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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

TREESH, v., n., int. Also treesch, traesh (Abd. 1905 E.D.D.), freq. treeshle; treece; also nonce forms threish, and, by conflation with Tryst, treeste, trysht. [triʃ, tris]

I. v. 1. Gen. followed by wi: to entreat, wheedle, cajole, entice in a kind and flattering way (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1973). Vbl.n. treeshin, cajoling, coaxing.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 9:
My pipe bein' in elegiac tift, It needs nae treeshin.Abd. 1928 Abd. Book-Lover VI. 14:
Wi' the brawest big laird in the hail rin o' Don He wadna be tryshtet his haudin' to trock.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 202:
They're a' rinnin' at yer tail an' treeshin wi' ye.Bnff. 1955 Banffshire Jnl. (1 Nov.):
Wullie hed treesht wi' Peter Vricht, the coalman, tae come wi' his coal-larry tae cairt hame the skeps o' bees.Kcd. 1958 Mearns Leader (17 Oct.):
He's a girnin' auld deevil, but treesh awa' wi' him an' ye'll get on fine.

2. intr., with at, efter: to run after, to dance attendance on, to court (Bnf., Abd. 1973). Vbl.n. threishin, “courting” (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.).Abd. 1913 W. R. Melvin Caller Herrin' 30:
Gin it wis me, he widna treesh lang at my tail.Abd. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 73:
Div ye think Aw'm aye treeshlin aifter her?

3. To call an animal to oneself (Abd. 1925).Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxvi.:
Gyaun treeshin' an' ca'in aboot at nowte beasts.Bnff. 1953 Banffshire Jnl. (14 July):
Sandy treeshed an' fraised wi't [a pig].Abd. 1964 Abd. Press & Jnl. (14 Nov.):
Treeshin hame the calvers at the ley-park yett.

II. n. Enticement, flattery, cajolery.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 197:
They keepit an unco treesch wee'im afore they got 'im cuddlet in the wye o' thir dothir.

III. int. A call to cattle, esp. calves, to come to one (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 197; Bnff., Abd. (treesh), Ags., Per. 1973).Ags. 1893 Arbroath Guide (3 June) 3:
Marget's brither began to cry, ‘Coey, coey, coey, trushie, treesh, treesh, treesh, an' presently a' the cattle began to come toward him.ne.Sc. 1946 Scots Mag. (June) 169:
The cry of Dilly! Dilly! became varied with the cry of Treeste! Treeste! for the two cows were added to Phemie's responsibilities.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick iii.:
“Treece, treece, treece,” she cried to the calves.