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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.

Thro(u)ch(e, Through(t, Throw, Thor(r)ow, adv. Also: throucht, throwche, thruch, thrwch, throwght, thrwcht, throu, thro', thurow. [ME and e.m.E. þpuruh (Ancr. R.), þurgh (c1400), throw (15th c.), þro (a1425), thorow (1467), through (1472), OE þurh.]Cf. also Out-throw adv., Quhar(e)throuch rel. adv. and Thar(e)throw adv.

1. So as to pass all the way from one side or end to the other. a. Of movement, passage or extension between places. Also est throucht (eist throw), (that extends, runs, passes) through in an easterly direction; from west to east. b. Of penetrating or piercing (a body or object). Also in fig. context.For doun-throw and up-throw, see Doun-throw adv.a. (1) a1500 Rauf C. 697.
He thristit in throw threttie all atanis … As he gat ben throw He gat mony greit schow 1654 Peebles B. Rec. II 24.
Auchtand to John Newton, for ringing of the stepill, scoll, and mercat belles, and going throw with the clapper 1661 Stirling Common Good 4.
Sent be the provest with thes gentlemen that brought throw the honours 1663 Stirling Common Good 14b.
To the bellman to go throw for her 1672 M. Bruce Rattling Dry Bones 39.
He maks religion go throw like mureburn, smiting at the fields 1680 Cunningham Diary 116.
To a broken family that came through with a testificat(2) 1669 M. Works Acc. MS XVI.
The toofall that goes thorrow(3) 1487 Dunferm. B. Rec. I 1.
Heretabile stat and possessione to Wille Gilbert … of the said northt halfe of the saide land wytht the half yard est throucht 1614 Crim. Trials III 353.
Thair wes ane wther preist in this toun [sc. Glasgow], quha stayit ane day heir, and went Eist-throwb. a1500 Henr. Orph. 297.
And on his breste thare sat a grisely gripe, Quhilk wyth his bill his bally throu can bore a1508 Kennedy Pass. Christ 788.
Syne with gret force the nalis throw thai dang 1513 Doug. x xii 96.
[The lion] all the bestis bowellis thrymlys throwght 1529 Edinb. B. Rec. II 5.
To bring thar caldrone or kettellis to the cros and ding thame throw with ane puncione a1538 Abell 43b.
With his speir he ran him throw and straik him to the erd c1552 Lynd. Mon. 2960.
Tyll hir palyce to draw ane louche, By fors of men scho raif it [sc. a mountain] throche 1560 Rolland Seven S. 5689.
He bad thame bring ane twn of water fow, With ane wommill a hundreth hoillis boir throw [etc.] a1568 Bann. MS 223b/9.
Quhat windir is my hairt be gravit [pr. granit] thrwcht a1605 Montg. Misc. P. vi 17.
My hopeles hairt … Is … thirlit throu with deidly poysond dairts 1695 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. viii 48.
A canon bullet … hit his hat so much that you may shut thurow your hole hand

c. To drop thorow, ? to fall down, become ruinous. a1658 Durham Clavis Cantici 83.
Believers have a painful laborious task … They may much neglect this work and … Neglect and sloth makes the weeds to grow in their vineyard, and the building which they ought to keep up, to drop thorow

d. Of the passage of time. 1686 Lauder Notices Affairs II 719.
It continued long foul therafter, almost all the summer thorow

2. From beginning to end; in a thoroughgoing fashion, thoroughly, comprehensively. 1556 Lauder Off. Kings 252.
Be nocht ouir facill for to trow Quhill that ȝe try the mater throw 1564 Canongate Kirk S. (ed.) 13.
The said Johne Brand, minister … requyris the kirke gif thai be nocht satifiit throwche for ony offence maid be him, that thai wald shaw him 1596 Dalr. II 421/2.
Men … of a halie lyfe and throuch leirnet 1631 Monteith Stewartry Ct. 21 April.
James … alledgit he hade ressauit half payment alreddie and that he was not as ȝit thruch haill and curit and that he suld be completlie payit quhill he hade completet his cure 1640 Strong Sc. Second. Educ. 111.
Let the minister … stand by the maister in the schoole, till … he have hearkened throuch all the children learning Scots 1669 Kelso Baillie Ct. 47b.
Ane bay broun horse cutt tailȝed through pasced and trottes none

3. Through the whole extent or, throughout, freq. all throuch. c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 18/102 (B).
But moir trespas my synnis to remeid Concluding nevir all thrwch in myne entent [Arund. all throu myn entent] 1583 Sc. Ant. I 77.
Item, a new hatt, faced thorrow with sylk 1596 Dalr. I 32/5.
Thair, herdis keipis the ky … In wintir quhen thay ar throuch fatt and throuch fatnes weil bowdin, throuch all partes of the realme thay ar sent to be sauld 1596 Dalr. I 90/25.
Thay war harnest with jacks al wouen throuch with yrne huikes, quhilkes habbirgeounis thay cal 1596 Dalr. I 288/25.
His body … quhilk thay fund all throuch hail and sound 1629 Dumfries Test. 1A 215.
Ane cloak of reid skarlatt lyned throw with reid velvett 1645 Aberd. Sheriff Ct. III 42.
A clok lynit with welvit all throuch 1665–7 Lauder Jrnl. 95.
They have a apple in France called pomme de Calvile, its all rid thorow to the wery heart

4. In verbal expressions indicative of achievement, success, etc.: To bere or bring (a person) throuch, to help (a person) achieve success. To get (a thing) throught, to ensure the success or fruition (of a plan, etc.). To go throw, to be approved, win acceptance. To win through, to come out successfully, succeed in attaining one's end. 1456 Hay I 85/29.
Traistand in God and in his gude rycht to bring him throuch a1500 Henr. Fab. 2322.
Seis thou not buddis beiris bernis throw And giftis garris crukit materis hald full euin? ?1638 Anal. Scot. I 188.
Archbishop Spotswood was told … it would do well not to urge things so hy, for it was resolved by many that the covenant should go throw 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 200.
His mother's influence prevailed … and the Chancelours onely work was to get this match throught … all doubts being laid asid the match goes on … for Simon had a great fancy for the young lady 1682 Peden Serm. (1782) 2 Serm. 21.
Happy they I say that wan through at Pentland, Bothwell and Airdsmoss 1682 Peden Serm. (1782) 2 Serm. 21.
Them that hath won through the storm, and is won thro' Jordan, hath gotten Jordan's ebb water, and is well won thro'

b. To be throuch (with), to have finished, to have dealt fully with (something). 1600-1610 Melvill 59.
Whow soone the sam [General Assembly] war throuche and at a point with the mater of the Polecie 1716 Bk. Carlaverock II 244.
We are now prity well thorow

c. After an auxiliary verb, with ellipsis of the main verb. c1409-1436 Kingis Q. § 63.
Bot, hert! quhere as the body may noght throu, Folow thy hevin! a1500 Henr. Fab. 2321.
Tyne nocht thy querrell in thy awin defence; This will not throu but grit coist and expence

d. As an interjection, with the force of an imperative verb: Carry on, continue (with something) to fruition. 1583 Sempill Warning v.
Throch with this caus that ȝe haif vnder tane Or ellis provyd ȝow for the Paris dance

5. Throuch and throuch. a. fig. With repeated penetration. b. Thoroughly, completely.a. a1500 Lanc. 227.
He was … By loue … throuch & throuch persit to the hartb. 1513 Doug. iii ix 98.
Polyphemus, ȝymmand his beystis rouch, And al thar pappis mylkis throuch and throuch 1596 Dalr. I 298/15.
The men of weir in cruell battel, ar all skattirte throuch and throuch 1596 Dalr. II 248/5.
Thay sayled about this same tyme ouer to Scotland, ladne with syluer throuch and throuch [L. pecuniosissimi]