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: 1424-1549, 1610
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Tretabill, adj. Also: tretabile, -abyl, -able, traitable. [ME and e.m.E. tretable (Manning), treteable (c1430), tractable (1502), OF traitable, L. tractābilis.] Tractable, willing, agreeable. Also const. to (a person) or to do (something).(a) 1460 Hay Alex. 7606.
And ȝow list cum … And speik with him … And be tretabill and sobir in ȝoure wreith a1499 Contemplacioun of Synnaris 1477 (Asl.).
Reforme in tyme thi raifand rudnes … How Is thi wit thus wastit with wodnes … Thy self to saif quhy art thow nocht tretable c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 261 (M).
Thocht ȝe as tygiris be terne be tretabill in luif 1513 Doug. iv viii 65.
He of natur was tretabill [Ruddim. tretabyl] and curtas 1549 Lamb Resonyng 53/2.
Schir James, persawand the Kyng of Ingland stomocate, nocht tretable to continuew amite with his nephew, schew [etc.](b) c1610 Melville Mem. 383.
Princes sall reull weill … myeld to the people, traitable to strangers
b. absol. as noun. A co-operative person, one with whom agreement is to be found.1424 Dumbarton B. Rec. App. ii 1.
That the balȝeis … sal chese sax of the worthiaste, discretest, and mast tretabile [etc.]
