Middle English Dictionary Entry

thrēd(e n.
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Entry Info

Forms thrēd(e n. Also thredde, threid, thride, tred(e, tredde, therd(e & (early) þræd, ðrade & (errors) -bræde, þrædum; pl. thredes, etc. & thredus, (early) þreades & (error) thrededis.
Etymology OE þrǣd, trǣd, (Merc.) þrēd.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A piece of textile twine; a piece of cord made from fibrous material; silke (silken) ~; wol ~; ~ of twine, a twine(s (twinede) ~, a strand of twine; also in pictorial representation [quot. c1385]; with two thredes woven, ?double stitched; (b) any of the lengths of thread with which cloth is woven; heveld ~, a length of yarn thread; (c) a piece of thread used as part of a scientific instrument; a thread used to mark or measure distance; (d) a fine threadlike filament of a material other than a textile, such as gold, a spider web, muscle fiber, etc.
Show 40 Quotations
2.
(a) The fibrous material from which cloth is made, yarn;— sometimes distinguished from silk; also, the fabric made from flaxen or woollen thread; also, cord used to make the string of a crossbow [quot. 1463]; coloine ~; cleue of ~, a ball of yarn; haspe (skaine) of ~, a skein of thread; with hire nedle and (hire) ~, by means of her needlework; (b) in cpds. & combs.: ~ girdel, girdel ~, ?a belt made of woven fabric; ~ makere; ~ nedle, a needle with thread, a threaded needle; ~ womman, a dealer in thread or yarn; kerche ~, ?a pouch made of woven fabric; pake ~, strong cord [see also pak(e n. 3.(a)]; trussinge ~, thread for tying bundles; twine ~, twisted thread; warp ~, thread used to form the warp of fabric; (c) threadlike material of a substance other than textile.
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3.
(a) Fig. The course of life;—often with ref. to the Greek Fates; a course of events; an evolving condition; also, ?the gist of a narrative [quot. a1500]; ~ of lif, lifes ~, fatal ~; spinnen (a) ~; (b) in idiomatic expressions: a tender ~; neigh the ~, near the limit.
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4.
In surnames.
Show 2 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1500 Army.4 Artist.Recipes (Army 4) 209/20 : To make tuly threde. Take thridde and do it in thi safflour with the cloth, serue it rite so or it be whasshe, and þan hange it up to drie.
    • Note: Additional quote, sense (a). New spelling (thridde).

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. silken thread.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. thread.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. silk thread.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. thread of twine.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. twine thread.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. packthread.

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