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: 1399-1420, 1513-1535
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Trat, Trattes, n. Also: trate, trattas. [ME and e.m.E. trat(te) (Gower), trate (c1380), trot (1530), AF trote.] An old woman; also, pejoratively, an old hag.a1400 Legends of the Saints xxx 273.
Thane sad the trat with flatrand fare c1420 Wynt. v 1649 heading (W).
Off ane woman wes maid abbat And defamyt throu ane old trat [A. trate] 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 166.
Thé, auld trat, agit wyfe, or dame 1513 Doug.iv xi 114.
With slaw pays lyke a trat 1513 Doug. vii vii 30.
Alecto … hir in schap transformyt of a trat [: rat; L. anilis] Hyr forret skorit with runclys [etc.] … Of Junoys tempill semyt scho tobe The nun and trattes [L. anus] clepit Calybe 1535 Stewart 35848.
This ald carling … ane image rostand at the fyre That ald trattas for turning wald nocht tyre, And as scho turnit ay about scho sang