Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 2002 (DOST Vol. XI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Trattillis, Tratlys, n. pl. Also: tratils, trattles, trateis. [e.m.E. trattle (a1592); Trattill v.] Chatter, gossip, idle talk. See also Trittil(l-trattil(l n. 1513 Doug. viii Prol. 83.
Of tratlys and tragedyis the text of all talk is 1560 Rolland Seven S. 6404.
To all trattillis ȝe giue na traist a1568 Scott xxxiv 44.
Ȝe cry on Cupeid … in vane … Ȝe send all maner thing, With trattillis [M. trateis] thame to trane a1578 Pitsc. I 85/34.
Ane idill loune that … had no wther scheift to conqueis his leving bot waine trattillis to saw discoird c1590 J. Stewart 181/3.
Feckles tratils 1596 Dalr. II 32/18.
Nathir barnes trattles and clattiris … mycht draw him frome his studies 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 28/11.
I long to heare your owne opinion of this for they are like old wiues trattles about the fire 1597 James VI Dæmonol. (STS) 51/9.
Vaine trattles … how there was a king and queene of phairie, [etc.] 1610 Misc. Hist. Soc. II 183.
[He] be his idle inconsiderat trattles … did wrang hir fame a1651 Calderwood IV 221.
Trattles, lees, and forged tales