Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

Thrinfald(e, Thrynfald(e, adj. and adv. Also: trinfauld, -fold, trenefald. [ME thrinefald, þrinfalde (both Cursor M.); Thre-fald adj. with assimilation of the first element to thrin (Thrin adj.).]

1. adj. Three-fold, tripartite. = Thre-fald adj. 1.(a) a1400 Leg. S. iv 2.
The appostil … Sanct Jame … had thrynfald nam a1400 Leg. S. vi 390.
God … the quhilk in substance bot ane is, & thrinfald in-to personis a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 463.
He the thrinfald crone Sal euir bruk fore his wardone: The firste is of virginite, [etc.] 14.. Reg. Maj. c. 37.
Thar is thrynfalde reson quhi the balȝe may nocht be arbitour c1475 Wall. vii 141.
The thrynfald buk [sc. in Wallace's vision] is bot this brokyn land, Thou mon rademe a1570-86 Kennedy Maitl. F. 234/5.
O thrynfald God and eterne Lord in trune c1510 Prester John 310.
iij werray God fadir sone and haly gaist thrinfalde iij personis and iij divinity 1513 Doug. iii vi 218.
A thrynfald hawbrik was al gold begone 1513 Doug. iv ix 78.
The thrynfald goddess Proserpina 1513 Doug. vii xii 169.
The thrynfald Diane ful of blys c1552 Lynd. Mon. 48.
His thrynfald wande of flagellatioun Hes scurgit this pure realme of Scotland 1567 G. Ball. 104.
Ȝe Edomitis idoll, with thrinfald [D. threefald] crowne, The crop and rute of pryde and tyrannie(b) c1590 J. Stewart 264 § 255.
The state trivmphall of that trinfold trone(c) a1568 Bann. MS 55a/124.
O eternall God trenefald in vnioun a1568 Scott xxxvi 84.
Gloir to the Haly Spreit of loif In trenefald vnitie

b. Thrice over. 1570 Sat. P. xxi 19.
Thay trinfauld tratours, Hes steirit vp this stryfe

2. adv. To the extent of three (layers, rows, etc.). 1513 Doug. vii Prol. 95.
I … Kest on clathis thrynfald, Fortil expell the peralus persand cald 1513 Doug. v v 30 (Sm.).
A habirgeoun of burnist mailȝeis brycht, With gold ourgilt clowit thrynfald [L. trilicem loricam] full tycht