Obs. Forms: α. 1 þráʓ, þráh, 3 þraȝhe, 4 thrau(e, 4–5 þraw(e, 4–6 thraw; 4 trau, trawe, (5 drawe). β. 3 þroȝe, 3–5 þrowe, 3–6 throwe, 5–6 throw; 5 trowe. γ. 5 threwe. [OE. þráʓ, þráh fem. a (point or space of) time, a season. Not found in the cognate langs.; if in OTeut., its form would naturally be *þraiʓā, Goth. *þráiga.]
1. The time at which anything happens; an occasion. Many a throw, many a time, often.
Like minute, instant, often used in advb. phrases with preposition omitted, as that, this, any, the same throw.
Beowulf, 2884. Ferʓendra to lyt þrong ymbe þeoden þa hyne sio þraʓ becwom.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvii. § 1. Onwæcnað sio wode þraʓ þære wrænnesse.
971. Blickl. Hom., 117. Nis þæt eower … þæt ʓe witan þa þraʓe & þa tide.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 478. Blisse myd heom sume þrowe. Ibid., 1455. I singe myd heom one þrowe [v.r. þroȝe].
1390. Gower, Conf., III. 36. This riche man the same throwe With soudein deth was overthrowe.
14[?]. Hoccleve, Compl. Virgin, 73. O thynke how many a throwe Thow in myn armes lay.
c. 1440. Lovelich, Merlin, 9949. Ȝoure Ryng to taken me jn this threwe, To ȝoure cosin le-ownces that j myhte it schewe.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., xx. 380. Peter, thou shall thryse apon a thraw-fforsake me, or the cok craw.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. xiii. 53. The casting dart … Smate worthy Anthores the ilk thraw.
2. A space of time; a while; in later use always, a brief while, an instant, a moment.
a. 1000. Cædmon’s Gen., 1426 (Gr.). Þær se halʓa bad sunu Lameches soðra ʓehata lange þraʓe.
a. 1000. Juliana, 464 (Gr.). Is þeos þraʓ ful strong,… ic sceal þinga ʓehwylc þolian.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 33. Nis nawiht þeos world; al heo aȝeð on ane alpi þraȝe.
c. 1200. Ormin, 3475. Wass mikell weȝȝe till þatt land. & forrþi wass hemm ned to don God þraȝhe to þatt weȝȝe.
c. 1205. Lay., 640. He tah hine aȝein ane þrowe.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 3281 (Cott.). Had he noght rested bot a thrau [v.rr. þraw, þrowe].
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VII. 34. He … said eftir a litill thraw, Þat he suld wenge in hy thar blude.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Man of Law’s T., 855. Now lat vs stynte of Custance but a throwe [v.r. trowe].
1423. James I., Kingis Quair, xlv. Quhen I a lytill thrawe had maid my moon.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 493/1. Throwe, a lytyl wyle, momentum.
c. 1570. Pride & Lowl. (1841), 64. They were defaced in a throw.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. iv. 53. Downe himselfe he layd Upon the grassy ground to sleepe a throw.
b. Be throwes, by turns, time about. rare.
1390. Gower, Conf., I. 55. After that cause and nede it ladde, Be throwes ech of hem it hadde.
