the tolboith dor bot only vpone the dor thraswald 1620 Perth Kirk S. MS 10 Oct.
On the dure thraschit besyde ane bed heid 1629 Justiciary Cases I 103.
Hir accustomet maner of aftaking hir courche was be going thryse widderschynnes about and heir be sitting doun in the dur threschald 1632 Justiciary Cases I 211.
Threshald 1649 Sc. N. & Q. 1 Ser. III 123.
When … he rose to see the cow and looked to her he fand ever the sows lying on the door thresholdfig. 1650 Blairs P. 29.
If a dangerous disease … had not driuen me to the doore threshold of death, my lynes had proued more leste
