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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.

Thrist, Thryst, Thrust, n.² Also: (thrich). [e.m.E. thrust (1565); Thrist v.²]

1. A thrusting or stabbing sensation; a pang, throe. Cf. Thrawe n.² c1420 Wynt. v 581.
Hys modyr oysyd for to repruwe … hym wnkynd … Till hir that sufferyd thrystys sare … quhen scho hym bare c1420 Wynt. v 606.
The tad … in hys body … gert hym offt in thrichis thraw [W. thole hard thraw, C. in thrystis thraw] c1420 Wynt. v 3369.
Thare thrawand thrystys hard hym thrystyt Quhill hys bowalys wyth-in hym brystyt

2. An instance of thrusting or striking (with a weapon); a blow. Also, of a sword: To come in thrust, to be used for thrusting or striking. Also fig.(1) a1500 Sir Eger 1597.
All the strength that he had leed, He set upon sir Grahame his head. He came never in such a thrist, At both his eares the blood out brist(2) a1500 Sir Eger 804 (H).
She thinks it [sc. a sword] should not come in thrust [L. thrist], Nor yet be born into the field, While that her son be come to eeldfig. ?1438 Alex. ii 10672.
Thay wist That he of deid had tholit the thrist

b. ? A person's thrust, the maximum distance or length they are able to thrust. a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1706) No. 271.
He would not give an inch of his will for a span of his thrist

3. Oppression, hardship; straits. Also, an instance of this.(1) 1513 Doug. vi ii 33.
Withdraw thé from na perellis, nor hard thrist 1535 Stewart 36917.
Tak tent in tyme or ȝe be put in thrist c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus iv 360 (see Thrawe n.² (a)).
Thrist [pr. thrift](2) a1605 Montg. Misc. P. xxiv 76.
Sen thou art thrald, think thou mon thole a thrist