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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.

Trad(e, Tred, n. Also: traid(e, trayd(e, traud, tread(e, treadde, tredd, trede, thread, trid, trod. [ME and e.m.E. treden (Ancr. R.), trade (14th c.), tred(e (both c1400), tread (1593), f. OE tredan v., MLG trade, trēde, MDu. trēde.]

1. A course taken; a way, a route; a path. Chiefly, hald one's (a, the) trad. Also fig.(a) a1400 Leg. S. xxxviii 629.
Sir Adryane … bad thame … To the richt hand the stere set & dresse thame to hald thare trad In-to the sey as thai first had c1400 Troy-bk. ii 1725.
Dryvand thiddir quhylis and hiddir, That thai mycht hald no certane traid c1420 Wynt. ii 780.
[He] passyd … oure the se Fra Denmark, that he wonnyn hade, Be Orknay hame he tuk the trade [C. trayde] c1420 Wynt. ii 1619.
[They] tuk wpe sayle and helde thare trade [C. traide], In Tybyr quhyll thai strekyn hade c1420 Wynt. vi 925.
[He] hard thame thare sayand, That thai wald hald on in that trade c1420 Wynt. vi 2068.
The north bate suld be redy made Towart the sowth to hald the trade c1420 Wynt. vii 3304.
The Kyng … Wytht hys nawyn … tuk the se hamwart the way, Thare trad [C. trasse] haldand till Orknay a1500 Seven S. 2367.
The knycht furth at the condit past For thar was nane that kennit that traide Saifand the masoun that it maid(b) 1590 Burel Pilgr. i 294.
The bisset and the corbe … From dangers thay thame fred, In speiding exceiding, All vthers into tred 1597 Cal. Sc. P. XII 521.
[Which howsoever the law established in lawful] tredds [and da[ily practised] betwixt the Marches, where parties find [resistance offered] by thieves [etc.]]fig. a1568 Bann. MS 77a/21.
Haif in mynd thy ending … quhat thow art and quhairof thow art maid Sua onto hevin thow hald the hiest tred

2. A track, trail or scent left by a person or animal. Also, in hot tred, see Hot-tred n.(a) c1475 Wall. v 136.
Thair sloith hund the graith gait till him ȝeid Off othir trade scho tuk as than no heid 1596 Dalr. I 21/12.
The dog … barkeng continualie, seases nocht afor he find the trad of the fliaris(b) 1513 Doug. viii iv 62.
And, that thar tred suld na way be persaue, Onto hys cave ay bakwartis by the talys To turn thar futsteppis he thame harlys and tralys 1533 Boece 554b.
He devisit to scho the horsis bakwart, sua the folloaris suld persave na signe nor takin of tred quhare he had fled 1570 Sat. P. x 340.
Syne at the bak ȝet suddanlie he fled; Sum saw him weill, and followit his hors tred 1623 Crim. Trials III 548.
How-sone we vnderstuid of the steilling of the ox, we followed the tred directlie toward the said house 1649 Falkirk Baron Ct. 20 Feb.
They followit the tred of the aittis from the perseweris stak to the defenderis hous(c) 1584 Hawick Arch. Soc. (1961) 6.
For taking of ane Inglische man allegeit being upoun his trod in following of guidis

3. Way of life, mode of behaviour; habitual practice; custom, procedure.(a) 1456 Hay I 211/17.
It war nocht lyke that thai folowit the trade of Oure Lord, quhilk all His accioun was oure instructioun 1460 Hay Alex. 9441.
Pepill followis the trad of thare patroun 1560 Cal. Sc. P. I 311.
[As it has always been] my trayd [to give you news of importance] c1580 Sc. Ant. XIII 3.
Nane of his judges … dar be so impudent … as to decline onywayis frae the richt trad of justice 1582 Declar. Causis 8.
[They] wrocht not samekill as to procure him anis to be styled King; ȝit to intertaine this trade sum takinnis & presentis was procurit and send vnto his maiestie to hald his hienes occupyit with contemplattioun … of the noueltie thairof 1590-1 R. Bruce Serm. 176.
Lord grant that they may follow sic a trade of life, that [etc.] 1596 Dalr. I 73/32.
Tueching thir maneris and trade of lyfe, thay affirme … that litle difference is betuene 1662 Wodrow Hist. I (1828) 333.
He was not to be reckoned a drunkard, who was now and then overtaken with … strong liquor, but only he who made a trade of following after strong drink c1679 Kirkton Hist. xxxv.
Our first observation we made upon this text, was, that, it is the common trade of the people of God, to live by the promises(b) c1460 Regim. Princ. 210 (Maitl.).
Pepill followis the trid of thair pastour(c) 1554 Knox III 173.
Thay aboundit in reif, murther [etc.] … following the tred of thair fatheris 1570-3 Bann. Trans. 361.
We … exiled … fra our houses, tread of leaving, and possessiones c1575 Balfour Pract. 608.
Permitting the parties greivit to follow thair lauchful tred with hound and horn, with hoy and cry … for the recoverie of thair gudis spuilȝeit 1579 Reg. Privy C. III 146.
The bludie treade quhilk they and thair foirbearis of the same name had used of befoir, in murthering and procuiring the distructioun of his hienes dearest grandsire a1585 Maitl. Q. 187/46.
France producit ane ganȝelon And England monye tratouris bred … Ȝit it is not ane Scottische tred For Scotland ay … To baneist wichtis wes euer trew 1615 Crim. Trials III 356.
He is fund … to haif frequentlie hantit that damnable tred of lyfe

4. a. An occupation, a means of making a living. b. A skilled craft. Also transf.a., b. 1567 Acts III 32/1.
Albeit thair was diuers actis … inhibiting the carying of ony hors furth of this realme … diuers personis … hes … maid ane commoun traid, and mercat thairof 1573 Reg. Privy C. II 242.
The thevis and disorderit people inhabiting the Bordouris … hes havelie vexit … the Kingis gude subjectis with … ransoning of thair personis, and contraning thame to pay blak maill, … in quhilk trade thay still continew 1596 Bk. Univ. Kirk III 866.
Ministers givin to … incompetent trades for filthie gaine, as halding of hostlaries 1598 Misc. Bann. C. II 227.
I leif to … Archibaldis sone, xl l., to be keipit be my eldest sone, till he be put to sum craft or vther traid 1612 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I 292.
Your Maiesteis subiectis, hanting thair trade of mercheandice in the kingdome of Swaden 1661 Acts VII 312/2.
All ydle persons … [who] will not betake themselves to any labour trade or occupation 1672 Whitelaw Sc. Arms Makers 38.
Enacts himself not to work at the blacksmith trade and the blacksmiths not to work at the gunsmith trade 1673 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Kirkcudbr. Sheriff Ct.) 26 Dec.
He leawes his … eldest sonne his toollis … and ordaines [him] … to pay his younger brother [40 s.] for his pairt of them in caice he learne the trade 1675 Argyll Justic. Rec. I 67.
He … made his constant trade of theift and peakrie 1678 Wodrow Hist. II (1829) 484.
Andrew Breddy, a wright by trade 1682 St. A. Baxter Bks. 141.
All brethrin … vsing occupatione of traid shall pay veiklie for the vse of the said traid the soume of ane schilling Scottis 1690 J. M. Beale Fife Schools 195.
[The schoolmaster] diverted himself ther fra [sc. the school] … by an trade of making malt & meall & selling there of 1695 Lochwinnoch Par. 185.
Matt. Mountgomerie, … cotter, no trade(b) 1568 Hosack Mary Q. of Scots I 548.
Pyracie … the last tred that wickit and dispairit personis commounlie frequentis 1579–80 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 140.
The candilmakeris having na vther tred to leve by except the making of candill 1582 Dickson & Edmond Ann. Sc. Printing 350.
[Thomas Vatrolher unlawfully prints and sells books] to our intollerabill dammage, quha hes na vther tred quhairby we … are sustenit 1587 Acts III 455/2.
To … tak ordour anent executioun of the actis maid … aganis transporting of forbodin and vncustumat guidis for mantening of the peceable … tred of fischeing in the lochis and ilis vpoun the north and west coistis 1587 Aberd. Council Lett. I 24.
The saids persones … may … leifullie use thair tred and traffik in tymes cuming but troubill 1589 St. A. B. Ct. 9 Oct.
William Keith and Robert Ȝoung being accusat as thifteous wagaboundis woide and destitute of all kynd off lisum tred or wocation 1589–90 Edinb. B. Rec. V 15.
George Sandelands, tailyeour, … willis thair extentouris in tyme cuming to considder him according to his substance and tred 1600-1610 Melvill 82.
He haid fam and estimation passing all of his tread and rank 1609 Inverness Rec. II 69.
Donald Finlasone [etc.] … and Donald Duilley in Alnes expresse agains the lawis of this realme, daylie vsis the tred and handling of frie burgessis, packis, peillis, sellis, stapill geir as giff they war frie burgessis 1617 Acts IV 536/2.
Vagaboundis solitarie and ydlemen and wemen without calling or trede 1643 Dumfries Treas. Acc. MS 43.
Fyned James M^cnish for using ane freid mans tredd 1655 Glasgow B. Rec. II 304.
That nae kairter vseing that tread … sall preswme … to tak any mor pryces for thair draucht nor is heirefter expressit 1666 Glasgow B. Rec. III 81.
It sall nocht be leasoune to any cordoner or tanner to sett wp ather buith or hous … for working their tred in the said village without licence had 1685 Dunlop P. III 15.
I passed for a tobaca cuter whiche is no tread in this place(c) 1622-6 Bisset II 200/29.
Plinie … sayis … Dionesius invented the thread of merchandicetransf. c1630 Scot Narr. 67.
Politicians feared their craft and trade, which is to use indifferently all sorts of men and means to attain to their owne ends … should be undone 1664 Pitcairne Spiritual Sacrifice 47.
Your Redeemer liveth, … his trade and employment in heaven is to plead for you 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 95.
O Sinners! whose trade hath been to destroy your selves in departing from God 1664 Pitcairn Spiritual Sacrifice 684.
Prayer is … a tool for every trade

c. The corporation of a particular trade of which all the qualified practitioners or masters (Maister n. 14) are members; the members of such a corporation. = Craft n. 3 b, Gild n.¹ 1. Also possess.(a) 1612 Reg. Privy C. IX 742.
We resaivit your Lordships letter … desyring us that out the quholl nummer of the merchands within the borrowes of this kingdome we sould mak choise of certain persones, thrie for ilk traid, to be directit … to be at Edinburgh with the provest and bailleis thairof … for the mater of the Book of Raitts 1649 Kelso Glovers 11.
No maister … shall enter to the traid untill he heave payed the dew 1658 Lanark B. Rec. 162.
The … baillies … ordeans everie trad and deacoun thairof to sit in thair respective seats and places [sc. in the church] as … formerlie 1665 Aberd. B. Rec. IV 219.
Anent the supplicatione given in to the councell be the deacone and hamermen trade of this burgh 1667 St. A. Baxter Bks. 133.
It is statut … that nae decan nor brother complaine to nae wther judge nor judgis quhill first the complainer offer his complaint to his owin traid 1671 Aberd. Trades 311.
That non of the traid … sall pack nor peill with any unfreemen directly nor indirectlie 1672 St. A. Baxter Bks. 136.
The … sowme of tuentie three pundis 10 d. Scottis restin be the baxter traid to John Livingstoun thair box maister 1674 St. A. Baxter Bks. 137.
Johne Bruce, decan, and Thomas Walker, ane brother of traid 1694 Aberd. Trades 302.
It is … ordained that the journeymen … refund to the traid such expenses as the traid hath been at for outrigging ane soldier 1697 Rec. Old Aberd. I 162.
That no person be deacon … who hes imbagled the publict money of the traids 1699 Rec. Old Aberd. I 332.
Thomas Moir compeired and gave in his sey appoynted to him be the trade being a copper tankard(b) 1619 Aberd. Council Lett. I 175.
The rest of his nightbours and brethren of that treadde imployed and requeisted him as commissionar for thame 1637 Aberd. B. Rec. III 110.
All wther prenteisses … sall resawe the lyke benefit at thair admissioun to be friemen of thair awin treddis 1641 Glasgow Trades House 210.
The haill dekins of craftis compeirit and maid thair repoirt that they had conveinit thair severall treads and craftis and [etc.] 1646 Carr Lodge Mother Kilwinning 35.
The wardene deacone and remanent brethrein of the maissoun tred … acceptit Hew Miller … William Craufurd … John Miller … Robert Cauldwell … fellow brethrein to the said tred 1658 Conv. Burghs III 460.
Abussis comittit be the present magistratis, consisting for the most pairt all of treadsmen, against the merchand tread 1676 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 24 March.
Homer Andersone leate deacon conviner of the treades 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 317.
Lord Collingtoune wes verrie active in suppressing of the lait tumult made be some of the jurneymen of the tredspossess. 1661 Aberd. Council Lett. IV 159.
Anent the trads action for imprisonment of George Watt 1664 Cupar Trades 21 Oct.
Ther comptis of ther intromissione with the trad's money for the preceiding yeir 1667 St. A. Baxter Bks. 134.
Thir presenttis to be insert in the severall traidis buikis 1672 Glasgow Weavers 81.
For aggreing to dress ane lumheid of the treads 2 s. 1672 Glasgow Weavers 83.
For casting the stank and stobing the treds dyck 1672 Glasgow Wrights Acts 15.
At the Trads-Hospitall, the aught day of November 1675 Cupar Trades 13 Oct.
Robert Birrill flesher … had the keping of the tradsmortcloath this preceidding yeir 1681 Laing MSS 424.
Trades prentices that made a tumult in the toun

d. specif. In contradistinction to merchant (Marchand n.) ? those trades more concerned with manufacturing than retailing. Also possess. 1673 Lauder Notices Affairs I 66.
He then found this toun miserably divided 'twixt 2 strong factions, the merchands and the trades 1675 Edinb. B. Rec. X 233.
The councill haveing proceided to the electione of these persones that are appoynted to sitt and voice in councill … merchant councellers Lowrence Adingstoune baxter … and Alexander Bullerwall cordiner … treds councellers William Hamiltoun tailyior … and Patrick Graham skinner 1677 Edinb. B. Rec. X 302.
The councill … does … revive the ancient and lawdable custome of erecting of the companies of merchant and treds youths 1701 Acts X 235/2.
John Anderson … with the then councill did proceed to elect contrair to the … tenor of the said charter and act of Parliament … and did intirely exclude the merchants and trades halls who represent the whole merchants and trades of the city both from leiting and electing the provost and baillies or chuseing the councill

5. Trading, commercial dealing, business.Some examples may belong in 4 a above.(a) 1545 (1546) Reg. Great S. 757/2.
The airis male … sall mak continuall and daylie residence for the maist part of the yeir … except thai be in thair lefull marchandice, traudis and bissynes concerning the wynning of thair leving 1590 Dundee B. Laws 129.
Diuers of thaire neichbouris … complained … against sick persones … as traides with eggis, kaill, onyons [etc.] … and wthers the lyk hockstrie forme of traide 1610 Conv. Burghs II 288.
For trying and punisching Johne Levingstoune and James Makcaddum … for thair unlawful traid at Sanct Johnis clauchane 1632 Aberd. Council Lett. I 352.
This kingdome being suche as the native commodities ar bot few quhairwith trade may be interteined all thingis sould be done that may contribut to the incouragement of the merchand for bringing in of commodities quhairwith he may inlarge the forrane trade 1645 Spalding II App. 497.
The toune is so emptied of sutche necessaris, by laik of traid and frequent venting of that kynd of waris 1675 Glasgow B. Rec. III 205.
For incurradgment of trade within this burgh quhilk by malmanagment is … lyk to decay 1682 Cochran-Patrick Coinage II 183.
[The king honours those who] direct him in the ordoring of the coynadge … and … hindring the currencie of forrain coyns conform eyther to their intrinsik value or the interest of trade 1692 Misc. B. Rec. 92.
They [sc. Dumfries] have … three ships … and … they have lyen up these three or four yeares for want of trade and soe are ruinous(b) 1567 Cochran-Patrick Coinage I 79.
The hamebringing of … counterfuttit cunye … be Inglismen indwellaris of the townis of Newcastell and Berwick quhilkis having dalie and continewall tred with the inhabitantis of the borderis … sendis in this realme … fals and corrupt layit money for victualis and utheris gude and lauchfull marchandices 1597 Conv. Burghs II 20.
Ilk burgh suld vse all lawfull meanes to stay all tred and handling, afeyld and hamewart … quhill it pleis God to send and minister occasioun to haif the saids acts rescindet 1602 Conv. Burghs II 135.
For mayntening and advanceing the tredd and handling be sey 1603 Reg. Great S. 513/2.
Cum libertate exercendi the tred and traffique of merchandrice 1604 State P. (Reg. H.) No. 114.
Want of the free tred, with the countrie of Flanderis … quhilk is … hinderfull to the tred of merchaindice 1636 Glasgow Chart. II 592.
The forrane tred and navigatioun of the merchandis, burgessis and friemen c1650 Spalding I 84.
The people … becam hartles, thinking our sea tred and salmound fishing wes liklie to be gone, and noble Abirdene brocht to vtter decay and distructioun 1662 Conv. Burghs III 556.
In respect of the great tread at present with the Barbadoes, and hopes of dryving a richer tread heirefter with all the Illandis 1668 Conv. Burghs III 604.
This place [sc. Brechin] haueing no maritan tread considerable 1681 Insh Colonial Schemes 129.
For advancing tread navigation and manufactories

6. The tread or surface of the rim of a wheel. 1695 Foulis Acc. Bk. 184.
To James Gourlay wright for ringing a hinder wheel to the coatch and a new trade to a forwheell, and puting on the shoes and doull bands, etc., and all counts to this day £4 13 s.