Obs. Also 4 teyse, tese, 4–6 tayse, 5 tase, 6 tais. [a. OF. teser, 3rd sing. pres, teise, toise (13th c. in Godef.):—late L. type *tēsāre:—tensāre to stretch, bend (a bow), f. tens-us stretched, bent.] trans. To stretch, to bend (a bow); hence, to fit (an arrow or quarrel in a bow or arbalest) in order to shoot; to aim or direct (a shaft, etc.); to poise (a weapon) in taking aim, Also absol. or intr.
13[?]. Seuyn Sag. (W.), 1978. And in his hond an arblast heldand, And therinne a quarel taisand.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 13699. He teysed his dint, Bokkes to smyte.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, V. 623. He tasit the vyre and leit it fle, And hit the fader in the E.
13[?]. Minor Poems fr. Vernon MS., xliv. 43. So doþ þe ffisschere wiþ his hok: Hou he teseþ on þe Banke A brodly breyd I þe Brok.
1382. Wyclif, Wisd. v. 22. As at the teising the bowe of cloudis bent.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 6938. Paris at him euel taysed.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 5262. Sore in þe bowe of treccherye he teisyth.
c. 1450. Merlin, 590. Kynge Ban … spronge that wey with his swerde vp teysed to hym that hadde his knyght slayn.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, X. viii. 101.
| A bustuus lance with grundyn heyd full kene, | |
| That lang quhile taysit he in proper tene, | |
| Leit gird at Pallas. | |
| Ibid., vi. 106. | |
| A bustuus schaft wyth that he grippit has, | |
| And incontrair hys aduersaris gan tais. |
