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: 1502, 1563-1689
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Trew(i)s, n. pl. Also: trewes, treu(i)s, treues, treuse, trues, truise, truse, trouzes. [e.m.E. (Ireland) trowes (1581), Irish trius, Gael. triubhas.] Trews, a form of trousers worn especially by Highland men. Chiefly, (a) pair of trewis. Also attrib.1502 Treasurer's Accounts II 36.
The secund day of Aprile, for ane pair of trevis for the kings cursour … ij s. 1563 Inverness Rec. I 102.
Ane pair of new schort hois or ellis ane pair heland trewis 1577 Edinburgh Testaments V 250b.
Ane cassokin of gray & ane pair of trewis to be disponit to the pure 1587 Crawford Mun. Invent. II 188 (19 Feb.).
Prouyding of my first rentis of Glenesk I have ane plaid and trewis reddie agane the fyftene day of Aprile a1605 Montg. Misc. P. liv 3.
Smoir cunary takin trewis breikles McBradȝan 1616 Inverness Rec. II 147.
Truise 1628 Proceedings of Society of Antiquaries XXVIII 443.
Your L. knowis, althow they [sc. the soldiers] be men of personagis, They can not muster befoir your L. with thair trewis and blew cappis 1633 Sc. Ant. XII 20.
[The Laird of Glenurquhe to send his followers to Perth] in their best array … with trews, bowis dorloches [etc.] … [that the King might see] a mustour mad of Hielandmen, in their cuntrie habite 1637–41 Argyll Rec. 480.
In the sharp winter weather the Highland men wear close trouzes, which cover the thighs, legs and feet 1639 Moray Synod 44.
He went as a man unsatled in his judgement to the hills in a grey playd and trewes ?a1659 Brittane's Late Letanie 4 in Fugitive Poetry II xxviii 1.
With crost cloaks of orient hues Catigore and truthless trues Clanchattan, Clanchamron and Clanich [etc.] 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 483.
My Lady gifted him a plaid all of silk, party colloured, her own work, and a pare of truse of the same, neatly knit 1676 Argyll Justic. Rec. I 73.
Twa els tartan cloath, a pair of treus, a petticoat, a pair of breeches c1680 3rd Rep. Hist. MSS App. 402/2.
Provyd me treues … and a good bleu bonet, and I will asseur you there shall be no treuse trustier than myn a1689 Cleland 12.
Such who bore the pirnie standarts, … with brogues, trues, and pirnie plaidesattrib. 1639 Baillie I 212.
It was thought meet that he [sc. Argyll] and his should lie about Stirling … to be a terror to our newtralists or bot masked friends; to make all … march forward, leist his unkannie trewes-men should light on to call them up in their rear
b. transf. Wearers of trews, specif., Highland fighting men.1618 Craig vi 9.
No faith in plaids, no trust in Highland trews, Camelion-like they change to many hues
