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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.

Thrang, Throng, adj. (adv.). Also: throunge. [ME and e.m.E. þrange (14th c.), thrang, throng (both c1400), ON þrongr narrow, close, crowded.]

A. adj. 1. Of persons, or a group of persons: Pressed closely against each other; crammed tightly together. a1500 Lanc. 3364.
Gret was the pres, bath perellus & throng 1535 Stewart 31569.
Amang the Scottis quhair tha war maist thrang 1682 Curiosities Charta Chest 30.
We were so throng we had no room to stand 1691 Presbyterian Inquisition 37.
I … ordered him to tell Mr. Inglish that we were very throng, and I would take it for a great complement, if he would part with that chamber

b. transf. Passing into: Numerous. 1637 Rutherford Lett. (1894) 405.
All I dow do, is to wish the choir to grow throng, and to grow in the extolling of Christ 1692 Pitcairne Assembly iii i (1817) 43.
What grace they [sc. Presbyterian ministers] may have I cannot tell, but for gifts, methinks, they are not very throng about them—They have not, in my opinion, many talents to answer for

2. Of a place: Thronged, filled with (of) people; crowded, congested. Also in fig. context.(a) 1557 Peebles B. Rec. I 237.
[He] put furth his hand … for desplesour of na man nor for violence bot to thring him self throw the mercat becaus it wes thrang a1568 Sempill in Sat. P. xlviii 85.
The merkit is thrang, and will nocht lest lang 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 170/3.
Lett not youre chalmer be thrang & commoune the tyme of youre rest 1633 Maxwell Mem. II 223.
Ther ar many people in the towne alreddie … so that the ludgings ar verie thrang(b) a1651 Calderwood VI 485.
When the toun was throng 1652 Johnston Diary II 195.
Their was an very throng kirk 1663–9 Sel. Biog. I 156.
Severall of these [in the ship], between decks being throng, were sickly 1681 Aberd. Council Lett. VI 321.
The toun is alreadie very throng and evrie day persons thronging in 1685 Comm. Univ. IV App. 173.
That all masters should … attend all due meetings with their scholars … as exactly every day, as if the College were at the throngest 1689 True Narrative of the Reception of their Royal Highnesses at their Arrival in Scotland.
The shoar was … throng with persons of all ranks(c) 1696 Wemyss Corr. 153.
The court was so throunge of company and ambassoursfig. 1653 Binning Wks. 428.
How throng are men's minds with their vanities

3. a. Of work, affairs, etc.: Pressing, urgent. b. Of a time: Busy, full of work. c. Of a person, etc.: Busily employed, fully occupied.a. a1500 Seven S. 2541.
Fader I pray ȝow of forgifnes The caus that with me stud sa thrang That lettit me to speik sa lang ?1665 M. Bruce Six Dreadful Alarms 8.
I love the hearer of a preaching well on a Sabbath-day, that ay the nearer night it grows, his work grows the thronger upon his hand 1682 Nimmo Narr. 22.
But the Laird's affaires being throng I wanted confidence to aske libertie to goe, so staied at homeb. c1627 Bk. Carlaverock II 108.
They refuissit be ressoune it wes the thronge tyme of thair labour 1671 M. P. Brown Suppl. Decis. II 566.
If the session sit down on the 1st of October then ye call in the lieges to Edinburgh in one of the throngest months of harvest that they havec. 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 116.
The parliament is now exceiding throng [pr. throug] in respect it is thought it will ryse err long 1700 Cramond Kirk S. IV 20 Oct.
The presbitry … being throng of busines had not leasur to receive the visitors report 1702 Rothesay Par. Rec. 159.
She replyed that she found him so throng uith others on the Saturday afternoon that she could not get accesse to him

B. adv. In the form of a crowd or throng; in large numbers and densely packed together. In lit. and fig. uses. c1647 Lanark & R. 143.
[The herring] come so throng that they are not visible to the fishers, but in calm weather they will swell and move the very ocean 1664 Argyll-Lauderdale Lett. 10.
Thus highland matters are to be much of my L. Com. worke for a whill. I wish they had not come on so throng 1698 Donaldson Postscript Husbandry 38.
Some stock keepers … to save a little expense in building hutts, have crammed them [sc. sheep] so throng that one could not conveniently ly beside another