A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: <1375, 1375, 1529-1692
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Tracis, -es, n. pl. Also: tras(s)is, -es, trais(s)is, -es, trays, treses, tressis, thraisis. [ME and e.m.E. trais (14th c.), trasys (1404), tracez (1405-6), tresses (1523), trasis (1569), OF traiz, trais, L. tractus.] Traces, the pair of ropes, etc. used to connect the collar of an animal engaged in draught-work to the cart, etc.; ? ropes more generally.(a) 1365 Coldingham Priory xlviii.
In ij paribus de trays ij colerys, cum una sella et cruper 1529 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 11.
For i new pair of trasis to ane hors new gevin be the kingis grace to the cart … ii s. 1532 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 85.
viii faldom of tow for trassis to the cart hors 1538–9 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 258.
x stanis … towis … for making skaffaltis gyraippis traissis and grayth to cartis 1539–41 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) I 282.
Tracis 1558 Treasurer's Accounts X 434.
For ane grit tow weyand ij stane iiij li. wecht, maid in trasis to ane double and single falconis 1568 Treasurer's Accounts XII 130.
Munitionis concernyng the said artailyerie as pulder, bullettis, lang pikis, schulis, … towis, handspaikis, lymmeris, aixtreis, trasis and certane uthiris werklumes for smythis, wrychtis, quariouris 1616 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 10.
Four stane fyve pund and ane half of takill to be trasses for the cairt horse and lykwayis for the crane 1626 Master of Works Accounts (ed.) II 196.
To Williame Tailyefeir … in spyceing of traissis for haimes 1646 Edinburgh Testaments LXII 58a.
Furneist cairts with car saidles, traces and harnes 1692 Sheriffhall Coal Accompt 8 Oct.
For traises to the gine(b) 1543–4 Treasurer's Accounts VIII 248.
Thre boittis witht the said artalȝe, having tressis, yokis, oxin bowis and other necessaris convenient thairfore 1552 Treasurer's Accounts X 117.
Thre stanis of towis, coft to be tressis to draw the said four falconis 1585 9th Rep. Hist. MSS App. ii 193/1.
Fyve pair mair of tressis, tua oxin sowmes [etc.] c1598 Skipper's Acc. (Morton) 15a.
For blokis to our treses 1622 Edinburgh Testaments LI 151a.
Tua pair tressis pryce of baithe xxvj s. viij d.(c) 1558 Treasurer's Accounts X 400.
For certane towis maid withtin the castell of Edinburgh, hemmis thairto, to be thraisis, and for making of the samyn, xxxvj s.
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"Tracis n. pl.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 13 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/tracis>
