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

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

Trespas, v. Also: trepass-. [ME and e.m.E. trespas (Manning), trespace(n (Chaucer), trespasse (1427), OF trespasser, F. trépasser.] intr.

1. a. To sin, offend, do wrong. Also agane (to) a person. b. To commit a crime, break the law.a., b. a1400 Leg. S. xl 974.
Accusit … Of sere poynttis quhare-in he Had trespassit in the cunctre, & with asyse culpable mad c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1787.
Oft happinnit for gilt of ane A thousand that trespassit nocht To be pvnist 1456 Montrose Baillie Ct. 6a.
That the balȝeis pwnys all lawar officiaris alsofft as tha trespas 1456 Hay II 14/21.
A lord … has seignoury and jurisdictioun apon othir men, to … hald law and justice apon thame quhen thai trespas c1475 Wall. viii 10.
Will ye … Forgyff him … Sa he will … grant he has trespast, Fra this tyme furth kepe lawta till our croune? 1490 Irland Mir. I 77/30.
Paradice … the corporale place that oure first progenitouris trespassit in 1490 Irland Mir. I 89/7.
The angell had na occasioune … to syn na trespas 1490 Irland Mir. III 47/22.
The lord that we offend and trespassis agane distroyis ws nocht c1490 Irland Asl. MS 74/5.
I haue trespassit … nocht lufand God … with all my hert c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 39/11.
A saikles wicht Trespassing never to ȝow in word nor deid 1560 Rolland Seven S. 4603.
I grant I did trespas, Thairfoir, gude schir, mercie at ȝow I as

c. tr. To do (something wrong). 1375 Barb. xi 560.
He hastyt him [etc.] … For he thocht that he suld amend That he trespassit had

2. intr. To enter another's land, etc. illegally or without permission; to do damage or harm another's property or privileges in this way. 14.. Acts I 328/2 (see Trespas n. 2 b).
Trespas 1518 Edinb. B. Rec. I 182.
To punis alsweill extranearis trespassand within our boundis as induellaris … attemptand aganis the priuilegis of the burrowis 1678 Rothesay B. Rec. 358.
Persones that beis fund in other mens peiz … or trespasses throw other mens laboured land that they … pay [etc.]

b. fig. To intrude upon (a person's patience). Urquhart Jewel 274.
I am afraid that I have trespassed a little upon the patience of the reader

3. To move across, traverse throw(th. 1494 Deidis of Armorie 43.
Delphyn … is the maist swift thing that is in the sey for it trepassis [F. trespasse] throw & throwch the sey as it war fleand