Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1818, 1925
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
TRAISSLE, v., n. Also traissel, treissle (Lth. 1825 Jam.). [tresl]
I. v. 1. To tread or trample down growing crops or grass (Lth., Slk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1972). Ppl.adj. traisseled, of growing corn: beaten or trampled down (Rxb. 1958); vbl.n. traisslin, treading or trampling down of corn, grass, etc. (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), in pl. footmarks left in so doing (Id.).Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck vii.:
The hogg-fence o' the Quave Brae has been harried an' traisselled till it's little better nor a drove road.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 5:
Billies fell seide-be-seide till the brae-face was traisselt an the gress ran reid wui bluid.
2. To litter a surface with paper, to scatter papers, straw, etc. in a careless, untidy way (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
II. n. A litter or confusion of papers, hay, corn, etc. (Id.).
[Altered form of taissle, Taisle, q.v., with tr- prob. from association with tread, trample.]
