unˈtruss, 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 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 tr. 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 n.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 Cod⁓peece 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 tr. 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 Lett. 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. |