Obs. Forms: 1 þriddan dǽl; 4 þridden-, 45 thridden-, 5 threden-, thredden-, thryden-, thyrdyn-, 6 thirdin-, thyrden-, (thirding-, 7 thurron-), 68 thirden-; 45 -del, 57 -dele, 6 -deale, deall, 7 -dell, 78 -deal; 46 (9 dial.) -dale. [OE. (þone) þriddan dǽl, accus. case of (se) þridda dǽl the third part (see THIRDEL, DEAL sb.1, DALE2). Cf. HALFENDEAL, FARTHINGDEAL.]
1. The third part of anything; a third.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 98. Seoþe on wætere to þriddan dæle. Ibid., II. 120. Bewyl oþ þriddan dæl.
13[?]. Guy Warw. (A.), 7306 + st. 65. Þriddendel his lond haue he schold.
14[?]. E. E. Misc. (Warton Cl.), 72. With the thyrdyndele of gume, and twyse so mych of water.
a. 1500. in Arnolde, Chron. (1811), 147. Euery Sonday a soule out of purgatory and the thredden dele of al synnes releced.
1558. Warde, trans. Alexis Secr., I. I. (1580), 37 b. Drinke thereof two thirdendales of a glassefull.
1581. J. Bell, Haddons Answ. Osor., 459 b. A thyrdendeale of the Crowne of Thornes is shewed at Paris in the Holy Chappell there.
2. A third of a tun; = TERTIAN B. 2.
1423. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 256/1. Thredendels and hoggeshedes so aftur lesse mesure.
14[?]. MS. Cantab. Ff. 5. 49, lf. 55 b (Hartshorne, Anc. Metr. T. (1829), 54). Hit holdis a gode thrydendele Ful of wyne euery mele.
3. (See quots.)
1571. in Shaks. Jahrbuch (1896), 142. The hooped pot commonly called a thirdindeale and a half thirdindeale.
1590. [Tarlton], News Purgat. (1844), 114. When Tapsters Fill thirdingdeall pots till the drinke run ouer.
1620. Melton, Astrolog., 32. Many of them dare not goe to bed without a Thurrondell Pot of six shillings Beere.
1678. Phillips (ed. 4), Thirdendeal, a Liquid Measure used in Salisbury containing three Pints.
1721. in Bailey.