▪ I. graith, n. In later use only Sc.
(greɪθ)
Forms: 4 graiþ, 4–6 grayth(e, 5 greiþe, -yþe, 5–6 grath, (7 greath), 4– graith.
[a. ON. greiðe wk. masc.:—OTeut. type *garaiðon- or *garaiðjon-, cognate with OE. ᵹerǽde str. neut., trappings, equipage:—OTeut. type *garaiðjo{supm}, f. OTeut. *ga- prefix (see y-) +*raið -: see ready a. For the development of sense cf. gear.]
† 1. A state of preparation; readiness; good order. to do in graith: to put in readiness. in graith: in proper order; also, without delay. out of graith: out of order. Obs.
| c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 193 Þei stand alle to gode graith, whan þou ert þam among. Ibid. 307 Whan it were don in grayth þe weddyng of Margarete. a 1375 Joseph Arim. 66 In gret Anguisse ȝe ben þat nis not God greiþe. ? 14.. Mandeville & the Souden 63 in Hazlitt E.P.P. I. 157 Now..lowsit is Sathanesse, That sett this ward thus owt of graythe. c 1450 Myrc 587 Lete name hyt [a child] þare, Ȝef hyt schule in greyþe fare. 1460 Towneley Myst. iii. 482 He may happyn to day come agane or none With grath. |
2. Equipment in general; apparel, attire, dress, articles of dress.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 4796 Giue me mi graith and lat me ga. 15.. Chalmerlan Ayr c. 22 (in Sc. Acts I.), Þai [sowtaris] mak schone butis and vther graitht of the lethir or jt be barkit. 1637–50 J. Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.) 462 What meanes..this short skarlet cloake, and all this gay graith of yours? a 1774 Fergusson Braid Claith Poems (1845) 9 He..Bids bauld to bear the gree awa With a' this graith. 1785 Burns Holy Fair vii, Here, farmers gash, in ridin graith Gaed hoddin by their cotters. |
b. Armour.
| c 1420 Anturs of Arth. 436 We arene one owre gamene, we ne hafe no gude graythe. 1550 Lyndesay Sq. Meldrum 414 Go dres yow in your graith. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth v, I will sleep like a sentinel, with my graith about me. a 1851 Moir Ruins Seton Chapel iii. Poet. Wks. 1852 I. 189 Clad in their robes of state or graith of war. |
c. Harness.
| 1663 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (Bannatyne Club) I. 12 The earle..directed..his led horse with his graith to the Bog. 1799 J. Robertson Agric. Perth 96 The driver..can..save the harness (graith) better than in any other position. 1850 W. Innes in Hamilton Chr. Sabbath (1852) 225 note, Removing the harness from off one of his team, or as a Scotchman would say, taking off the graith. |
3. Apparatus, implements, gear, tackle; a structure, contrivance. See also plough-graith, spinning-graith. (Cf. gear n. 5.) Obs. exc. dial.
| c 1375 Sc. Troy-bk. ii. 2360 Bot now we dress our graith þarfore. a 1400–50 Alexander 5518 Foure Griffons full grym, he in þat graythe festes. 1497 in Ld. Treas. Acc. Scotl. (1877) I. 349 Item, giffin for xiij stane of irne to mak grath to Mons new cradill. 1513 Douglas æneis vi. v. 120 For myself tuik I nane sa gret feir, As of thi schip..Spulȝeit of hir graith. 1786 Burns Scotch Drink x, When Vulcan gies his bellows breath, An' ploughmen gather wi' their graith. 1792 A. Wilson 2 Men sawing Timber, Ye're tempin Providence, I swear, To raise your graith sae madly here. a 1810 Tannahill Poems (1846) 53 Wha may cast by their brewin graith Baith pat and pail. |
† 4. Possessions in general; wealth, money. Obs.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxvi. 85 Greit abbais grayth I nill to gather. 1552 Lyndesay Monarche 4753 Thay haif spred thare Net..on gold, and vther graith. 1603 Philotus xiv, Tak another be the neck, Quhen ȝe the graith haue gottin. 1786 Burns Inventory 3, I send you here a faithfu' list O' gudes and gear, and a' my graith. |
5. Material, stuff (for a particular purpose); now esp. in Sc. soapy water, soap-suds. (Cf. gear n. 10.)
| 1513 Douglas æneis iv. xi. 105 Bid hir..the bestis, and the blude, And clengeing graith, scho knawis, with hir bring. 15.. Chalmerlan Ayr c. 24 (in Sc. Acts I), Þai [tailȝeouris] sow with fals graith. 1572 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1814) III. 77/1 Certane particular persounis hes applyit the stanes, tymber and uther graith pertening thairto, to thair awin particular use. 1583 Satir. Poems Reform. xlv. 339 Suppoise the devill maid that graith, The seiknes sua ouersett my fayth, At that tyme, to asswage my sair, I wald have tane it. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Sheph. i. ii, We're not yet begun To freath the graith. |
b. ‘Things’. (Cf. gear n. 9 c.) Obs.
| 1790 A. Wilson Poems 209 Tho' Beagles Hornings an' sic graith Glowre roun' they ne'er sal dread me. |
▪ II. † graith, a. and adv. Obs.
Forms: 3 greið, 4 grath(e, grayþ, 4–5 graiþ, graith(e, grayth(e, (4 greythe, 5 greithe, grayd).
[a. ON. greið-r = OE. ᵹerǽde ready:—OTeut. *garaiðjo-, f. *ga- prefix (see y-) + raið-: see ready. Cf. G. bereit.]
A. adj.
1. Of persons: Prepared, ready. Of things: Ready, prompt, handy.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 16 Þis word siggeð euer vort ȝe beon al greiðe. a 1300 Cursor M. 5105 (Gött.) Als suith as we mai be graith, we sal do as ȝe haue said. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 597 Bi þat watz Gryngolet grayth, & gurde with a sadel. 1375 Barbour Bruce iv. 759 The euill spirit, That gaf rycht graith ansueir hir to. c 1400 Cato's Morals 191 in Cursor M. App. iv. 1671 Wiþ lernyng & teyching growes graiþ kunnyng. c 1400 Destr. Troy 5719 The secund sort [of ships]..Were graither of gouernaunce. c 1420 Anturs of Arth. vi, Syr Gauan, graythest of alle Was laft with Dame Gaynour. c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 880 Agayne he riseth vp, make redy youre fote shete in þis maner made greithe. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 389 Graith thocht of the grant had the gude King. |
b. With of: Furnished or provided with; possessed of, acquainted with.
| c 1400 Destr. Troy 2536 Þat any gome shuld be graithe of our goddes wille. a 1400–50 Alexander 1865 And he þat graithist is of gudis gird all to poudire. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 6660 And of cristes leuing make þaim graythe. |
2. Of a road: Direct. Of a measure: Exact.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 24143 (Fairf.) Na graiþer gate of gammen is here. 1352 Minot Poems vi. 28 The bare rade, withouten rese, Unto Cane the graythest gate. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. i. 203 Loue is..the graith gate that goth into heuene. 1393 Ibid. C. vii. 230 A galon for a grote and ȝut no grayþ mesure. |
b. Of a sign, truth, etc.: Clear, plain. Also absol. as n., the graith, the truth.
| c 1325 Metr. Hom. 99 The erthe bar als ful graith witnes Igain the Jowes wrangwisnes, For it schewed with graithe takening, That Crist was Godd of all thing. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Placidas 891 He..be þar taknis grath wit had þat þai war his twa sonnis dere. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xi. 242 Ac þe godspel ys a glose þere hudynge þe greythe treuthe. c 1394 P. Pl. Crede 34 Sire..þe graiþ þou me telle. |
c. Of a stroke: Clean, unimpeded.
| c 1470 Henry Wallace v. 76 Wallace mycht nocht a graith straik on him gett. |
B. adv. Readily; clearly, plainly.
| c 1340 Cursor M. 26592 (Fairf.) Þe quilk graiþ þe salle be kende & þou wille here þis boke til ende. c 1394 P. Pl. Crede 232 Canstou me graiþ tellen To any worþely wijȝt þat wissen me couþe Whou y schulde conne my Crede? c 1450 Myrc 346 Teche hem also welle and greythe. |
▪ III. graith, v. Obs. exc. dial.
(greɪθ)
Forms: 3 Orm. greȝȝþen, 3–4 greiþ, greyþ(e, (3 græiðen, greiþi), 3–6 greith(e, 4 graiþ(e, grayþ, 4–5 graithe, graþ, greyth(e, 4–6 grayth(e, 4–7 grath, (4 grait, greþ, greiȝ, 5 greth, 6 greath, 9 grathe), 4– graith; also 4–5 pa. pple. 4 greyt, graid.
[a. ON. greiða, f. greið-r ready: see graith a.]
1. trans. To make ready, prepare, put in order, repair; also, to procure.
| c 1200 Ormin 11087 He wollde shæwenn Whatt gate he wollde greȝȝþenn uss To winnenn eche blisse. c 1205 Lay. 8058 Þe king lette..græiðen heore iweden. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 4920 + 75 (Harl. MS.) Þus wax stryf bytuene hem, hii greyþed her host vaste. a 1300 Cursor M. 3532 His broþer he fand giueand his tent To grayth a riche pulment. 13.. E.E. Allit. P. C. 53 What grayþed me þe grychchyng bot grame more seche? 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 2501 Þi palays þou schalt grayþi. c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. i. pr. iv. 19 Þat .I. had[de] grayþed deeþ to alle goode men. c 1400 Prymer in Maskell Mon. Rit. II. 62 Greithe a sikir weie: so that we seynge god be glad euermore. c 1460 Towneley Myst. xxvii. 286 Lo, here a borde and clothe laide, And breed theron, all redy graide. c 1475 Rauf Coilȝear 143 Of sic taillis they began, Quhill the supper was graid. 1513 Douglas æneis iv. v. 92 Pas, son, in haist, graith thi wingis in effect. 1601 Vestry Bks. (Surtees) 135 For mending the wheeles, and graithing the bells against the cronation day. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 156 Of coukes graithand or makand reddie flesh or fishe. 1851 Greenwell Coal-trade Terms Northumb. & Durh. 29 Grathe, to put in order, to dress; to replace a worn bucket-leather. |
† 2. refl. To prepare oneself, get ready. Often with inf. Rarely intr. for refl. Obs.
| c 1230 Hali Meid. 17 Leccherie ananriht greiðeð hire wið þat to weorren oþi meidenhad. a 1300 Cursor M. 20180 Has he sete me ani dai Þat i wit in me grait mai? c 1400 Destr. Troy 5970 Þai graithet to fle. a 1400–50 Alexander 2873 Þat he suld graythe him to ga as him his god chargis. c 1460 Towneley Myst. x. 76 Grayth the, gabriell, and weynd. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. I. 642 That euerilk Scot..Within ane da sould graith thame for to gone. a 1650 Scotish ffeilde 55 in Furniv. Percy Folio MS. I. 215 Thus he greathes him godly..with a grat host. |
† b. with to, toward, or an adv. implying motion: To prepare to go, shape one's course, betake oneself. Obs.
| c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 1738 He..greiðet him ðeðenward wið sped. a 1300 Cursor M. 17810 Ful smertli þai þam þider graid. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. (1810) 300 Þei..smertly did þam grayth Toward Dun Bretayn. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 1266 Graythe ȝowe to ȝone grene wode. c 1400 Melayne 1595 Oure Oste..graythes þam to Melayne walle. c 1450 St. Cuthbert (Surtees) 1600 To maumetry þai þaim graythe. |
3. To equip, furnish; to array (in clothes, armour); to dress (a person); to fit out (a vessel); to bedeck, ornament. Also with up.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 8955 Poueremen wel ofte in to hire chambre heo drou..& greiþede hom vaire inou. a 1300 Cursor M. 5190 ‘Gif me mi clathes’, þan said he, ‘And hastily þat we graithed be’. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 670 Graiþed y wil he be, And seþþen schewe him as kniȝt. c 1350 Will. Palerne 2731 On [schip] þat was gayly greyt to go to þe seile. c 1394 P. Pl. Crede 195 Þat cloister..wiþ lauoures of latun louelyche y-greithed. ? a 1400 Morte Arth. 589 Iche prynce with his powere appertlyche graythede. c 1420 Anturs of Arth. xl, Syr Gauan the gode was graythet in grene. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xliii. 28 Send in ȝour steid Ȝour ladeis grathit vp gay. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (1858) I. 223 The Romanis war sa weill graithit into geir. 1560 Rolland Crt. Venus ii. 1033 Thair proud palphrais was grathit Incontinent, In glansand geir and best abillement. a 1775 Hobie Noble v. in Child Ballads vii. clxxxix. 2/1 Then Hobie has graithd his body weel. 1803 R. Anderson Cumberld. Ball. 72 Oft graith'd in aw their kurk-gawn gear. 1855 Robinson Whitby Gloss. s.v., ‘Bonnily graithed,’ handsomely dressed. ‘Badly graithed’, ill dressed. ‘Get the table graithed’, set out. |
| refl. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7642 Þat folc of denemarch..Greiþede hom mid gret poer. 13.. Guy Warw. (A.) 1917 Gii him graiþed. c 1386 Chaucer Reeve's T. 389 Thise clerkes..greythen hem, and tooke hir hors anon. c 1470 Henry Wallace i. 277 His modyr graithit hir in pilgrame weid. 1513 Douglas æneis viii. vii. 69 Thou the grathis for to fecht. 1593 R. Barnes Parthenophil, Sonn. xlix. in Arb. Garner V, A Fiend which doth in Graces' garments grath her. |
† b. to graith in the grave: to give burial to.
| 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. II. 112 He..Richt gloriouslie gart graith him in his graif. Ibid. 295. a 1600 Battle of Harlaw in Evergreen (1761) I. 80 He vowed..All the hale Lands of Ross to haif, Or ells be graithed in his Graif. |
† c. fig. To treat, ‘serve’ in some (unwelcome) manner. Obs.
| c 1320 Sir Tristr. 1095 Mo þat hider wil ride, Þus grayþed schul ȝe be. c 1375 Sc. Leg. Saints, Eugenia 374 Se hou⁓gat ȝone monk has graþit me. 1569 N. Hubert Confess. in H. Campbell Love-lett. Mary Q. Scots 207 He should graith me in such a sort as I never was in my life. |
† 4. a. = make in various senses: To make up, compose; to build, set up; to constitute; to represent. Obs.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 550 Of þir things i haf her said was adam cors to-gedir graid. c 1400 Destr. Troy 1664 In the cheffe of þe choise halle, chosen for þe kyng, Was a grounde vp graid with gresis of Marbill. a 1400–50 Alexander 1874 Syn gostid godesses & gods ere graythid neuir to dye. Ibid. 4499 For marcure was manslaȝt, a mammlere of wordis, Ȝe graith him to be gouenoure & god of þe tonge. |
† b. To put on. Obs.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 2933 Gode crounes of gold on here hedes graiþed. a 1400–50 Alexander 790* [Alexander] Grathez on þis gay gere & þen a gilt sadyll. |