▪ I. † ˈthrumble, v.1 Obs. rare—1.
In 4–5 also þrompel, thromle.
intr. In quot., To stumble.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. v. 201 He þrompelde [v.rr. stumblide, stumblid] atte þrexwolde and þreuh to þe grounde. 1393 Ibid. C. vii. 408 He thrumbled [v.rr. thromlide, trobled, stomblede, etc.] at þe þreshefold. |
▪ II. thrumble, thrimble, v.2 Chiefly, now only, Sc. and north. dial.
(ˈθrʌmb(ə)l), (ˈθrɪmb(ə)l)
Forms: α. 6– thrumble, (9 thrummle). β. 6 thrimbil, thrymble, thrimle, thrymle, thrimmil, 8 thrimmle, 9 thrimal, thrimmel, 7– thrimble.
[app. a derivative of thrum v.1 Cf. obs. Du. or Flem. ‘drommel, res simul compactæ et densæ; res compactiles’ (Kilian); Du. in een drommel verzamelen, to crowd together.]
1. trans. To press, compress, squeeze; to crowd or heap together.
| α 1589 Bruce Serm. Sacram. iii. I v, Peter..sayis: Thou art thrumbled and thrusted be the multitude, and zit thou speeris quha hes twitched thee. 1600 Holland Livy xxvi. xxxix. 614 So thrumbled [L. conglobati] they were and thrust togither disorderly. 1603 ― Plutarch's Mor. 258 Wicked and leawd folke, who gather, thrumble, and heape up together all sorts of gaine. |
| β 1513 Douglas æneis iii. ix. 67 Twa bodeis of our sort he [Polyphemus] tuke and raif; Intill his hiddius hand thaim thrimbillit and wrang. Ibid. v. xiii. 93 The fers Achil..Chasand affrayit Troianis..The gret rowtis to the wallis thrymbland. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scotl. (S.T.S.) I. 49 Marr lyes on the costsyde neist, thrimmilit..as it war intil a narrow boundes, in ane parte, bot in ane vthir parte..braider. 1836 M. Mackintosh Cottager's Dau. 78 The cruel boot, too, I hae hane Thrice thrimal'd on my leg. |
b. intr. To make one's way by pushing or jostling; to push, jostle.
| 1500–20 [implied in thrumbler below]. a 1598 Rollock Serm. Wks. 1849 I. 493 She thrumbleth and thrusteth in at the gates of heaven. 1638 Adamson Muse's Threnodie i. (1774) 23 With kind embracements did we thurst and thrimble, (For in these days I was exceeding nimble). 1901 W. Morrison Johnston of W. vi. 37 Even with all their help they could scarce ‘thrumble through’. |
2. trans. To press or rub between the finger and thumb; to finger, handle.
| 1632 Sherwood, To thrumble, frotter entre les doigts. 1789 Davidson Seasons 36 Taylors, fain the gear to thrimmle Of coward coofs. 1828 Craven Gloss., Thrimble, to pull or draw out with reluctance, to press... ‘He thrimbl'd out his sixpence wi' a deal to do’. 1906 J. Patterson Wamphray iv. 104 [Others] after ‘thrimmling’ the money in their fingers paid part of what they owed. |
Hence † ˈthrumbler, in 6 thrimlar, Sc. Obs. rare—1, one who thrumbles, or makes his way by pressing; a hustler; ˈthrumbling vbl. n.
| 1500–20 Dunbar Poems lxiii. 47 Thrimlaris and thristaris, as thay war woid, Kokenis, and kennis na man of gude. 1649 Kenmure Sp. in Sel. Biog. (Wodrow Soc.) I. 398 The Kingdom of Heaven is not gotten but with much seeking, thrumbling and thrusting. |
▪ III. † ˈthrumble, v.3 Obs. rare—1.
[app. a derivative of thrum v.3]
intr. = thrum v.3 1 a (in quot. fig.).
| 1685 Crowne Sir C. Nice ii. 11 No, Madam, he's the General Guitarre o' the Town... Vio. Well, I have provided one shall thrumble on him. |