| 释义 |
theat Sc.|θiːt|
Also 5–9 thete, 6 theatt, (tyghte), 8–9 theet.
[Etymology obscure: derivation from ON. þétt-r tight, has been suggested; cf. tyght in quot. 1573.]
pl. ‘The ropes or traces, by means of which horses draw in a carriage, plough, or harrow’ (Jam.): now chiefly of the plough.
1496Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. I. 293 Item, for xiij stane and a pund of towis to be thetis. 1513Douglas æneis xii. ix. 77 The renis and the thetis, Quharwyth hys stedis ȝokkit war in thretis. [1573Lanc. Wills (Chetham Soc.) III. 61 Twoo payre of tyghtes or trases for horses wth withes of iren.] 1599Aberdeen Regr. (1848) II. 183 Cutting with his knyff the theattis of the said pleucht. 1792Statist. Acc. Scot. IV. 395 The rashen theets [are supplanted] by the iron traces. 1844Stephens Bk. Farm II. 694 The sort of harness with which he is first invested is that of the plough, consisting of a bridle, collar,..and back-band and chains, or theats, as these are called in some parts of the country.
b. In fig. and allusive expressions: cf. traces. out of theats (also out of theet), out of bounds: see quot. 1710, and cf. ‘to kick over the traces’ (kick v.1 1 c).
1682Peden in Life & Proph. (1868) 13 Good Lord, cut their theets, that their swingle-trees may fall to the ground. 1710Ruddiman Gloss. Douglas s.v. Thetis, Ye are out of theet, i.e. ye are extravagant or in the wrong. 1731T. Boston Mem. v. 53 They were going to call a new upstart, one that broke the thetes. 1871W. Alexander Johnny Gibb ii, Keep baith laird an' tenan' straucht i' the theets. |