Obs. Also 5 teis, teys, tayse, tese. [ME. a. OF. teise (11th c. in Godef., Compl.), mod.F. toise, = It. tēsa:—late L. tensa (sc. brachia) the outstretched arms.]
1. A lineal measure of six feet, a fathom; = TOISE.
13[?]. Sir Beues (A.), 1417. In me prisoun þow schelt abide Vnder þerþe twenti teise [v.rr. paise, pase].
c. 1330. Florice & Bl. (1857), 241. A thousan[d] taisen be his heihe … And an hundre[d] taises he is wid And imaked with mochel prid.
2. A superficial measure, a square toise.
1426–7. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 66. A pavier and his man to paue … v teys ij s xi d. Ibid. (1477–9), 89. For pavyng xj teis of pament for euery teis vij d—vj s vd.
1486. Nottingham Rec., III. 259. To þe pauer for workyng of vj. tayses in þe same gate … he takyng for a tayse vj d: summa iij s.
1492–3. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 190. Item, for pavyng of þe pamentt … for viij tese, pris þe tese, vij d.
