Middle English Dictionary Entry
trithing n.
Entry Info
| Forms | trithing n. Also tridinge, triehing, tþringe, þrihinge, trehing(e, (in place names) tri(e)nge, treihing, treinge, threinge, treheng(e, treng(e, treunga, trahing, trawinge, trainge, triung(a, triangre, trehangre, thereng & (?errors) trehig, treigg, rehing, rehing(g)e; pl. thrithings, etc. & trihenges, trehingges, (?error or Latin) rehingis. |
| Etymology | ON (cp. OI þriðjungr) & LOE (in place name) tredung, treunge; cp. AL (from LOE or ME) trithingum, tridinga, trihengum, tre(h)ingum, trehigga & AF (from ME) trithing, thrithing, triding. Examples beginning with re- may belong to ME riding n., from which quot. 1297 should be deleted. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An administrative division within the Danelaw comprising one-third of a county, a riding; an administrative division in the Danelaw corresponding in size to three or more hundreds; ~ reve, the chief administrative official of such a division; (b) the assembly or court of a trithing; (c) as place name.
Associated quotations
a
- 1130-35(OE) Leges Edw.Conf.in Liebermann Gesetze 1653 : Qui super ipsam dominabantur, uocabantur rehinggrefes [?read: þrehinggrefes; vrr. trehiggreues, tþringe; a1159: trehingreues].
- 1130-35(OE) Leges Edw.Conf.in Liebermann Gesetze 1653 : Quod Angli..uocabant tria hundreda uel iiii uel plurima, isti uocabant rehing [?read: þrehing; vrr. treigg, trydinge].
- 1130-35(OE) Leges Edw.Conf.in Liebermann Gesetze 1654 : Quod in rehingis [?read: þrehingis; vr. rehingge; a1159: þrehingis] non poterat diffiniri, in scyra seruabatur.
- c1190(OE) Leges Edw.Conf.in Liebermann Gesetze 1 (Lamb 118)653 : Trihenges [a1159: Erant etiam alie potestates super wapentagia, quas trehingas dicebant, quod erat tertia pars prouincie].
- c1210 Leges Edw.Conf.in Liebermann Gesetze 1 (Lond)653 : Trehinges [vrr. trehingges, treinges; a1159: De trehingis et wapentagiis et hundredis].
- (1296-7) RParl.1.241b : Literas assignantur..Taxatores..in supradictis tribus Trithing.
b
- a1159(OE) Leges Edw.Conf.in Liebermann Gesetze 1654 : In quibusdam uero prouinciis Anglice uocabatur leð quod isti dicunt þrihinge [vr. triehing].
- (1231) Chart.R.PRO1.136 : [All the men of their fees shall be quit towards the king and his said officers..of suits of shires, wapentakes, hundreds, and] thrithings.
c
- [ (1086) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Tredung, Treunge. ]
- (1187) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)25 : Trawinge.
- (?a1200) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Triungla, Treunga, Triangre.
- (1201) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Trenge..Treinge.
- (1211) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Traynge.
- (1212) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Trahing.
- (1254) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Treheng, Trehenge.
- (1265) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Trehangre.
- (1278) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Threinge, Treihing, Thereng.
- (1279) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Trehyng, Trehynge.
- (1297) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Treynge.
- (1315) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Treng.
- (1414) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Trienge.
- (1446) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)51 : Trynge.