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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.

Thrawing, Throwing, vbl. n. Also: thrawinge, thrawyng, thrauing, thraveing, throwyng, throuing, threughing. [ME and e.m.E. þrawing, thrauing (both Cursor M.), throwyng (14th c.), thrawynge (Cath. Angl.); Thraw(e v.]See also Ded(e)-thrawyng n., Ourthrawing vbl. n.

1. The action of twisting, tweaking or compressing with a twisting movement. 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. (MC) 5.
For trublans done to Johne Glen ȝounger, in thrawing of his neif, and hitting him on his heid with ane irne fyle a1605 Montg. Flyt. 396 (T).
Be thrawing of the throt, Lyk a tyk on a trie 1590–1 Crim. Trials I ii 219.
By thrawing of his head with a rope, wherat he would confesse nothing 1687 Bk. Old Edinb. C. XXVII 136.
I found that … the whole turning of your body about [sc. in playing golf] most be by thrawing the joynts of your right legg

b. The action of twisting or distorting (one's face) into a grimace. 1605 Dundee Chart. 171.
That the said Johne … abused & vilipendit the said … bailie … be setting up his nose & thrawing his faice at the said George

c. The action of twisting (fibres) to make rope or thread. 1629 Dundonald Par. Rec. 285.
Alexander Tailyeour … to pay 13 s. 4 d … for … thrawing ane half rope on the Sabbath 1632 Stirling's Royal Lett. II 609.
For winding, thraveing, and trusting of silk

2. Pain brought on or accompanied by convulsions; an instance of this, a pang, spasm, throe. Also fig. Cf. Thraw(e n.² c1420 Wynt. v 7.
Mary … But [threttyng], thrawyng, or dises, Or ony smyt, delyveryd wes Off hyr a sown 1533 Boece 575.
Randell … feling thristing & thrawing in his bowellis 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 159/427.
The bloodie fluxis all enarmed uith throuingis sore againefig. c1420 Wynt. iii 400.
For luff to yheld fenyhyng It is to lele hart a throwyng

3. The action of throwing, hurling, flinging. Also fig. 1375 Barb. xiii 156 (C).
Ther wes … sic thrawing [E. thrang] and sic thristing … That it wes hydwis for till her 1531 Bell. Boece II 227.
The king threw the apill, to have tane it; and with the thrawing thairof, he drew up the tituppis of the crosbowis 1555 Misc. Bann. C. I 13.
In rynninge, leapinge, swymmynge, shootynge and thrawinge of dartis 1668 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. II 555.
They … did stope … the said Alexander Crawfurd in leiding … of the saids cornes by … throwing the slades of the horses and disperseing the cornefig. 1652 Johnston Diary II 194.
I begged mercy for … my not threughing with boldness tymous and open testimonyes against the steps of the laite defections

b. fig. Throwing doun, casting down, toppling, overthrowing. c1520-c1535 Nisbet II 282.
The apostile … makis knawne to thame … the cummyng of the aduersarie, and of the thrawing doun of him

4. fig. The action of distorting, misapplying, perverting (a text), or an instance of this.(1) 1563 Ferg. Answer 39b.
I trust the readers shal easylie perceaue bothe your ignorance … and … your malice in throwing of this text 1581 Hamilton Cath. Tr. in Cath. Tr. (STS) 89/27.
Thay teich … thair auin phantasticall inuentions, and … ar not eschamit to call that … be thrawing and fals applying of the vord of God, the bricht licht of the euangell 1638 Baillie I 36.
I got my minde extended to subscription [sc. of the document], upon thir two grounds: 1. That the words ‘Seeds of Idolatry and Superstition, and the Masse,’ without thrawing, might reach farre ?1662 Postscript for Lysimachus Nicanor 11.
The thrawing of holy scriptures unto your wicked scoffes at the gracious servants of God(2) 1651 Sel. Biog. I 261.
The bursting out of the profanity and perversnes of many is Satan's last throwings before he be cast out

b. fig. The action of wrenching or wresting by force. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 200/4.
To allure peice & peice the rest of youre kingdomes to follou the facons of that kingdome that ye finde maist ciuill … bot beuaire of thrauing or constraining thaime thairto, letting it be brocht on uith tyme & at laiser