Now Sc. and north. dial. Forms: 3–4 þrep, 4–5 þrepe, threp, 4–6 threpe, 6 threip, threype, 7 threape, 8–9 threep, 8– threap. [f. THREAP v.]
1. The action of threaping; contradiction, contention, argument, discussion; controversy, dispute; strife, quarrel, contest.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13310 (Cott.). Wit-vten threp [Gött. ani threpe] or strijf. Ibid., 27609. O pride bicums throues o thrett, Hething, threp [v.r. þrepe], and athes grett.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 350. Enter in þenne … & haf þi wyf with þe, Þy þre sunez with-outen þrep & her þre wyuez.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 5246. Þai hade no strenght to withstonde þe striff of þe pepull, Þat were þro men in threpe.
1418. 26 Pol. Poems, xiv. 78. Stryf wiþ comons, threp, and thro, To brynge þat in amendement.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), I. 37. We sall mak threip ȝit or we ar ouirthra win.
1794. Har’st Rig, lxi. They stop at last, but still look laith The threap to yield.
1856. Carlyle, Lett., April, in Froude, Life in L. (1884), II. xxviii. 308. I had privately a kind of threap that the brandy should be yours.
1886. S. W. Linc. Gloss., s.v., We had a bit of a threap about it.
2. An act of threaping; a contradictive or pertinacious assertion; a hostile charge or accusation.
1538. Cromwell, in Merriman, Life & Lett. (1902), II. 128. To desire to conquer me by shrowde wordes, to vanquishe me by sharpe threpes of scripture.
a. 1699. J. Fraser, in Wodrow Soc. Sel. Biog. (1847), II. 214. Let us … hear patiently all assertions and threaps.
1742. R. Forbes, Ajax, viii. At threeps I am na’ sae perquire, Nor auld-farren as he.
1768. Ross, Helenore, III. 111. I nae mair sall say this threap about,… That on my side the bargain did na fa’.
1864. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XV. xv. (1872), VI. 119. He had taken a threap that he would have it finished.
1897. Snaith, Fierceheart, vi. 59. Tha threep [indictment] waur fause, an he gang’d ta the woodie [gallows] an’ got a thrawn thrapple for a deed he didna dae.
b. Phr. To keep (to) one’s threap.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, Jrnl. (1884), 318. Encouraging her to keep to her threap.
1818. Scott, Br. Lamm., xxvii. Lady Ashton … will, as Scotchmen say, keep her threep.
† 3. Reproof, rebuke. (Cf. THREAP v. 1.) Obs. rare.
1636. James, Iter Lanc., 276. I leaue thy heape Of bloodie crimes to God’s revendge and threape.
4. Comb. threap-ground, threap-land(s, land of disputed ownership, debatable land; spec. applied to the Debatable Lands of the Border.
1259. Registr. Aberdon. (Maitl.), I. 26. Super quadam terra que dicebatur threpland inter terram de Bondyngton … et terram de Newton.
1449. in Rymer Fœdera, XI. 245/1. As touching the Landez callid Batable Landez or Threpe Landez in the West Marchez.
1568. in H. Campbell, Love-Lett. Mary Q. Scots, App. (1824), 15. The contraversy yerely arising by occasion of certein grounds upon the frontiers in the east marches, commonly called the threap-land, or debatable.
1825. E. Mackenzie, Hist. Northumbld., II. 257. A long tract of land … which was formerly Debateable Land, or Threap Ground; but which, in 1552, was divided by agreement between the proper officers of both nations.
1858. Denham, Folk-Lore, 55 (E.D.D.). Part of Wooler Common is still undivided, owing to disputes respecting it. It is called Threap-ground.
1894. Heslop, Northumbld. Gloss., Threap-lands, Threap-ground,… land the ownership of which is disputed.
