Obs. or dial. Forms: 4 trace, 5 pl. trasses, 6 Sc. trase, trais, traiss, 6 (Sc.) 7– dial. trace. [Possibly an altered form of TRESS sb., with which this largely coincides in sense; but no explanation of the alteration of form presents itself. See also the cognate TRACE v.3
(The different senses are cited from widely separate localities, so that they can scarcely be considered as a verbal unity, except in their apparent relation to TRESS.)]
† 1. A tress or plait of hair; = TRESS sb. 1. (s. w. Eng.) Obs. (but cf. TRACE v.3).
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 5882. Wyþ eȝene graye, and browes bent, And ȝealwe traces, & fayre y-trent.
a. 1400. Trevisa’s Higden (Rolls) VIII. VII. 63. Þe ȝelew heere of þe womman trasses [MS. γ. ȝelou tresses; Higden trica comæ mulieris flava] was i-founde hoole and sounde.
† 2. A flat plait or braid of gold or silver thread, or other material, for trimming a robe, etc. Sc. Obs.
1539. Inv. Roy. Wardr. (1815), 32. Item, ane nycht gowne of gray dammes with ane walting trais of gold. Ibid., 35. [Ibid., p. 42 has tress of silver; 82 tres of gold.]
1543. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., VIII. 181. For xx tracis of gold to the cote, weyand thre unce … v li. ij s. Ibid. (1548), IX. 149. xxx elnis of trasis to eik ane goun of hirris [= hers] of blak welwote…. Item, thre elnis blak welwote to eik this goun. Ibid. (1549), 334. Tua unce and ane quarter unce Parice silk to sew the pasmentis and traiss of the said coit.
3. A string of ears of Indian corn plaited together so as to be hung up. (N. America.)
1678. Phil. Trans., XII. 1066. After ’tis gather’d, it [maize] must, except laid very thin, be presently stripped from the Husks…. The common way (which they call Tracing) is to weave the Ears together in long Traces by some parts of the Husk left thereon.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Tracing, These traces of [Indian] corn they hang up within doors,… and they will … keep good the whole winter.
b. A ‘rope’ or string of onions. dial.
1891. Hartland (Devon) Gloss., Trace, a rope of onions. [Cf. Trecces de cepis in same sense, in Tabularia Portus Regii (Du Cange).] (Cf. also RACE sb.1 9 b.)
