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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TREADLE, n., v. Also tred(d)le; tradle (Rnf. 1805 G. MacIndoe Poems 10; Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 125), traddle (Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 44, Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxxiv.; Fif. 1896 G. Setoun R. Urquhart iv.); triddle. Sc. forms and usages. [trɛdl, †trɑdl, †trɪdl]

I. n. As in Eng. Sc. combs.: (1) treadle-hole, an open space or hollow under the loom for the treadle shafts (Lnk., Ayr. 1973). Also in Eng. dial.; ¶(2) treadle tramper, one who operates a loom, a handloom-weaver.(1) Per. 1836 G. Penny Trad. Perth 47:
A weaver to trade, he stood, when his legs were out of the treaddle hole, nearly five feet high.Fif. 1909 J. C. Craig Sangs o' Bairns 203:
He spak' aboot the “treddle-hole”.Rnf. 1925 A. M. Stewart Paisley Shawl 15:
Underneath the looms there was a further excavation to accommodate the the treadle shafts. This was known as the ‘treadle-hole', deep in fibrous dust.(2) Per. 1888 R. Ford Glentoddy 97:
He was bred to the handloom in his young days; but the treddle-tramper's occupation bein' a thing o' the past, he's noo what they ca' an orra worker.

II. v. To tramp, trudge, go frequently and with difficulty (Fif. 1808 Jam.); to toddle.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 196:
Then honest Bess With the note left her, traddles to the Place.Per. a.1843 J. Stewart Sketches (1857) 50:
Whistle, cry, or wag, At your beck he'll triddle.

III. adj., in reduplic. form triddle-triddle, with short trotting steps, toddling.Per. a.1843 J. Stewart Sketches (1857) 50:
The tailors, they cam' triddle-triddle.