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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.

Trace, n.¹ Also: tras, trasse, trais, trays, trece. [ME and e.m.E trace (Cursor M.), tras (14th c.), traas (Chaucer), trase (Caxton), OF trace.]

1. The footprints or the scent left by a person, animal, etc. in passing through an area; a track. 1375 Barb. vi 555.
Jhone of Lorne come to the place Fra quhar the king departyt was And in his trace [C. trais] the hund he set 1375 Barb. vi 583 (C).
Tras ?1438 Alex. i 3149.
He, that hard on sic maneir Him sa stoutly follow his trais a1500 Henr. Fab. 1724.
Sum sawand seidis fast frome place to place, The harrowis hoppand in the saweris trace 1513 Doug. ii xi 56.
My spows ondreich eftyr our trays [L. vestigia] sal hy a1561 Norvell Meroure 6b.
Sinne that tyrane to augment their wo: As sleughound tryed: their traces to and fro, Following the footsteps, of the Law so nere c1590 Fowler I 78/25.
No humane pace nor earthlie stepps thair walking was & trace, Bot hevinlie all

b. pl. Vestiges of a former activity. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 123/76.
The tree Dodonean & the tree by Attique lande belouit The traces leaues of ancient pikkes remaining unremoued

2. A road, way or path, a course. Also to hold one's trasse, to keep or hold one's course; to tak one's trace, to make one's way. c1420 Wynt. vii 3306 (C).
[They] tuk the se hamwart the way, Thar trasse [W. traid, R. trad] haldande til Orknay a1500 Henr. Fab. 1413.
He lay so still, the myis wes not effeird, Bot to and fro out ouer him tuke thair trace a1500 Henr. Fab. 2061.
The cadgear … lap full lichtlie about him quhair he lay, And all the trace he trippit on his tais 1513 Doug. v x 84.
In coursys mony ane, Quhirlys thar trays thir ȝong childir Troiane c1590 J. Stewart 63/227.
He chancit on the trasse derect Quhilk the Circassian vith his horse haid tred

b. fig. Course of action, way of proceeding; path or way instituted by a forerunner. a1400 Leg. S. xxvi 43.
He be-gane to God seke & held furth ay in that trace a1400 Leg. S. xxx 830.
Hyr barne … Halely folouyt ewine hir trace. In vertuise & in thowis fare He mycht wele be callyt hir ayre 1492 Myll Spect. 292/13.
Thai wald … follow the trasis of the wedow of Rome, apone the quhilk thare is mater to mak a large legent c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus i 683.
He befoir was melancholious … [Inc]ontinent fra that he saw hir face [He w]as alterit sone fra that tenefull trace: [And grew m]or wantoun, with luikis amorous c1590 Fowler I 67/8.
Confort cam to me which eased me of my woe, When as I spyed me tred that trace when gods and men did go

c. fig. ? Those of the same sort. a1585 Maitl. Q. 153/29.
Nature in hir creatioun To forme hir tuik delyite … Ȝour nymphes & all thair trace For bewtie Of dewtie Sould ȝeild & give hir place

3. A series of dance steps; a processional dance. a1500 Colk. Sow i 300.
His cousing … Led the dance … Sum trottit tras and trenas Sum balterit the bas c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 147/26.
Thane com the ladyis danceing in ane trece [STS lxxxi, trace] 1531 Bell. Boece II 359.
In the … secound mariage of King Alexander, quhen every man wes ganging in the trais with his wife, dansing with al glaidnes that micht be devisit; apperit [etc.]