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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.

Thetis, Theitis, Theattis, Thatis, n. pl. Also: thett(i)s, thetys, -es, theits, theittis, theats, theets, thatys, thaytis. Sing. thett. [e.m.E. tyght (once, 1573 Lanc. Wills) ? var. of unrecorded thet (MED gives theting var. of tithing) or of tie (OED gives pl. tighes). Cf. Te n. 1 b.] Traces, the ropes by which a draught animal is attached to a swingle-tree in order to pull a plough, harrow, vehicle, etc. Also in fig. context.(1) 1496 Treas. Acc. I 293.
Item, for xiij stane and a pund of towis to be thetis 1496 Treas. Acc. I 294.
To Rob Herword, castand plumbis and makand thetis 1510–13 Rentale Dunkeld. MS 159 b.
Certarum cordarum ad lie thettis equis veredis 1513 Doug. v xiii 122.
Thar renȝeis and thetys [Sm., Ruddim. thetis] … With hys awin handys [he] leit do slyp and slakkis 1513 Doug. xii ix 77.
The renys and the thetis, Quharwith his stedis ȝokkit war in thretis 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 514.
Towis to be thetis, soumes and rigwiddeis 1516 Rentale Dunkeld. (SHS) 298.
14 lie faldome [of rope for] lie thettis [to the horses] 1547 Ex. Processes (Reg. H.) (Walbane v. Douglas).
Twa pleuchis with culturis sokkis thetis 1549 Treas. Acc. IX 346.
To by thetis to draw the monitioun 1566 Inv. Wardrobe 169.
Fourtie pair of hors thetis garnesit with hemp 1638 Henderson Serm. 279.
So that this pleugh has somes and thetes whereby it is drawn 1652 Edinb. Test. LXVI 53b.
Twa horsis with ane pair of thettis 1680 Brechin Test. VII 36b.
Thetts(b) 1568 Edinb. Test. I 169.
Ane harrow and theitis thairto price iiij s. 1585 Elphinstone Mun. 23.
xlvi pair of theittis and hemmes 1598 Reg. Privy C. V 464.
[And there] stoppit the said pleuch fra teiling of the saidis landis, cuttit the theittis thairof, and dischargeit him of ony forder labouring of the saidis landis 1638 Henderson Serm. 304.
Theits(c) 1529 J. Ben Descr. Orchad. 31.
The oxin be ȝokit with theattis and heamis and brachinis 1599 Aberd. B. Rec. II 183.
Cutting with his knyff the theattis of the said pleucht 1699 Edinb. Gazette 20-23 March.
A blew-gray mare … with the plough theats on both sides, was stoln out of Carlops(d) 1532 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 102.
For tua grete coddis [? erron. for cordis] to be thatis 1548 Treas. Acc. IX 200.
For certane takill to be thatis and marling to bind the eine of the thatis 1549 Treas. Acc. IX 355 (see Takil(l n. 2).
Thatys(e) 1616 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 4 (see Takil(l n. 2).
Thaytis(2) 1682 Peden Life & Proph. (1868) 13.
Good Lord, cut their theets that their swingle-trees may fall to the ground 1685 Hay Fleming Six Saints I 227.
That worthy good man, … yet had his feet so far out of the theats, and so far from taking part with Mr. Cargil and him in the indispensable duty of that day, that he studied a sermon to preach against them

b. sing. A chain. 1460 Hay Alex. 2994.
Alexander … maid of irn mony ane gret gaugioun And dulit to-gidder fast aikis grette And chenȝeit thame as linkis of a thett