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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.

Thret(e, v. Also: thrett, threat(e, threth. P.t. thret, threit, thretit, threatted. P.p. thret(e. [ME and e.m.E. þreate (a1225), þret (a1250), threte (a1300), thret(t (both Cursor M.), threat (1581), OE þréatian. Cf. Thretten v.]

1. tr. To declare, by means of threats, one's intention to harm (a person); to threaten, menace. Also absol. or intr. = Thretten v. 1.Also const. object and noun clause, or to do (something).pres. a1400 Leg. S. x 411.
[He] cessis nocht to threte Ws al bot gyf his wil he gate a1400 Leg. S. xlii 147.
Gyf be fyre thu threttis me c1400 Troy-bk. i 206.
Throw mytht of thar goddes gret Be contrare wedder thame to thret c1590 Fowler I 369/19.
Some he [sc. Love] flatters, some he threates 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. iv 14.
Death still doth threat my dayes to endp.t. 1375 Barb. vi 538.
The king wes … wmbeset With fayis that to sla him thret a1400 Leg. S. xxviii 241.
Bot scho nocht dred, tho he hir thret(b) c1520-c1535 Nisbet Mark x 48.
A blind man … began to cry … And mony thretit [P. thretneden] him that he suld be stillp.p. a1400 Leg. S. xxv 699.
The tyrand … that til dystroy the land has thretabsol. or intr. 1611-57 Mure Early Misc. P. i 96.
Ressoune, then, perceauing my estait, With wraithfull voice did thus begin to threat

b. fig. With non-personal subject: To seem likely to harm, to endanger. 1638 Adamson Muses Thr. I 21.
The bowlt did cleave the clouds, and threat the skyes

2. To force by means of threats; to compel, induce till, or to do, (something). c1420 Wynt. v 1218.
And for he thret was, as we reid, Be cruel consaill and fellone, To mak sic persecutione c1420 Wynt. vi 876.
Mony off thame thare gert he de, And mony als ware threte to fle a1500 Rauf C. 542.
I hecht of my will And na man threit me thair till That [etc.] 1638 Hamilton P. (Camden Soc.) 4.
They doe not [pr. nou] onlie thrett privatt men to singe the Covenatt, bot euien the whool bodie of the sessioun

3. a. Of a person: To predict, prophesy. b. Of a thing: To look likely to bring about (some harm or evil). = Thretten 3 a, b.a. c1590 Fowler I 381/99.
It was the deadlye doome The fates ay from my birthe did threat Vppon my head should comeb. 1666 Glasgow Chart. II 63.
The irruptiones of the watter of Levine, quhilk threatted the taking away of thair citie

4. intr. To enter in a crowd, press in. 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 17.
Musyng marris our myrth half mangit al most So thochtis threthis [Sm. thretis] in thra our brestis ourthwort