Obs. exc. local. Forms: 4–5 trase, (pa. pple. trased, trast), 7– trace. [Belongs to TRACE sb.3; possibly an altered form of TRESS v.]
1. trans. To plait, twine, interweave, braid.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1739. Þe haȝer stones Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres.
c. 1450. Holland, Howlat, 405. Mony schene scheld With tuscheis of trast silk tichit to the tre.
1613–6. W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. iv. 320. A little lad … Tracing greene rushes for a winter chayre. Ibid., 358. As oft as I … Trace the sharpe rushes ends.
1678. [see TRACE sb.3 3].
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Tracing,… a term used by our planters for the method of preserving the maize…. [They] trace it, that is, they leave it in the ear, and weave, or fasten together a great number of ears by the ends of the husks.
1888. Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., Trace, to plait (always) ‘I can’t only trace dree, but our Jim can trace zix’ [plait six strands together].
2. To plait or braid the hair of the head in tresses; = TRESS v. 1.
1832. R. & J. Lander, Exped. Niger, I. i. 41. Her hair was traced with such extraordinary neatness, that we expressed a wish to examine it more minutely.
1905. Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v. (W. Cornwall), She traces her hair every day.
Hence Traced ppl. a.; Tracing vbl. sb., interweaving, embroidering, braiding; also attrib.
c. 1450. Trast [see sense 1].
1549. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., IX. 334. Thre score thre elnis trasing silk to the samyn coit.
1681. Scot. Proclam., 1 March. Silver and gold threde, silver and gold lace, fringes or tracing.
1808–25. Jamieson, s.v., A traced hat is a hat bound with gold lace.
