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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

THREID, n., v. Also threed (Sc. 1727 Records Conv. Burghs (1885) 436; Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 47; Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 216; Lnk. 1873 A. G. Murdoch Doric Lyre 13; Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae French 74; n., em.Sc. (b), wm., sm. and s.Sc. 1972), thried (Rnf. 1873 D. Gilmour Pen' Folk 27); thraed; and I.Sc. forms 'read (Ork. 1905 Dennison Ork. Weddings 27), treed (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 53; I.Sc. 1972). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. thread (m.Lth. 1884 A. S. Swan Carlowrie iv.; Abd. 1917 D. G. Mitchell Clachan Kirk 128; Ags. 1930 A. Kennedy Orra Boughs xxix.). [θrid, I.Sc. trid]

Sc. forms of Eng. thread (threid Ork., Cai., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Fif., Edb., Arg., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf., Rxb.; treid Sh. 2000s). Edb. 2004:
Aw ma embroidery threids aye end up in a fankle.Ayr. 2004:
Hoo are ye? Jist hinging by a threid - a gey thin threid.

I. n. 1. As in Eng., in Sc. freq. referring to linen thread. Sc. combs. and phrs.: (1) blue thread, (i) see Blue, III. 7.; (ii) a cant name for whisky (Sc. 1880 Jam.). See Blue, II. 3.; (2) (three) threids and (a) thrum(s), see Thrum; (3) threid-dry, completely dry (Sh., Ayr. 1972). Cf. II. 3.; (4) threid-een, narrow, half-closed eyes, with the lids nearly meeting; (5) threid-lapper, one who spins and winds yarn or thread. Cf. Lap, v.; (6) thread o' blue, see Blue, III. 7. Cf. colloq. Eng. blue, indecent; (7) threid-pirn, a yarn-bobbin for a loom; (8) threed-work, a flax-spinning factory; (9) to get the richt threid o, to have a correct understanding of (a matter), to get the hang of (ne.Sc., em.Sc. (a), sm.Sc. 1972).(3) Gall. 1896 Crockett Grey Man xxxviii.:
Standing thread-dry on solid ground.(4) Peb. 1817 R. D. C. Brown Comic Poems 62:
Wi' blear'd thread-een and sly.(5) Abd. 1867 W. Anderson Rhymes 196:
A coterie of weavers, thread-lappers, and hecklers.(7) Ayr. 1897 H. Ochiltree Out of Her Shroud i.:
Weavers' “thread-pirns,” which they turn out in large quantities from the hard birchwood indigenous to the craggy slopes of their native hills.(8) Sc. 1777 Caled. Mercury (5 March):
Being within a few miles of a threed-work and bleachfield.

2. A small quantity (esp. of liquor), a drop. Cf. 1. (1) (ii).Bnff.⁴ 1926:
Ye'll tak a threed mair afore we gang.

II. v.

Sc. forms:Sc. 1983 John McDonald in Joy Hendry Chapman 37 44:
tak tent o the ae life threidin
frae aiglet tae aiglet, the ae life
dirlin in ilka pynt - a pynt whaur
stentless virr comes fair saucht,
whaur life comes daith and daith life.

Sc. usages:

1. To draw in or out little by little, as a thread with a needle, subtly or imperceptibly. Only in Wodrow.Sc. 1709–16 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) I. 48, II. 202:
Our corruptions, and so our desolation for a season, are like to be threaded in gradually upon us. . . . We are like to be threaded out of the exercise of our power as to fasts and thanksgivings.

2. To pay out a rope or line gradually (Sh. 1972).Sh. 1897 Shetland News (3 July):
To treed oot da sax pakies wi' da sail, an' dan hüve der ancher.

3. To hang out clothes to dry, sc. till the texture of the cloth becomes visible (sm.Sc. 1972). Cf. I. 1. (3). Hence threidit, partially dry, of a washing (Dmf. 1917).