Trim v.

Infl. trimmed, -ing. Forms: (1 trymman, trymian, treman), 6 trymme, tryme, (treme), trym, 6–7 trimme, 6– trim, (7 trime). [The existing senses of this verb begin early in the 16th c. Before 1550 the word had become exceedingly common in nearly all its chief senses. OE. had a verb trymman or trymian:—*trumjan to make firm or strong, strengthen, confirm, set (a force) in array, settle, arrange, etc., f. OE. trum adj. firm, strong, sound, steadfast, stable, etc. So far as the form is concerned, trymman, trymian would naturally become trym, trim by 1500; the sense ‘make fit, make ready, prepare, fit out’ might also arise out of the OE. The difficulty is that not one certain example of the verb in any sense is known during the Middle English period, and that it comes upon the scene in the 16th c., like a new word, quickly laid hold of to supply many needs. But as no other source is known, it is generally held that trim is identical with the OE. trymman, and that the verb (perh. along with TRIM a.), must have been preserved in spoken use, or in some dialect, for four centuries, without appearing in the extant literature.

  OE. had also the compounds ʓetrymman to confirm, strengthen, encourage, also intr. (for refl.) to grow strong, gain or recover strength, and betrymian to beset with a force, besiege, environ, with 3 examples as late as c. 1225 (see BITRUM); Genesis & Exodus, c. 1250, has also two instances of a vb. trim-en to ‘be pregnant, conceive,’ or perhaps to ‘give birth’; but none of these show any approach to the modern senses. The OE. senses and that in Gen. & Ex. are here prefixed as possibly bearing upon the later history.]

  I.  (Only OE.) † 1. trans. To make firm or strong; to strengthen, confirm; to give as security; to arm or array (a force); to settle, arrange; to encourage, comfort, exhort.

a. 800.  Cædmon’s Gen., 276 (Gr.). Þæt he west and norð wyrcean ongunne, trymede ʓetimbro.

a. 800.  O. E. Chron., an. 430. Þæt he hiera ʓeleafan trymede.

c. 840.  in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., II. 5. Ic Berhtwulf … ðas mine ʓesaldnisse trymme and fæstna in Cristes rode tacne.

c. 893.  K. Ælfred, Oros., IV. x. § 2. Þæs on merʓen Hannibal ʓefor to þære byriʓ, & beforan ðæm ʓeate his folc ʓetrymede, þe mon haett Collina…. Ac hie hie butan þæm ʓeate anʓean Hannibal trymedon. Ibid. (c. 897), Gregory’s Past. C., xv. 88. Ne ʓe ðone weall ne trymedon ymb hiera hus on ðæm dæʓe þe him nidðearf wæs.

c. 950.  Lindisf. Gosp., John v. 31. ʓif ic cyðnisse ic trymmo [perhibeo] of mec.

971.  Blickl. Hom., 91. Men ʓehyraþ myccle stefne on heofenum swylce þær man fyrde trymme & samniʓe.

a. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Th.) ciii. 15. Hlaf trymeð heortan mannes.

10[?].  O. E. Chron., an. 1052. Hi … ʓeræddon þæt man tremede gislas on æʓðer healfe.

  [† b.  (Early ME.) intr. To become pregnant, conceive; ? to bring forth. Obs. (Perhaps does not belong to this word.)

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1024. Bi ðan sal sarra selðe timen, Ðat ȝ[h]e sal of a sune trimen. Ibid., 1198. Ȝhe wurd wið child, on elde wac, And trimede and clepede it ysaac.]

  II.  (Mod. Eng.) † 2. To put into proper condition for some purpose or use; to prepare, make ready; to dress; to get (land) into condition for cropping, to till; to cultivate (a tree). Obs.

1517.  Torkington, Pilgr. (1884), 55. The bestys that we rode vpon, [were] ryght weke and ryght simple, and evyll trymed to Jorney with.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. lix. 80. He raysed an engyn in y^e Castell, the which was not very great, but he trymmed it to a poynt [orig. lattrempa bien et apoint].

1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, VI. xxvii. 692. In Brabant … the Corriers and Leather dressers … do trimme and dresse Leather like Spanishe skinnes.

1593.  Shaks., Rich. II., III. iv. 56. He had not so trim’d And drest his Land, as we this Garden.

1645.  in W. M. Williams, Ann. Founders’ Co. (1867), 98. Thomas Embry … did trim and make up Brass Works for persons not free of the Company.

1725.  De Foe, Voy. round World (1840), 71. Casks … which their coopers assisted us to trim, season and fit up.

  3.  To fit out (a ship, etc.) for sea. arch. spec. † To caulk, clean, and dress a ship’s bottom: see quot. 1711 (obs.).

c. 1513.  E. Howard, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 147. Ther be redy … a c. shippes of warre … they be very well trymmed and will not faill to comme owte and fight with us.

1525–6.  in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. I. 221. Our … Sovereyn Lorde shall within fewe yerys loose his seyd Shypps … except they be new kalkyd and trymmyd.

1542.  Lam. & Piteous Treat., in Harl. Misc. (Malh.), I. 235. Seuen galleyes stronge and well trymmed.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., I. viii. The Arsenal,… into which are hayled vppe and trymmed the gallies and other vessels.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. ii. 80. As rau’nous Fishes doe a Vessell follow That is new trim’d.

1711.  W. Sutherland, Shipbuild. Assist., 165. To trim a Ship; to load and equip her, and put her into a condition for Sailing; also to calk, clean, and dress a Ship, and do any small matter in repairing her.

1850.  Blackie, Æschylus, II. 258. Xerxes … Trimmed vain fleets for thy undoing.

  † 4.  To put (something broken, worn, or decayed) into good condition or working order; to repair, restore, put right. Obs.

c. 1520.  Mem. Ripon (Surtees), III. 204. Will’mo Caruer tremyng dorythes & lokes & alias.

1548.  Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. Mark i. 14. Who were also trymmyng and mendyng theyr nettes.

1569.  Sparke, Sir J. Hawkins’ 2nd Voy. (Hakl. Soc.), 11. He trimmed the maine mast of the Iesus, which in the storme aforesaid was sprong.

a. 1628.  Preston, Breastpl. Love (1631), 114. Your soules need to be trimmed every morning as well as the body.

1633.  Munday, Stow’s Surv., 905. The repairing and trimming of this Church … was in the yeere of our Lord God 1600.

a. 1687.  Petty, Treat. Naval Philos., I. ii. All the forementioned Incurvations are to be trimmed and repaired by reconciled lines.

  5.  spec. To put (a lamp, fire, etc.) into proper order for burning, by removing any deposit or ash, and adding fresh fuel; also, to cleanse or cut level (a wick); by extension, to renew the burned-out carbons or electrodes of (an arc lamp). Also fig.

1557.  N. T. (Genev.), Matt. xxv. 7. Then all those virgins arose, & trymmed their lampes [So Rhem. (1582), & 1611; Wyclif (1382) anourneden, (1388) araieden; Tindale (1526), Coverdale (1535), Great (1539), Bishops’ (1568), prepared].

a. 1701.  Maundrell, Journ. Jerus. (1732), 71. The dayly employment of these Recluses is to trim the lamps.

1764.  Goldsm., Trav., 14. Where cheerful guests retire To pause from toil, and trim their evening fire.

1794.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xxvi. He stopped for a moment to trim the torch.

1819.  Wiffen, Aonian Hours (1820), 134. Vesper has trimmed up his lamp for the night.

1902.  Sloane, Stand. Electr. Dict., App., Trimming, the renewal of the carbons in an arc lamp.

  † 6.  To provide or furnish with what is necessary for the purpose in view; to equip, supply. Obs.

1523.  Wolsey, in St. Papers Hen. VIII., VI. 188. 50,000 souldeours largely and plenteously furnished eskipped and trymmed.

1552.  Huloet, Trymme a gardeyn wyth beddes.

1552–3.  in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 93. Cupid shalbe a letell boy howe mvst be tremmed with a bow and arrows blinfelde.

1557.  N. T. (Genev.), Luke xxii. 12. Then he shal shewe you a great hie chamber trimmed [1611 furnished].

1630.  J. Levett, Ord. Bees (1634), 20. Do you not usually dresse and trim your hives with some hony, or other sweet liquor, before you put any swarm into them?

1667.  Pepys, Diary, 20 July. And … is married to him that is new come, and hath new trimmed the house.

  7.  To array, dress (const. in or with something); to make comely, adorn, dress up (also with out).

c. 1516–21.  Dk. Buckhm. to Wolsey, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. III. I. 216. He dowtid that I was not soo well trymmed as I wolde desir to be.

1525.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. ccxlvii. [ccxliii.] 759. All the armorers in London were sette a worke to trymme men in their harnesse for the iustes.

1557.  N. T. (Genev.), Rev. xxi. 2. That holy citie … prepared as a bryde trymmed for her housbande.

1604.  T. Wright, Passions, V. § 1. 151. Salomon … exhorteth vs … not to looke vpon a woman trimmed and decked vp.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 734. The Victim Ox … Trim’d with white Ribbons, and with Garlands drest.

1756.  W. Dodd, Fasting (ed. 2), 10. To be deck’d and trimm’d out … in the pride of dress.

1903.  N. Munro, in Blackw. Mag., Jan., 81/1. She hastened to trim herself before the moon revealed her.

  8.  spec. To decorate (a hat, garment, etc.) with ribbons, laces, feathers, flowers, braids, embroideries, or the like, so as to give it a finished appearance; also, of a thing, to form the trimming of. Also fig.

1547.  in Feuillerat, Revels Edw. VI. (1914), 11. vj Black vellett Cappes … trymyd with damaske golde & Syluer.

1581.  Sidney, Apol. Poetrie (Arb.), 59. And who reades Plutarchs eyther historie or philosophy, shall finde, hee trymmeth both theyr garments, with gards of Poesie.

1793.  Mme. D’Arblay, Lett., May. Miss Kitty trimmed up her best cap, and tried [it] on.

1796.  Jane Austen, Pride & Prej., xxix. When I have bought some prettier-coloured satin to trim it with fresh.

1859.  Habits Gd. Soc., iv. (new ed.), 184. Her dress was white, trimmed down on either side with single roses.

1859.  W. Collins, Q. of Hearts, iii. Trimmed with white braid.

  9.  To dress (the hair or beard); to clip (the hair), or to clip the hair of (a person); sometimes, to shave (a person); also, to dub (a cock).

1530.  Palsgr., 762/2. I trymme, as a man dothe his heare or his busshe…. Trymme my busshe, barber, for I intende to go amongest Ladyes to day.

1592.  Lyly, Midas, III. ii. How sir will you be trimmed? wil you haue your beard like a spade, or a bodkin?

1607.  Nottingham Rec., IV. 283. We present the barbr … for triming men in serves tyme vppon the Sabott Daye.

1611.  Bible, 2 Sam. xix. 24. And Mephibosheth … had neither dressed his feete, nor trimmed his beard [Coverdale (1535), combde, Great (1539), shauen, Geneva (1560), Bishops’ (1568), dressed], nor washed his clothes.

a. 1625.  in Strutt, Sports & Past. (1801), III. vii. § 20. A dunghill cock, neatly cut and trimmed for the battle.

1652.  in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 485. The Razors and Sizars hee Trimmed withall.

1748.  Smollett, Rod. Rand., lxiv. I sent for another barber and suffered myself to be trimmed.

1856.  R. W. Procter, Barber’s Shop, xxi. (1883), 203. The era of the flying barbers, when shops were few, and gentlefolk were trimmed at home.

  fig.  1600.  Dr. Dodypoll, V. ii., in Bullen, O. Pl., III. 158. The Marchant I perceive hath trimde you, Doctor, And comb’d you smoothlie.

  10.  fig. To beat, thrash, trounce; also, to reprimand, reprove, upbraid, scold (cf. ‘to give one a dressing’).

  App. at first an ironical use of sense 2, but afterwards often with allusion to 8, 9 or other sense: cf. the colloq. phr. to trim one’s jacket, and the ironical use of DRESS v. 9, ARRAY v. 10. With quots. a. 1518, 1638, cf. TRIM-TRAM sb.

a. 1518.  Skelton, Magnyf., 2234. Tushe! these maters … are but soppys in ale; Your trymynge and tramynge by me must be tangyd.

c. 1550.  R. Wever, Lusty Juventus, D j. Tell me … who it was, And I wyl trim the knaue, by the blessed masse.

1638.  Ford, Fancies, III. iii. Sec. My razor shall be my weapon, my razor. Spa. Why, has not come to the honour of a beard yet; he needs no shaving. Sec. I will trim him and tram him.

1748.  Smollett, Rod. Random, iii. None of your jaw, you swab,… else I shall trim your lac’d jacket for you.

1822.  Scott, Nigel, xxxiii. Some that remember … how I trimmed them about the story of hearkening behind the arras.

1882.  Mrs. Raven’s Tempt., I. 232. While Mrs. Raven stood trimming Worsfold and his wife about harbouring the woman, she came down right upon ’em.

  11.  To cut off the excrescences or irregularities of; to reduce to a regular shape by doing this. Also with the part removed as object. In quot. 1879 absol. Also with up. Also fig.

1594.  Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits, ix. (1596), 120. A wodden chest knobby and nothing trimmed on the outside.

1664.  Evelyn, Kal. Hort., Feb., 60. Trim up your Palisade Hedges, and Espaliers.

1761.  Churchill, Apol., Poems, 1763, I. 72. See tortur’d Reason how they pare and trim And like Procrustes, stretch or lop the limb.

1879.  Browning, Ivan Ivan., 36. His axe now trimmed and toyed With branch and twig.

1885.  Law Times, LXXIX. 187/2. The farmer has … no inclination … to trim the roadside hedges.

1891.  Labour Commission Gloss., Trimming castings, the operation of trimming off with chisel and file the ‘runners,’ i. e. rough edges of metal castings.

1893.  J. A. Hodges, Elem. Photogr. (1907), 105. The manner in which it [a print] has been trimmed and mounted.

  b.  transf. See quots.

1895.  Funk’s Standard Dict., To trim the shore, to follow the shore-outline: said of fish.

1901.  Blackw. Mag., Nov., 692/2. They [migrating birds] always ‘trim’ the shore—that is pass close over the headlands.

  12.  Carpentry. To bring (a piece of timber, etc.) to the required shape; spec. to trim in, to fit or frame (one piece) to or into another; cf. TRIMMER 4, trimming-joist (TRIMMING vbl. sb. 7).

1679.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., ix. 153. This Newel serves also for a Post to Trim the Stair-Case too.

1703.  T. N., City & C. Purchaser, 268. When Workmen fit a piece into other Work, they say they trim in a piece.

1833.  Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 83. The whole properly trimmed (framed round, leaving a clear opening) to the chimney shafts.

1842–76.  Gwilt, Encycl. Archit., Gloss. s.v., A piece of workmanship fitted between others previously executed, which is then said to be trimmed in between them.

  13.  Naut. To distribute the load of (a ship or boat) so that she floats on an even keel; in quot. 1580, to steady, as with cargo or ballast.

  To be trimmed (so much) by the head (or stern), to be built or laden so as to draw (so much) more water at the bows than at the stern (or the reverse).

1580.  H. Smith, in Hakluyt, Voy. (1598), I. 448. With all hands she did lighten her sterne, and trimme her head.

1627.  Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., vi. 27. Trim the Boat is to keepe her straight.

1668.  Culpepper & Cole, Barthol. Anat., I. ix. 18. That so the Body may be equally as it were poised, and ballanced, or trimmed, as the Watermen speak of their boats.

c. 1720.  Prior, Bibo & Charon, 5, in Misc. Wks. (1740), 63.

1800.  Local Act 39 & 40 Geo. III., c. x § 42. The Lighter trimmed so as to make the same swim at equal Marks at the Stem and Stern thereof.

1820.  Scoresby, Acc. Arctic Reg., II. 475. For the purpose of trimming the ship more by the stern.

  b.  intr. (for refl. or pass.) of a ship or boat.

1861.  Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., ii. While he had been sitting quiet and merely paddling,… the boat had trimmed well enough.

1889.  Welch, Text Bk. Naval Archit., i. 7. When the excess draft is aft, the vessel is said to trim by the stern.

  c.  transf. To adjust (the balance) so as to equalize it.

1817.  Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. i. 338. How easily the balance among those powers might have been trimmed.

1840.  Thirlwall, Greece, VII. liii. 23. The only way to secure the Macedonian ascendancy…, was to trim the balance of power.

1864.  Cobden, Speeches (1878), 492. I wanted to trim the scales to prevent there being an undue preponderance in favour of the other side.

  14.  Naut. To adjust (the sails or yards) with reference to the direction of the wind and the course of the ship, so as to obtain the greatest advantage. Const. to.

  To trim by or on a wind, to set the sails so as to sail as nearly as possible against the direction of the wind: see BY A. 9, B. 1 d. To trim full or sharp: see FULL A. 11, SHARP adv. 2.

1624.  Capt. Smith, Virginia, II. 24. Nor had we a Mariner nor any had skill to trim the sayles. Ibid. (1627), Seaman’s Gram., ix. 42. All your Sheats, Brases, and Tackes are trimmed by a winde.

1667.  Dryden & Davenant, Tempest, I. i. Trim her right before the wind.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., I. ii. 17. Thus have you all the Sails trimm’d sharp, full, and by a Wind.

1697.  Lond. Gaz., No. 3315/1. I crouded Sail to Leeward to him, trimming my Sails on a Wind tho’ I went before it.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., III. v. 342. That which was the stern of the proa, now becomes the head, and she is trimmed on the other tack.

1836.  H. Rogers, J. Howe, i. (1863), 8. The comparatively inexperienced seaman, and the dexterous pilot, may both reach the port; but the one will trim his sails to every variation of wind, and make his advantage of every breath that blows, while the other will often be driven from his course.

1899.  F. T. Bullen, Log Sea-waif, 336. A little south-easterly breeze sprang up, to which we trimmed the yards.

  B.  absol. or intr. Also fig.

1697.  Dampier, Voy. (1729), I. 145. Next Morning we again trimm’d sharp, and made the best of our way to the Lobos de la Mar.

1706.  E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 21. If the Wind and Tide of Affairs prove too violent, he then certainly trims about.

1833.  R. Mudie, Brit. Birds (1841), I. 110. The kite feels the first action of the revolving air as if it were a breeze, trims to it, and is borne upward in a spiral.

1857.  C. Gribble, in Merc. Marine Mag. (1858), V. 9. Trimmed on the starboard tack, and made all possible sail.

  c.  transf. and fig. To turn, adjust, adapt.

1779.  Cowper, Pineapple & Bee, 12. Having wasted half the day, He trimmed his flight another way.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xxxiv. He could scarce have missed shipwreck, knowing … so little how to trim his sails to a court gale.

1847.  Emerson, Poems (1857), 187. As the bird trims her to the gale, I trim myself to the storm of time.

1898.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., V. 958. We must trim our treatment according to the phases and peculiarities of the individual.

  15.  To stow or arrange (coal or cargo) in the hold of a ship, or carry it to the hatches when discharging; also to shift (coal) in a ship’s hold, etc.; also, to arrange (coal) as it is loaded on a truck. Cf. coal-trimmer (COAL sb. 16).

1797.  J. Bailey & Culley, Agric. Northumberld., 7. Trimming 2 s. 6 d. keelman’s beer 1 s. 4 d. per chaldron.

1828.  Joplin, Views Currency, 14. Corn can be warehoused at Hull, and trimmed and turned for about 2 s. per quarter per annum.

1838.  Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 397/1. The coals cannot be trimmed in the ships so fast.

1884.  Manch. Guard., 24 Jan., 5/1. The cargo was properly stowed and trimmed.

1886.  J. Barrowman, Sc. Mining Terms, 68. To Trim, to arrange by hand the coals on a truck while being loaded.

  16.  intr. (also with it). To modify one’s attitude in order to stand well with opposite parties; to move cautiously, or ‘balance’ between two alternative interests, positions, opinions, etc.; also, to accommodate oneself to the mood of the times.

1685.  South, Serm. (1697), I. 456. Gross, fulsome juggling with their Duty, and a kind of Trimming it between God and the Devil.

1687.  Dryden, Hind & P., III. 666. [Non-resistance] A passive term which … trims betwixt a rebell and a king.

a. 1700.  B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, To Trim, to hold fair with both sides.

1766.  Earl March, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1843), II. 67. Lord Mansfield trimmed in his usual manner, and avoided declaring his opinion.

1888.  Burgon, Lives 12 Gd. Men, II. ix. 217. Nothing knew he … of a disposition to trim with the times.

  † b.  trans. Trim away: To waste (time) in indecision. Obs. rare.

1687.  Dryden, Hind & P., III. 501. He who heard what every fool could say Would never fix his thoughts, but trim his time away.

  c.  trans. To modify according to expediency.

1885.  Daily Tel., 6 Nov. (Cassell). Lord Hartington is not the sort of statesman to trim his opinions according to the expediency of conciliating or not conciliating.

  Hence Trimmed ppl. a.; in sense 8 often as the second element in an instrumental combination, as blue-, ermine-, flower-, gold-, lace-trimmed, etc.: see also these words.

c. 1532.  Du Wes, Introd. Fr., in Palsgr., 922. A goodly lady meke, trymmed, dame gaillarde, benigne, cointe.

1649.  in Verney Mem. (1907), I. 448. A paire of French trimed gloves.

1892.  Photogr. Ann., II. 57. To mark the mount at each corner of the trimmed print.