tressure
(ˈtrɛs(j)ʊə(r), ˈtrɛʃə(r))
Forms: α. 4–6 tressour, (5 -owre, tresour, -ewyr, treasour, trissoure, 7 tresseur); β. 5 tressur, trussure, 6 treasure, 5– tressure; γ. 5 trechoure.
[ME. tressour represents OF. tresseor, -eour, also tressoir, tressoer (13th c.):—L. *triciātōrium: see -our; ME. tressure = OF. tressure, -eure (12–13th c.): see -ure; f. F. tresse tress.]
† 1. A ribbon or band worn round the head; a net with which a woman's tresses are confined; a head-dress; also, app., the arrangement of her hair in tresses, her chevelure. Obs.
| a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. xxxvii. 105 The ryche ledies in huere bour, That wereden gold on huere tressour. 13.. Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1739 Þe hazer stones Trased aboute hir tressour, be twenty in clusteres. ? a 1366 [see tress v. 1]. c 1420 Metr. Life St. Kath. (Halliw.) 11 Maxent..bad anon hys turmentours Do hange hur be hur tresourys. c 1425 Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 656/17 Hoc tricatorium, tressure. c 1475 Pict. Voc. ibid. 792/18 Hec tricatura, a tresewyr. 1483 Cath. Angl. 392/2 A Tressowre, trica, tricatura. Ibid. 394/1 A Trissoure of A woman hedde, cincinnus,..trica, tricatura, cincinnaculus. |
2. Her. A diminutive of the orle (orle 1 a), consisting of a narrow band of one-quarter the width of the bordure; usually borne counterfleury, or double and fleury counterfleury, as in the arms of Scotland. Formerly also called trace (trace n.1 10), tract (tract n.3 6 (a)).
| a 1440 Sir Degrev. 635 Hure botenus was toore, Anamelede with azoure; With topyes and trechoure Overtrasyd. Ibid. 1031 He beres in cheef of azour, Engrelyd with a satur, With doubule tressour. 1572 J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 41 b, Without mention made of anye tracte, or Tressour Counter⁓florie. 1592 W. Wyrley Armorie, Ld. Chandos 77 Two Ermin Lions passant crowned gold, With Scottish treasure. 1611 Cotgr., Trescheur, a Tracke, or Tresseur (in Blason). 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, Tressure, a term in Heraldry for an Orle when it is flowered; and if there be two of them, it is called a double Tressure. 1707 E. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. ii. ii. (ed. 22) 90 In the second place, Or, within a Double Tressure, Counter-flower'd Lys, Gules, a Lyon Rampant of the Second, for the Royal Arms of Scotland. 1808 Scott Marm. iv. vii, The double tressure might you see, First by Achaius borne. 1857 J. Paterson Hist. Regality Musselburgh 180 Three crescents within a double tressure. |
3. Numism. An ornamental enclosure, circular or of several arches, containing the type or distinctive device, found on many gold and silver coins of former centuries.
| 1745 M. Folkes Eng. Silver Coins 16 He..omitted the double tressure surrounding the head upon the former groats. 1817 R. Ruding Annals Coinage III. 400 In a double tressure of ten arches with trefoils in the outer angles, the English Lion [etc.]. 1841 Hawkins Silver Coins (1876) 206 Edward III. 1327 to 1377... The Groats were struck at London or York: the type has the bust of the king, front face, within a double tressure of nine arches. 1898 G. B. Rawlings Brit. Coinage 39 Gold florin of Edw. III... Rev. A short ornate beaded cross, enclosed by a tressure of four arches, with a lion in each angle. |
Hence ˈtressured a., provided with (in quot. loosely, borne upon) a tressure.
| 1805 Scott Last Minstr. iv. viii, The tressured fleur-de-luce he [Thirlestane] claims To wreathe his shield. |