Untruss

v. [UN-² 4 b.]

  1.  trans. To free from a pack or burden. rare.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 294. With this worde his Asse anon He let untrusse.

c. 1430.  Pilgr. Lyf Manhode, II. xlvii. (1869), 94. Whan vntrussed thus j was, j was rauished in to the ayr an hygh.

c. 1530.  Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 484. There he saw the goodly yong squyers vntrussing of their somers & cariages.

1598.  Florio, Sfardellare,… to vntrusse, or disburthen.

  2.  To unfasten or undo (a pack, etc.); to remove or free from some fastening.

c. 1400.  Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), II. xlv. 51. He vntrussed my fardel, and soone was I taught that sooth was that he seyde.

1570.  B. Googe, Pop. Kingd., IV. 56. The Pedler doth his packe vntrusse, the Host his pots doth fill.

1600.  in Swayne, Sarum Churchw. Acc. (1896), 148. Laborer to vntrusse the bels, 6d.

1777.  Sheridan, Trip Scarb., V. ii. Now … that I am untrussed [= set free], give me leave to thank thee for the very extraordinary reception I have met with.

  b.  fig. To put off, discard.

1608.  Chapman, Byron’s Consp., III. iii. Be free, all worthy spirits, And stretch yourselves for greatness…, Untruss your slaveries.

  3.  To undo, unfasten (a ‘point’ of a garment). In later use chiefly allusively (see quot. 1721). Obs. exc. Hist.

1577.  Holinshed, Hist. Eng., I. 8/2. He was slain … by one of his own soldiors, as he was about to vntrusse his pointes.

1614.  Sylvester, Bethulia’s Rescue, II. 78. For … while hee plyes T’ untrusse his Points, [he] them (fumbling) faster tyes.

1622.  Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 356. One of the Souldiers was going to vntrusse a point.

1721.  Bailey, To untruss a Point, i.e. to unbutton one’s Breeches in order to ease his Body.

1727.  Somerville, Fables, Welshman & Fly. A noisy fly … perch’d upon his worship’s crown;… his skin he tore, And stuff’d himself with human gore. At last, in manners to excel, Untruss’d a point, some authors tell.

1739.  [see POINT sb.¹ B. 5].

1796.  Grose’s Dict. Vulgar T., s.v.

1837.  Barham, Ingol. Leg., I. Grey Dolphin. The Clerk of Chatham was untrussing his points preparatory to seeking his truckle-bed.

  b.  In fig. contexts.

1591.  Lyly, Endym., III. iii. Loue … kept such a tumbling in his bodie, that he was glad to vntrusse the poynts of his hart.

1622.  Dekker, Virg. Martir, II. i. Vntrusse the Codpeece point of our reward.

1891.  Meredith, One of our Conq., xiii. Lawyers can be brought to untruss a point over a cup of claret.

  c.  absol. To unfasten one’s points; to undo one’s dress (spec. one’s lower garments).

1592.  Nashe, P. Penilesse, D iv b. Off with thy gowne and vntrusse, for I meane to lash thee mightily.

1604.  E. Grimstone, Siege Ostend, 67. Making a shewe as if hee went to vntrusse.

1648.  Herrick, Hesper., Upon Pagget. Untrusse, his Master bade him; and that word Made him take up his shirt.

a. 1683.  Oldham, Rem. (1684), 123. I must beg my Reader’s Distance: as if I were going to Untruss.

1705.  Hickeringill, Priest-cr., II. vi. 57. To do which Business, they untrussed, and stript themselves.

1837.  Barham, Ingol. Leg., I. Leech (1905), 84. Now strip thee, Master Marsh, and that quickly: untruss, I say!

  transf.  1649.  W. M., Wandering Jew, 19. His breeches if hee takes wide strides, will untrusse of themselves.

  4.  To undo or unfasten the garments of (a person); to assist in undressing. Also refl.

a. 1625.  Fletcher, Elder Brother, IV. iv. Well done, give me my night-cap. So. Quick, quick, untruss me.

1786.  trans. Beckford’s Vathek, 99. [He] had untrussed himself to eat with greater advantage.

1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, X. ix. ¶ 11. They also undressed Beatrice and Scipio, who … gravely allowed themselves to be untrussed.

1861.  Reade, Cloister & H., lv. Soon he bade me untruss him, for he felt sadly.

  † 5.  fig. a. To expose, disclose, reveal. Obs.

1600.  Rowlands, Let. Humours Blood, iv. 63. Who nominates his Bread and Cheese a name, (That doth vntrusse the nature of the same).

1601.  B. Jonson, Poetaster, V. iii. Our Muse is in mind for th’vntrussing a poet.

1651.  Cleveland, Poems, 20. Yet here’s not all, I cannot half untruss &c. it’s so abominous.

  † b.  To take apart, dissect, disintegrate. Obs.

a. 1618.  J. Davies (Heref.), Witte’s Pilgr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 37/1. Then, to vntrusse him … Whose Muse hath power to vntrusse what not? Was a vaine cast.

1645.  Milton, Colast., 16. But hee goes on to untruss my Arguments, imagining them his Maisters points.

1651.  Cleveland, Poems, 20. Scatter th’ accumulative King; untruss That five-fold fiend.