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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.

Thre-fald, Thriefald, adj. (n.). Also: thre faulde, thrifauld, thriefold. [ME and e.m.E. þrefald (Orm), þrefold (c1200), thrifald (Cursor M.), OE þrífeald, þrýfeald, ON þrífaldr.]

A. adj. 1. Consisting of three sections or components combined in one; tripartite a1400 Leg. S. xxxvi 446.
His opyne teching … wes in thre-fald thing: The firste wes [etc.] 1562-3 Winȝet II 46/27.
That supernal louing of the angelis, quhilk be ane threfald blissing glorifiis ane Lord God c1550-c1580 Art of Music 20b.
Ane pwnt … is the leist and smallest sing ostensewe of noitis evidently institut to be appoint quhilk dois in harmony ane threfald office exers

2. That is enacted three times; triple. 1593 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 802.
Thomas Blar in Boctay, for thriefald fornicatioun and dissobedience 1600-1610 Melvill 451.
That thrifauld demand to Piter, ‘Amas me?’ 1615 Fraserburgh Kirk S. 64b (25 Oct.).
The sessioune … findis Isobell Smyth in ane thriefold falt first … a clatterer of neidles speaches nixt ane augmenter of ane fals taill [etc.]

B. noun. A threefold thickness; a set of three layers. c1420 Wynt. viii 4876 (C).
Wilȝame of Spens [persit] a blassone And out throw thre faulde a habyrione