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

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

Thra, adj. (adv.). Also: thray. [ME and e.m.E. thra (Cursor M.), þro (c1320), throw (?a1500), throw (c1500), ON þrár.]

A. adj. 1. Obstinate, stubborn; stubbornly resistant (to something); persistent, determined (to do something); reluctant (to do, or stop doing, something). Also for or in thra will, wilfully, perversely.(1) a1400 Leg. S. xxxi 412.
Wemen ar thra One hyme that wil nocht do ther wil a1400 Leg. S. xl 54.
[Ninian] held his fles vndirloute, For dred it suld be thra & stout Agane the sawle c1420 Wynt. ii 1297.
Off this request scho wes sa thra That scho walde na wys pas hym fra Quhyll that he gave hys assent a1500 Seven S. 329.
He chargit his gardinar to kyth All cure … Till gar this pynull grow … Schir said the gardyner thocht I be thra This litill prety pynula Thar may na gudding it avalȝe a1500 Seven S. 1871.
And ȝe in hart be set sa thra For ȝour fals wyf ȝour son till sla Ane mair misawentur sall fall ȝe [etc.] 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. 1173.
We enterit sone, the portar was not thra, Thair was na stopping, lang demand nor pleid a1568 Scott xiii 31.
Be nocht thra ȝour scherwand to confort Sum anss^r ma a1568 Bann. MS 36b/135.
Resist in tyme to syn be euir thra a1568 Bann. MS 134a/29.
Quha saw evir a man sa thra? 1603 Philotus 317.
Scho is sa ackwart and sa thra, That with refuse I come hir fra(b) a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 651.
In hope ȝet to wyne his wil … Thai come [etc.] … He answert angrely With wordis of reprowe … & blamyt thame for thai war thray(2) a1400 Leg. S. ii 504.
[Paul] that firste wes Cristis fa, And in thra will His men can sla, Become to thame sic frend a1400 Leg. S. xxxvii 107.
Gyf thu wil nocht [sc. sacrifice to the gods] for thra wil, Ful felon turment be put thé til

b. Keen, eager, zealous (to do something); bold.(1) 1375 Barb. xviii 71.
Quhen thai saw he wes sa thra To fycht a1400 Leg. S. xxviii 138.
Olibrius thane wes ful thra To fand hyr a1500 Sir Eger 163.
To counter on foot he was full thra 1513 Doug. xii vi 126.
O thow prowd Troian lyggand thar at grond Now may thou myssour the feld at thou has fund … Quhilk thou to seik in weirfar was sa thra(2) ?1438 Alex. i 1091.
He sawe the gude, with hart full thra, Throw out the thik preis cum and ga c1475 Wall. ix 846.
Wallace with him had fourty archarys thra 1513 Doug. viii xii 128.
Tha pepill of Sythia, In archery the quhilk ar wonder thra 1535 Stewart 7989.
Thair multitude With us sa oft hes vincust bene befoir And ȝit salbe for all thair bost and schoir Thocht thai be thra thair power is bot small

2. Of thoughts, etc.: Deeply felt, intense. ?1438 Alex. ii 3860.
Swete vmbethinking … Me takes and partes my hart in tua, And thyrlis sumtyme with thochtis thra c1420 Wynt. iv 2594.
Thai thre dayis in hard fastyng Scho bade [and] in tyll thra praying c1420 Wynt. v 1194.
Saynt Gregore … Made specyall and thra orysown That God wald grawnt his saule to be Owt off hel delyverit

B. adv. Boldly; persistently; violently. = Thrafullie adv. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 60.
The berne … Fand the yettis vnclosit, and thrang in full thra a1500 Seven S. 1439.
Scho was thinkand aye full thra How scho his lufit hound suld sla c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 195.
He ralis and makis repet with ryatus wordis Ay … rageing in chalmer; Bot God wait quhat I think when he so thra spekis