Also 6 trayfle, 9 treffle. [a. F. trèfle (16th c. treffle, 1314 tresfle, in Hatz.-Darm.):—pop.L. *trifolum for cl.L. trifolium.]

1

  † 1.  = TREFOIL 1. Obs.

2

1510.  Stanbridge, Vocab. (W. de W.), D ij b. Trifolium, trefle grasse.

3

1527.  Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, K j. Trayfles, Trifolium in latyn.

4

  2.  Mil. A mine having three chambers: see quots.

5

1756.  Manningham, Compl. Treat. Mines, 104–5 [contains full description and figures].

6

1853.  Stocqueler, Milit. Encycl., Trefle (Trefoil), a term used in mining, from the similarity of the figure to trefoil. The simple trefle has only two lodgments; the double trefle, four; and the triple one, six.

7

1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., Trefle (Fortification), a mine with three chambers, like a trefoil.

8

  3.  A figure or arrangement like that of a triple leaf: = TREFOIL 3.

9

1877.  Coues & Allen, N. Amer. Rod., 151. Anterior lower molar of 3 to 8 prisms, of which the anterior forms an irregular treffle.

10

1889.  Pall Mall G., 3 Jan., 4/1. The placing of the Maxim gun underneath the orchestra,… pointing across the ballroom…. Around it was a trefle of harness and carbines.

11