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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.

Thris(e, Thrys(e, Thrice, adv. Also: thriis, thrijse, thryss(e, thryis(e, thries, thryce, tris, triis, tryis, thrysit, fris. [ME and e.m.E. þriȝess (Orm), þries (Ancr. R.), thris(e, thrijs (all Cursor M.), þrys (Manning), thryse (1548-9), thrice (Shakespeare); Thre num.]

1. Three times in succession, on three (successive) occasions. Also proverb.(a) a1400 Leg. S. v 557.
Fra that the cok had cravyn thrise a1400 Leg. S. xii 314.
The treutht of the trinyte That tha foure thryse to purchas suld fond In foure partis of this warld rond a1400 Leg. S. xxii 647.
Thriis ?1438 Alex. i 1601.
Thrys ?1438 Alex. i 2919.
Thris ?14.. Ship Laws c. 15 (A).
Gif ony of thaim be rebel a gain hym he aw to command him thrise out of the schip 14.. Acts I 29/2.
And he at is challangyt may ryn til his delayis and til his skylfull essoinȝeis anys tuyis and thryis 14.. Acts I 375/2.
Tris 1446 Reg. Episc. Brechin. I 106.
That the said land of Caldhame … aw of law and uis and custum of it to the said lord and his courtis soit and seruice thris in the ȝeir a1500 Henr. Fab. 473.
He wald, and haif na dout, Baith wink, and craw, and turne him thryis about 1478 Grey Friars II 14.
To say … the salter of our Lady thryse ouyr 1496 Treas. Acc. I 295.
To the belman, to ga thris throw Edinburgh ?c1500 Rathen Manual 27/2.
We cursis … all thai … nocht makande restorance … [of] all thyngis has beynne thryis lavchfully askyt in haly kirk 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 122.
For vj quartis aqua vite thryis drawin c1520-c1535 Nisbet Matth. xxvi 34.
Thrijse [P. thries] thou sal deny me c1520-c1535 Nisbet Luke xxii 34.
Thries [P. thries] 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4407 (B).
Wa; ȝit agane; now this is thryis. The divill wirry me and I ryis 1562 Crim. Trials I i 420.
Thai not beand proclamit thryise in the kirk as aucht and sould haue bene done 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 237.
Thay patt the catt thryis throw the linkis of the cruik 1630 Soc. Ant. LVI 50.
Be streking of the said battone thryse upone the ground the devill was in use sumtymes to appeir 1634 Peebles Gleanings 172.
[To the fifer] for the thryss about the cowmaneis playing 1638 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 45.
That no marriage be without thrysse proclamation, as the Book of Discipline bears 1658 Sc. Ant. IX 51.
Thrice 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 415.
That the said James Tod loup the gad loup thryce throw the thrie companyes(b) 1516 Wigtown B. Ct. 59a.
The said Johne tryis callit & nocht comperit 1522 Wigtown B. Ct. 132b.
Triis(c) a1538 Abell 45a.
Than Sanct Germane criyt fris with the laif of the kirkmen alleluya(d) 1609 Inverurie B. Ct. 14 April.
The said day William Johnstone … & John Thomsone ar fund absent being thrysit callitproverb. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4444.
It is said that all things thryfis bot thrise

b. Twise or thrise, two or three times; a few times, more than once. 1456 Hay I 170/8.
The peple of Israel was discomfyte twys or thris be caus thai war nocht in gude estate of confessioun a1500 Henr. Fab. 848.
And ‘Oyas! Oyas!’ twyse or thryse did cry 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 190.
And, quhen this bird had swounit twyse or thryse, Scho gan to speik, sayng [etc.] 1560 Rolland Seven S. 7239.
Quhen he hir saw he braist hir twise or thrise 1563-1570 Buch. Wr. 16.
As in visitation of the collegis twys or thryis in the ȝeir 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 169.
The said Haggerstoune … tuyse or thrise schot in his corslat of pruife 1669 Bk. Old Edinb. C. V 145.
Did … with a drawn sword … run twyse or thryse throw the cloathes missing thair bodies by thair declyning the stroaks

c. Thryise tymes, three. 1519 Rec. Earld. Orkney 94.
Efter thay be thryise tymes biddin at kirk or court

2. As a multiplier: Thrice, three times (as much, etc.) c1420 Ratis R. 361.
Gif thow oucht tynis to be lell Thow sall wyne eftir thris so fell 1528 Exch. R. XV 666.
That na schireff thoil ony man to deforce him … bot giff the personis at deforcis be vailȝeand in gudis wortht thrys the gudis at ar pundit 1576 Orkney Oppress. 38.
Quhilk is thrys als mekle as thai war wount to pay of befoir

b. Qualifying another number to form a higher number. c1420 Wynt. iv 1353.
Hys elephantis thare thryis ten Thai tuk a1578 Pitsc. I 5/9.
The Musis that been the thrys thrie 1597 Crim. Trials II 28.
To haill seik persones, be putting of thame throw ane girth of wodbind, thryis thre tymes

3. Modifying a past participle, adjective or noun: Thrice over, three times as much, etc.; very, extremely, to a high degree. c1450-2 Howlat 823 (A).
[They] Callit him thrys thevisnek to thrawe in a widdy a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 30.
Thrys scheild trumpir with ane threid bair goun 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xv 21.
The tomb thryse happie, quhich thy corps incloises 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. xxi 69.
Thryce happie people rul'd by such a one 1642 Bk. Pasquils 117.
Then cursed Cham, bot thrysse most blissed Shem