a. (sb.) Also 3–5 trusti, 5–7 -ie, 6 -ye; 5 trosty. [f. TRUST a. + -Y1.]
1. Characterized by trust; having faith, confidence, or assurance; trustful, confident. Now rare.
a. 1225. Ancr. R., 334. Ȝif þu ert to trusti, & holdest God to nesche uorto awreken sunne.
c. 1230. Hali Meid., 45. Ne beo þu nawt tu trusti ane to þi meidenhad.
a. 1425. Cursor M., 3272 (Trin.). Lord … graunte me … Trusti to be of my preyere.
c. 1460. Metham, Wks. (E.E.T.S.), 90. Yf sqwyche lynys … pase thorw the tryangyl or by the tryangyl, yt sygnyfyith a trosty persone and a louyng.
1541. Wyatt, Lett., Wks. (1861), p. xxiv. If in these matters I have presumed to be trusty more than I was trusted, surely the zeal of the King’s service drove me to it.
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle, etc. (E.E.T.S.), 115. He wilbe … Apt to deceive even his most trusty friend.
1908. Times, 28 July, 4/1. A very intimate and trusty friendship sprang up between them.
2. Characterized by faithfulness or reliability; that may be trusted or relied upon; trustworthy.
In letters of the sovereign to subjects, Our trusty and well-beloved takes the place of L. dilecto et fideli nostro, before the names of the addressees. Privy Councillors are addressed as Right trusty and well-beloved.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xv. (Percy Soc.), 47. Trusti kyng ant trewe in trone.
1432. Ld. Scrope, in Plumpton Corr. (Camden), p. xxxvi. Trusty & wellbeloved, I greet you wel.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 503/1. Trosty, sekyr, fidus, fidelis.
1511–2. Act 3 Hen. VIII., c. 23 § 3. Billes signed … with the hande of the Kinges trusty servaunt John Heron.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., III. (1586), 114. The Horse … the trustiest beast that we vse in our seruice.
1615. W. Lawson, Country Housew. Gard. (1626), 17. Euery Gardiner is not trusty to sell you good fruit.
1674. [see RIGHT adv. 9 c].
1726. Swift, Gulliver, I. vii. A trusty servant.
1803. in Nairne, Peerage Evid. (1874), 113. Our right trusty and welbeloved George baron Keith.
1838. Thirlwall, Greece, II. xvi. 369. He … sent a trusty messenger to Xerxes, to claim the merit of this service.
1877. J. D. Chambers, Div. Worship, 230. It should be carried to the mill by a trusty person.
1920. Helena (OK) Star, 6 May, 8. Advt. [Harry] Pollard, otherwise known as ‘Snub,’ and [Harold] Lloyd’s trusty side-kick, accompanied Lloyd to a select musicale given at the home of one of the ‘first families’ in Los Angeles.
b. transf. and fig. of things.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. vii. 25. His trustie sword, the servant of his might.
1697. Dryden, Æneid, VII. 886. The neighing steeds are to the chariots tied, The trusty weapon sits on ev’ry side.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 73. One of the most trusty Timbers of the Common-wealth.
1782. Cowper, Gilpin, 63. My leathern belt … In which I bear my trusty sword.
1890. R. Bridges, Elegy, Poems (1912), 239. Her trusty window open wide.
B. sb. One who (or that which) is trusty; a trustworthy person; spec. in U.S., a well-conducted convict to whom special privileges are granted.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 62. Get trustie to tend them [cattle], not lubberlie squire. Ibid., 124. Reape corne by the day,… By great is the cheaper, if trustie were reaper.
1756. Toldervy, Hist. 2 Orphans, II. 140. Why gentlemen, [answered the landlord], your old trusty there, parts with his money, and cries for it again.
1889. Century Mag., Jan., 448/1. The ‘trusties’ are often domesticated upon ranches near the town.
1892. Pall Mall G., 15 Nov., 2/3. Martin left his camp in charge of various captains—generally assisted by ‘trusties,’ that is, well-behaved convicts, who were found to be the cruellest taskmasters.
b. local Irish. A great coat.
1804. Mar. Edgeworth, Limerick Gloves, vii. ‘There was a sort of a frieze trusty.’ ‘A trusty!’ said Mr. Hill, ‘what is that, pray?’ ‘A big coat, sure, plase your honour.’
1837–8. J. Keegan, Leg. & Poems (1907), 4. He thrust his hands into the ample pockets of his ‘trusty,’ which was closely buttoned round his waist. Ibid. (1846), 365. He opened his white frieze trusty.
