Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1899
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†TREEVER, n. Also triver (Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 89). The word appears in a line of an incantation, now much corrupted, used to break a spell on the milk of a cow. The reference appears to be to the Trinity, and no doubt the root of the word is three, Norw. dial. tri. Triddle may represent triple or Norw. dial. trifeld, threefold. [′trivər]Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 142:
Da tree, da triddle treevers.
