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.
†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.
