Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Thraw(e, Thrau, Throw, Thrall, n.¹ [ME and e.m.E. þraȝe (c1175), þraȝhe (Orm), þrowe (Layamon), thrau, þraw (both Cursor M.), throwe (Chaucer), OE þráᵹ, þráh.] A brief space of time; a short while; a moment, trice. See also Life-thraw n.(a) 1375 Barb. iv 140.
Till armys went thai in a thraw 1375 Barb. v 159.
And said quhen he had thocht a thraw Thir wordis a1400 Leg. S. xviii 723.
Til I come quhare I fyrste had Of hyr the fygure sene in thraw a1400 Leg. S. xxxiii 70.
Thrau ?1438 Alex. i 86.
Thay lichtit doun into ane thrawe, And armit thame but mair abaid ?1438 Alex. ii 5650.
Now taik we lesyng or suith saw All in to ioy eurerilk [sic] thraw 1513 Doug. iv v 133.
He … trubly clowdis dyvidis in a thraw 1513 Doug. iv Prol. 241 (Sm.).
Throw 1513 Doug. v xiv 36.
Leyn doun thi hede … and sleip a litil thraw 1513 Doug. viii iv 157.
And reky nycht within a litill thraw Gan thikkyn our al the cavern and ourblaw 1513 Doug. x xiii 53.
The castyng dart … Smate worthy Anthores the ilk thraw 1513 Doug. xii vii 80.
Quhen that ony thraw Thai with the fleand arrow beyn ourtake a1568 Bann. MS I p. 16/10.
A man is of a woman borne His lyfe is bot a littill thraw 1554 Duncan Laideus Test. 161.
Quha suld traist in fortune ony thraw(b) a1499 Contempl. Sinn. 819 (Asl.).
Pane of deid lestis bot a thrall

b. Into (this, etc.) thraw, at this (etc.) time. 1513 Doug. xii xi 97.
The kyng … musys … Quham he sal cheis or call, into this thraw Tobe hys douchteris spous 1535 Stewart 36077.
He … schew to him into that samin thrall, Far moir kyndnes nor ony of thame all