Irish. Also trau-, traw-, thra-, thrawneen. [Anglicized spelling of Ir. traithnín, trathnan, a little stalk of grass (O’Reilly).] The crested dog’s-tail grass, Cynosurus cristatus. (Often taken as the type of something of little or no value: cf. RUSH sb.1 2).

1

[1808.  J. White, Ess. Grasses Irel., 154 (Britt. and Holl., Plant-n.) Trathnin.]

2

1837.  S. Lover, Rory O’More, ii. You dare n’t stand before any one with sich a thraneen as that in your fist.

3

1839.  W. Carleton, Fardorougha, iii. It’s a bargin … I don’t care a trawneen.

4

1842.  S. C. Hall, Ireland, II. 74. She never cared a traneen for him, soul or body, and went off with a richer man.

5

1884.  Lays & Leg. N. Irel., 20. Sorra a thrawneen you’ll get from us more.

6

1899.  Blackw. Mag., March, 572. But she’d not a traneen to her fortune.

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