Middle English Dictionary Entry
trash n.
Entry Info
| Forms | trash n. Also trasch & (in names) trasshe, trassche, trasse-; pl. trasches, trasshes, (in name) trashshis. |
| Etymology | ?ON: cp. OI tros, Swed. dial. trås & Norw. trase, dial. trask. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. trous(e n.
1.
(a) Brush, fallen leaves, or twigs used as kindling, tinder [poss. confused with tach(e n.(2)]; (b) a rag, a tattered garment; ?also, an old worn-out shoe [cp. MnE dial. trash]; (c) coll. items of little value, rubbish; ?odds and ends; (d) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.185].
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 PPl.C (Add 35157:Pearsall)19.210 : Trasch [Hnt HM 137 20.211: hewe fuyr of a flynt four hundred wynter, Bote þow haue tache [B: towe; vr. tunder] to take hit with, tunder and broches, Al þy labour is lost and all þy long trauayl, For may no fuyr flamme make, faile hit hus kynde].
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)40 : Þen þe harlot wyth haste helded to þe table Wyth rent cokrez at þe kne, and his clutte traschez.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)332/350 : 'Late vs gete of his gere'..'Þai ere tytt of tite, lo! take þer his trasshes.'
c
- (1415) Invent.Agincourt in Archaeol.70100 : Item, ij forsers ouesque diuers Trash, pris ij d.
d
- (1296-7) Acc.Cornw.in RHS ser.3.68208 : De 6 d. de vxore Willelmi Trassche.
- (1311) Pat.R.Edw.II420 : Robert Trasshe.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10122 : Henr' Trasshe.
- (1380) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)273 : Trasseland.
- (1385) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)273 : Le Trashshis.
- (1448) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)273 : Trasshes.