Throw v.¹

Pa. t. threw; pa. pple. thrown. Forms: see below. [OE. þráwan (pa. t. þréow, pa. pple. þráwen) str. vb., to turn, twist; corresp. to OLG. *thrâjan, MLG. dreien, LG. draien, dreien, MDu. draeien, Du. draaien, OHG. drâen (from *drájan), MHG. dræjen, dræn, Ger. drehen, weak vb., to twist, twirl, turn; wanting in Gothic, where it would have been a reduplicated vb. *þráian, like wáian; OTeut. root þræ-, pre-Teut. trē-, ter- to turn; in Gr. and L., to bore. In Eng. the orig. sense ‘twist, turn’ remained in the north, and in certain technical uses (see branch I); otherwise it passed in ME. into that of branch II, = OE. weorpan, perh. through an unrecorded sense ‘throw by a turn or twist of the arm, or with a sling.’ Cf. note to CAST v.]

  A.  Illustration of Forms.

  1.  Present stem. α. 1 ðráw-an, 1–4 þraw-, 3–4 þrauw-, 3–7 thrawe, 5– Sc. thraw, (4 þrau-, 5–6 thrau, 9 dial. thraa, thrah, thra, tra(a) (see Eng. Dial. Dict.).

c. 1000.  Þrawan [see B. 1].

a. 1300.  Thrawe [see B. 8].

1340.  Ayenb., 17. God þrauþ doun prede.

c. 1450.  Two Cookery-bks., 101. Thrawe it þorgh a streynour.

c. 1470.  Thraw [see B. 1].

1570.  Levins, Manip., 45/38. To Thrawe, cast, iactare, mittere.

1581.  Thrau [see B. 3].

1720.  Ramsay, Wealth, 141. I’ll thraw my gab and gloom.

1787–1884.  Thraw [see B. 5].

1828.  Craven Gloss., Thraa, to throw; also to turn in a lathe.

  β.  3–5 þrōw-en, 4–7 throwe, 6– throw (6–7 through, 7 throughe, thro’, 9 dial. thro, trow).

c. 1250.  Long Life, 37, in O. E. Misc., 158. Weilawei, deþ þe schal adun þrowe.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XVI. 131. I shal ouertourne þis temple and adown throwe.

1387.  Þrow [see B. 37 a].

a. 1400.  Þrowe [see B. 30].

1552.  Huloet, Throwe, jacio.

1580.  Throw [see B. 15].

1598.  Through [see B. 14].

c. 1614.  Sir W. Mure, Dido & Æneas, II. 219. I, frome above, a tempest downe shall thro’.

c. 1620.  Throughes [see B. 19].

  2.  Past tense. α. 1 ðreow, 1–3 þreow, (3 þrouw), 3–4 þreou, þreu, þrew, -e, 4 þreuh, þruw, -e, threow, thrwe, 4–6 threwe, 5– threw, (5 threew, throwe, 7 thrue).

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 510. He sona ðreow ðwyres.

c. 1205.  Lay., 12321. Þa cheorles up þreowen [c. 1275 þreuwen]. Ibid., 807. Þreou, aþreu [see B. 28].

a. 1300.  K. Horn, 1162. Horn þreu [v.r. þrew] is ryng to grounde.

13[?].  K. Alis., 2427. Ded he threow him to grounde.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 201. He … þreuh [texts B., C. þreu, þrew, threwe, throwe] to þe grounde.

c. 1374.  Thrwe [see B. 43].

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 11. Þe aungel … þrewe [MS. γ, þruw] þat clooþ into þat fuyre.

a. 1400–50.  Threw [see B. 46 a].

c. 1422.  Threew [see B. 48 a].

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr. (Rolls), 260. Thou … threwist doun hors and man.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, V. 1020. Thom Haliday sone be the craig him threw.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 304. The chyldren … toke vp stones & clay, & threwe them.

1618.  Thrue [see B. 44 i].

  β.  (dial.) 7–9 throwed, 9 thrawed.

1666.  in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 315. Þ^t … hee throwed downe into the trench.

1820.  Throwed [see B. 19].

1871.  Thrawed [see B. 2].

  3.  Past pple. α. 1–4 þrawen (3 þrauwen, 4 y(þraw), 5–6 Sc. thrawen (5–7 -in, -ne), 6– Sc. thrawn, 9 dial. thraan. See also THRAWN.

c. 1205.  Þrauwen, 13[?] Þrawen [see B. 1].

c. 1330.  Y-þrawe [see B. 40 c].

1483.  Thrawen [see THROWN].

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, V. v. 66. [The adder] In lowpis thrawin.

1591.  Thrawne [see B. 4].

1645.  Shetland Witch Trial, in Hibbert, Descr. Shetl. Isl. (1822), 597. Scho … cam scouring hame … having her head thrawin backward to her back.

1824.  Scott, St. Ronan’s, ix. He winna bide being thrawn.

  β.  4–5 þrowen, (4 i-þrowen, 4–5 i-þrow(e), 4–7 (9 dial.) throwen, (4 throwyn, -un, 4–5 (y-)throwe, ytrowe, i-drow, 6 throwin), 6–7 throwne, 7– thrown (6 trowne, 9 dial. threuwn.)

c. 1320.  Cast. Love, 739. Wiþ Cumpas I-þrowen and wiþ gin al I-do.

1382.  Wyclif, Acts xxvii. 18. Vs throwun with greet tempest.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 93. Þe body … þat was so i-þrowe wiþ oute þe walles. Ibid., VII. 327. Þe knyȝt þat hadde i-þrow hym downe.

1399.  Throwe [see B. 8].

c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 3867. Riche Troye … Schal be brent and doun ytrowe.

c. 1425.  I-drow [see B. 40 c].

1482.  Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 74. They … were greuysly caste and throwe fro one place to anothir.

1535.  Coverdale, Lam. i. 13. He hath … throwne me wyde open.

1589.  R. Robinson, Gold. Mirr. (Chetham Soc.), Ep. to Rdr. Stones … thou would have throwen.

1647.  Thrown [see B. 42 a].

  γ.  8–9 (now dial.) throwed, 9 north. thrawed.

1727–41.  [see THROWED].

1878.  Throwed [see B. 20].

1896.  Thrawed [see B. 1].

  B.  Signification.

  I.  To twist, to turn, and derived uses.

  * Sc. in form thraw; * * technical, in form throw.

  *1.  trans. To twist, to wring; to turn to one side (also fig.); to twist about, twine, wreathe; to turn (a key or the like); in OE. to torture on the rack. Now Sc. and north. dial.

  To thraw one’s face, gab, mouth (Sc.), to pull a wry face, to contort the face, e.g., in pain, anger, or passion.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 308. [He het] hine hon on heardre hengene … and mid hengene ðrawan to langere hwile. Ibid. (c. 1000), Saints’ Lives, viii. 113. Þa wearð se arleasa ʓehathyrt, and het hi on hencgene a-streccan and ðrawan swa swa wiððan wælhreowlice.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gram., xxvi. (Z.), 155. Contorqueo, ic samod þrawe.

c. 1205.  Lay., 27359. Heȝe hare-marken … sixti þusende þrauwen mid winde.

13[?].  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 194. Þe tayl … þrawen wyth a þwong a þwarle knot alofte.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, VII. 410. Than xx^ty men he gert fast wetheis thraw,… Than festnyt thai with wetheis duris fast.

1536.  Bellenden, Cosmogr., xiv. Apperit than ane multitude of wormis thrawing thaim self out of sindry hollis and boris of this tre.

1583.  Calr. Scott. Pap., VI. 356. [They] forcit thame … be towis thrawin about their heidis [to reveal the money].

1689.  Burnet, Tracts, I. 82. He threw it which way he pleased.

1728.  Ramsay, Fable, Fox & Rat, 26. He threw his gab, and girn’d.

? 17[?].  Young Redin, xiv., in Child, Ballads, II. 146. Ye’ll thraw my head aff my hause-bane, And throw me in the sea.

1816.  Scott, Bl. Dwarf, ix. To thraw the keys, or draw the bolts, or open the grate.

1823.  Hogg, Sheph. Cal., i. (1829), I. 4. Ye’re something ill for thrawing your mou’ at Providence now and then.

18[?].  Sc. Proverb. Thraw the widdie [= withy] while it’s green Between three and thirteen.

1881.  W. Walker, in Mod. Scot. Poets, III. 104. Hoo his een are starin: hoo he thraws his mouth.

1894.  Crockett, Raiders, 144. I’ll thraw your neck for that, Jerry. Ibid. (1896), Grey Man, i. 7. His countenance thrawed and drawn, his shrunk shanks twisted.

  2.  intr. To turn, twist, curl, twine, writhe; of a moored boat: to swing, sway. Chiefly Sc.

  Quots. 1513, a 1650, appear to have the spec. meaning ‘to writhe in death-throes’; they are closely connected with thraw, northern form of THROE sb., and may perhaps be viewed as showing a Sc. form of THROE v. 2.

c. 1000.  Gloss., in Haupt’s Zeitschr., IX. 435. Crispantibus, þrawendum vel cyrpisiendum, marg. cyrpsum loccum.

c. 1000.  Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 527/2. Rotante, þrawende.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom., II. 510. Se liʓ … sona ðreow ðwyres wið þæs windes.

c. 1450.  Holland, Howlat, 823. Twa … fulis … Callit him thryss thevisnek, to thrawe in a widdy.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XII. vi. 48. Down strowand eik vnder fut in the plane Diuers otheris ȝit thrawand and half slane.

a. 1650.  Sir Eger & Sir Gryme, 1611, in Laing, Early Metr. T. (1826), 55. Gray-Steel unto his death thus thrawes; He walters, and the grass updrawes.

a. 1699.  Bonnell, in W. Hamilton, Life, II. (1703), 85. We stomach … Injuries that we think are done to us; we fling and throw under them.

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xxiii. If the dead corpse binna straughted, it will girn and thraw.

1871.  Rossetti, Stratton Water, xxxvii. The empty boat thrawed i’ the wind, Against the postern tied.

1881.  Palgrave, Visions Eng., 248. The strong branches cry And start and thraw in that fierce furnace-flame.

  3.  trans. (fig.) To wrest, warp, or pervert the meaning or intention of; to do violence to, strain; also, to distort the pronunciation of. Sc.

1558.  Kennedy, Compend. Tract., 6. Wrestand and thrawing the Scripture, contrare the godlie menynge of the samyn.

1581.  Hamilton, in Cath. Tractates (S.T.S.), 77. The scripture, quhilk thaj thrau efter thair sensuall iugement.

1873.  Murdoch, Doric Lyre, 86 (E.D.D.). What though he thraw’d the law a wee?

1877.  G. Macdonald, Mrq. Lossie, xxviii. They dinna thraw the words there jist the same gait they du at Portlossie.

  b.  To change detrimentally the color of, to discolor or cause to fade: cf. CAST v. 24.

Mod. Sc. dial.  The sun has quite thrown my silk gown.

  † 4.  To obtain or extract by twisting or wringing; to wrench; chiefly fig. to extort. Sc. Obs.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XII. vi. 120. Out of hys [an enemy’s] rycht hand Richt austernly has he thrawin the brand.

1591.  R. Bruce, Serm., R j b. When hee hath thrawne all these good turnes out of them.

a. 1593.  Rollock, Wks. (1844), II. vi. 73. He throws another accusation out of the Jews.

  † b.  To force by torture or violence; to constrain. Sc. Obs.

1599.  James I., Βασιλικον Δωρον (1682), 96. Beware of thrawing or constraining them thereto.

  5.  To cross, thwart, frustrate. Chiefly Sc.

1787.  Burns, When Guilford good, etc., vi. Saint Stephen’s boys, wi’ jarring noise, They did his measures thraw.

1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, xxvi. He’s easy wi’ a’ body that will be easy wi’ him; but if ye thraw him ye had better thraw the deevil.

1884.  Lays & Leg. N. Irel., 11. If his Riv’rance released him he’d thraw him no more.

  b.  intr. To go counter, to act in opposition; to be at variance or awkward; to exhibit dislike or aversion; to quarrel or contend with. Sc.

a. 1578.  Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. XXI. iv. (1728), 125. Bishop Forman had … caused the duke to thraw [so 3 MSS.; 2 MSS. stur(e] with him till he gave certain Benefices to the Duke to give unto his friends.

1807.  Hogg, Laird of Lairistan, xxiii. Jealous of the Stuart race, The English lords begin to thraw.

1824.  Mactaggart, Gallovid. Encycl. (1876), 214. At nature ay to girn and thraw … Is sure a sin infernal.

1888.  D. Grant, Scotch Stories, 10. Thraw wi’ him, an’ he was just as stubborn an’ rampageous as a wild ox.

  ** 6.  trans. To form or fashion by means of a rotary or twisting motion. a. To turn (wood, etc.) in a lathe; to shape (round pottery) on a potter’s lathe or ‘throwing-wheel.’ Now techn. or dial.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 493/1. Throwyn, or turne vessel of a tre, torno.

1570.  Levins, Manip., 45/39. To Thraw or turne, tornare.

1604.  Shuttleworths’ Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 159. To the disshe-thrower, ix days throwing disshes and bassenes … iij^s.

1674.  Ray, N. C. Words, To Throw, to Turn as Turners doe.

1752.  Gentl. Mag., Aug., 348. Rooms for throwing, turning, and stove drying the ware.

1755.  Johnson, s.v., Balls thrown in a lathe.

1839.  Ure, Dict. Arts, etc., 1011. Throwing is performed upon a tool called the potter’s lathe…. The mass of dough to be thrown is weighed out or gauged by an experienced hand.

1900.  Daily News, 25 May, 6/2. Further on a potter is ‘throwing’ pots on his wheel.

  b.  Silk Manuf. To prepare and twist (raw silk) into thread; spec. to form into thread by twisting two or more threads or ‘singles’ in the direction opposite to that of their component filaments.

1455.  [implied in THROWSTER 1].

1463–4.  [implied in THROWN 2]

1483.  Act 1 Rich. III., c. 10 § 1. Calle sylk or coleyn silk throwen or wrought.

1670.  Blount, Law-Dict., Silk-thrower, or Throwster.… a Trade, or Mystery, that winds, twists, and spins, or throws silk, thereby fitting it for use.

1796.  Trans. Soc. Arts, XIV. 328. I became convinced that Bengal Silk could be thrown in this country.

1839.  Ure, Dict. Arts, etc., 1105. The raw silk … requires to be regularly wound upon bobbins, doubled, twisted, and reeled in our silk-mills. These processes are called throwing silk, and their proprietors are called silk throwsters.

1877.  Knight, Dict. Mech., s.v. Thrown Singles, Silk filaments are twisted to form singles. Several of these are combined and twisted together (doubling) forming dumb singles. A number of the latter are associated and twisted together (throwing), forming thrown singles.

1897.  Daily News, 9 Dec., 10/5. Silk is still ‘thrown’ at Derby.

  c.  To make by twisting: cf. THROW-CROOK.

1896.  P. A. Graham, Red Scaur, v. 78. We began to throw straw ropes for them.

  † 7.  To form, fashion, dispose, arrange; = CAST v. 45. Obs. rare.

c. 1320.  Cast. Love, 739. A Trone … Of whit Iuori … Wiþ Cumpas I-þrowen and wiþ gin al I-do. Ibid., 807. Þe þreo baylys … Þat wiþ þe cornels byth so feyre I-set, And throwen [v.r. I-cast] wiþ cumpas and walled abowte.

  II.  To project or propel through the air, and connected uses; to cast, fling, hurl, drive, shoot (away from the propelling agent).

  8.  trans. To project (anything) with a force of the nature of a jerk, from the hand or arm, so that it passes through the air or free space; to cast, hurl, fling; spec. to cast by a sudden jerk or straightening of the arm, esp. at the level of or over the shoulder (as distinguished from bowl, pitch, toss). Cf. CAST v. I.

  Now the main sense of the word (= Fr. jeter, Ger. werfen, L. jacĕre, jactāre), which is contained or involved in all the later senses and applications; throw being the primary, most general, and most proper word for this action.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter cxxxix. [cxl.] 11. In fire sal tou thrawe þam swa.

a. 1300.  K. Horn, 1076. Horn þreu him ouer þe brigge.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 9. Ignacius … was i-brouȝt to Rome, and i-þrowe to wylde bestes.

1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, IV. 82. Ne had þei striked a strake … or þe blast come, Þey had be throwe ouere þe borde backewarde ichonne.

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 493/1. Throwyn, or castyn, jacto.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, XI. vi. 142. Ane lance towartis his aduersar thrawis he.

1530.  Palsgr., 756/1. I threwe a potte at his head.

1567.  Satir. Poems Reform., ii. 174. Jesabell, Quhome throw ane windo suirlie men did thraw.

1651.  Hobbes, Leviath., II. xxi. 108. When a man throweth his goods into the Sea for feare the ship should sink.

1734.  De Foe, Mem. Cavalier, I. 76. I’d throw it [money] all into the Elbe.

1818.  Scott, Br. Lamm., xxiv. He threw the fellow a dollar. Ibid., xxxiii. Throwing Craigengelt from him with such violence that he rolled down the steps.

1863.  Geo. Eliot, Romola, xx. There were practical jokes of all sorts, from throwing comfits to throwing stones.

1869.  Prov. [see GLASS-HOUSE].

1880.  Derby Mercury, 18 Feb., 5/4. Witness threw him a life-line [in the stream] … but he did not get to it. Deceased, who was very drunk that night, used often to boast of his swimming.

Mod.  Throw me a rope.

  b.  absol. To hurl a missile, a weapon, etc.

13[?].  Sir Beues (A.), 3106. Þow miȝt nouȝt sen ariȝt to þrowe.

1869.  Temple Bar Mag., VI. 283. Parr threw 109 yards, the soldier only three yards less.

1889.  Doyle, M. Clarke, 34. The turnip on a stick at which we used to throw at the fairs.

  † c.  trans. To assail with missiles, to pelt. Obs. rare^–1.

13[?].  K. Alis., 4702 (Bodl. MS.). Men hem þrew wiþ drytt & dunge [v.r. to heom threowe drit and donge].

  9.  refl. To fling or cast oneself; to precipitate oneself; † of a river, to precipitate itself, fall into another river, a lake, etc. (obs.) Also fig.

13[?].  Sir Beues (A.), 2179. Beues in to þe sadel him þrew.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 411. Alisaundre … þrewe hym self into a water þat renneþ þere.

1576.  Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 310. Another throweth himselfe headlong from the topp of an house, and breaketh his necke.

c. 1630.  Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 220 (1810), 227. The river Thrushell … throws itself into Lyd.

1714.  Addison, Spect., No. 556, ¶ 6. I … threw myself into an Assembly of Ladies.

1794.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Myst. Udolpho, xl. ‘This is too—too much!’ exclaimed Valancourt,… throwing himself into a chair.

1795.  Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 324. If you throw yourself into one of the early coaches, you would be here very quickly.

1843.  Lever, J. Hinton, xi. He threw himself upon his horse.

  b.  To throw oneself upon: to attack with violence or vigor; to fall upon. (Cf. 28.)

1823.  Scott, Quentin D., iv. He threw himself upon the ragout, and the plate was presently vacant.

1860.  [Emily Jolly], Bond & Free, III. ix. 131. He threw himself into his work even more completely than usual, and even more completely than usual he fettered the attention of his rough and grimy scholars.

  10.  trans. To cast (dice) from the dice-box; to make (a cast) at dice; also absol. or intr. to cast or throw dice, to play at dice. Also fig.

  † To throw at all: to stake or venture all one has (obs.).

1587.  Greene, Penelopes Web, Wks. (Grosart), V. 181. Least … we set our rest on the hazard and so desperately throw at all.

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, II. iii. 84. I had rather be in this choise, then throw Ames-ace for my life. Ibid. (1605), Lear, I. iv. 136. Set lesse then thou throwest.

a. 1667.  Jer. Taylor, Wks. (1835), I. 533 (Cent.). That great day of expense, in which a man is to throw his last cast for an eternity of joys and sorrows.

1698.  Act 10 Will. III., c. 23 § 3. Every Person or Persons that … shall play throw or draw at any such Lottery … shall forfeite for every such Offence the Sum of Twenty Pounds.

1720.  Lond. Gaz., No. 5872/6. The Winning Horse to be thrown for at 40 Guineas by the Contributors.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxii. George had thrown the great cast.

1892.  Monthly Packet, May, 558. If I should throw doublets, we will share the stakes.

  b.  To play (a card) out of one’s hand; esp. to discard.

1748.  [see throw away, 37 c].

1879.  ‘Cavendish,’ Card Ess., etc., 109. Throwing the ace of hearts to the last spade.

1891.  Harper’s Mag., March, 603/1. He can therefore safely throw his queen on the ace.

1891.  Field, 28 Nov., 842/3. We should throw four diamonds, and the seven of spades, but do not say it is the proper ‘discard.’

  c.  To cast (a vote): = CAST v. 1 f.

1844.  W. Phillips, in Life of Garrison (1889), III. iv. 99. No one can take office, or throw a vote for another to hold office.

1888.  Bryce, Amer. Commw., I. v. 55, note. 37 additional presidential votes … all thrown for the Democratic candidate.

1890.  Spectator, 8 March. Their usual leaders do not know their thoughts, and until their votes are thrown, can form only guesses as to the way their sympathies are tending.

  11.  To hurl, project, shoot, as a missile engine does; also of a person using such an engine. Often absol. (esp. in reference to distance or direction).

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. XXI. 295. Sette mahon at þe mangonel and mulle stones þroweþ.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 2218. Thre thousand of thra men to thraw with engynes.

1726.  Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 69/1. This will baulk the aim of the military engines, and make them throw over the wall.

1880.  Daily Tel., 23 Dec. Although throwing only a 7lb. projectile, they [guns] are [etc.].

1890.  Clark Russell, Ocean Trag., II. xviii. 106. That gun ’ll throw about three quarters of a mile.

1900.  Pollok & Thom, Sports Burma, vi. 212. I tried the weapon, and found that both barrels threw considerably to the left.

  12.  To put forth with a throwing action (a fishing net, line, or bait); to cast, make a cast with. Also absol.

1841.  Lane, Arab. Nts., I. ii. 101. And threw his net.

1889.  Crommelin & Brown, Violet Vyvian, II. ix. 154. Violet … learnt to throw a fly.

1891.  Sat. Rev., 20 June, 734/1. Good anglers … can throw to a hairbreadth and not miss.

  13.  Of the sea or wind: † a. To toss or drive violently about; also, to drive, send, impel (obs. rare); b. esp. to drive or cast with violence (on rocks or a coast); to cast away, wreck.

1382.  Wyclif, Matt. xiv. 24. Sothely the boot in the mydil see was throwen [L. iactabatur] with wawis.

1423.  James I., Kingis Q., xvii. My feble bote full fast to stere and rowe,… the wynter nyght I wake, To wayte the wynd that furthward suld me throwe.

1659.  D. Pell, Impr. Sea, Proœm. d ij b. They are thrown irrecoverably upon Rocks and Sands.

1879.  Minto, Defoe, ix. 142. [He] might have been thrown on a desert island.

1886.  Burton, Arab. Nts. (abr. ed.), I. 126. A billow … threw me with a long cast on dry land.

  14.  To project (a ray, beam, light) on, upon, over, etc.; to emit (light); to project, cast (a shadow).

1598.  B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., III. i. To through the least beame of regard upon such a [fellow].

1600.  Fairfax, Tasso, XVIII. xv. The morning’s lusty queen, Begilding, with the radiant beams she threw, His helm.

1797.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, vii. A nun, kneeling … beneath a lamp which threw its rays aslant her head.

1876.  Tait, Rec. Adv. Phys. Sc., ix. (ed. 2), 213. Throwing the spectrum of light … on the screen.

1893.  Harper’s Mag., Jan., 280/2. The great mound … threw a long shadow westward.

  b.  In fig. phrases, esp. to throw (a) light on, to contribute to the elucidation of, to make clearer or plainer; to throw a luster over, to illuminate or render lustrous; also to throw a shadow, cloud, gloom, over: see the sbs.

1598.  [see prec. sense].

1769.  [see LUSTER sb.¹ 4].

1774.  Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 78. The testimony of a single witness … will throw more light on the subject than the reasonings of an hundred philosophers.

1791.  Mrs. Radcliffe, Rom. Forest, iv. They [anecdotes] threw a shadow over the brightness of that excellence, which La Motte now celebrated.

1825.  Moore, Sheridan, I. 510. It was in the power of the orator … to throw a lustre over the historian.

1825.  T. Hook, Sayings, Ser. II. Passion & Princ., ix. III. 153. Showers of rain … threw a gloom over the gaieties.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. p. xviii. Ancient and modern philosophy throw a light upon one another.

1890.  Sir A. Kekewich, in Law Times Rep., LXIII. 684/1. The defendants’ evidence does not throw much light on the question.

  15.  To direct (words, an utterance) towards, etc., esp. in hostility or contempt; to hurl, cast; to cause (sound, or fig. a gesture) to pass or travel; to waft (a kiss), to cast (a nod).

1580.  Sidney, Ps. XXXI. ix. Those lips … Which … throw their words against the most vpright.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., I. iii. 3. Not a word? Ros. Not one to throw at a dog.

1725.  Watts, Logic (1729), III. ii. § 8. 307–8. Now there is no Need to throw Words of Contempt on such a Practice.

1822.  Scott, Nigel, i. The poor youth had not a word to throw at a dog. Ibid. (1831), Cast. Dang., ii. ‘Never fear me, Augustine,’ said the old man,… throwing a kiss towards the boy.

1844.  Mrs. Browning, Drama of Exile, Poems 1850, I. 75. The blessed nightingale which threw Its melancholy music after us.

1892.  Field, 19 Nov., 771/2. The hideous yells that were thrown at him.

  b.  To throw the tongue: see TONGUE.

  16.  To throw one’s eye or eyes, a glance, a look: to turn or direct one’s gaze, to look; esp. to look hastily, rapidly, or cursorily; to glance: = CAST v. 7.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 16. Still as she fledd her eye she backward threw.

1779.  Mirror, No. 17, ¶ 1. To throw your eye sometimes upon the inferior ranks of life.

1800.  Char., in Asiat. Ann. Reg., 45/1. The mother lifting up her eyes,… instantly threw them to the ground.

1885.  Fitzpatrick, T. N. Burke, II. 35. Happening to throw his eye over the address delivered … at Boston.

1892.  Longm. Mag., Jan., 276. Mrs. Duffield … threw inquiring glances across the table.

  † 17.  To give, deliver (blows); also absol. or intr. to aim blows, strike. (Cf. to ‘lay about him.’) Obs. rare.

c. 1470.  Golagros & Gaw., 709. Thai threw in that thrang Stalwart strakis and strang.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. ix. 16. Then drew he his bright sword, and gan about him throw.

  † b.  trans. ? To deliver a blow at; to strike.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, IV. 252. That staff he had, hewy and forgyt new, With it Wallace wpon the hede him threw, Quhill bayn and brayn all in to sondyr ȝeid.

  18.  To perform, execute (a somersault or a leap, in which the body is thrown with force); also to throw a fit, to have a fit (U.S. slang).

1826.  Examiner, 585/1. Throw a somerset, leap a stick, tumble through a hoop.

1889.  Baden-Powell, Pigsticking, viii. 39. Mr. Kingscote threw about three back somersaults. Ibid., xiii. 99. Don’t be surprised to find your horse unexpectedly ‘throwing leps.’

1897.  Flandrau, Harvard Episodes, 132. I don’t suppose the creature thought I was throwing a fit like that just for exercise.

  III.  Pregnant uses.

  * = throw down; ** = throw off; *** = throw out or up.

  * 19.  trans. To cause to fall to the ground; to cast down, knock down, prostrate, lay low; spec. in Wrestling, to bring (one’s opponent) to the ground, also with double object, to throw one a fall. Cf. throw down, 40.

13[?].  K. Alis., 2219 (Bodl. MS.). A riche kyng … smoot tholomewe Þat he of his hors hym þrewe. Tholomeu on fote lep, And who hym þrewe he name gode kepe.

1530.  Palsgr., 756/1. Wrestell nat with me, for I wyll throwe the on thy backe.

c. 1620.  T. Robinson, Mary Magd., 819. A newe delusion throughes Her pride as lowe as Phlegetonicke maine.

1820.  Sporting Mag., VI. 177. Tom … throwed his opponent in masterly style.

1824.  in Examiner, 759/1. Cannon, grappling his man, threw him a tremendous fall.

1902.  Brit. Med. Jrnl., No. 2154. 880. Three years ago [he] was thrown at football and hurt his knee.

  b.  fig. or in fig. context: To defeat in a contest; also, to be the cause of defeat to; to give or gain the verdict against in an action at law (U.S.): cf. CAST v. 14.

1850.  Tennyson, In Mem., cix. 6. Seraphic intellect and force To seize and throw the doubts of man.

1887.  in Lisbon (Dakota) Star, 20 May, 2/5, ‘I am compelled to throw you in the cost,’ said a justice of the peace.

1888.  Poultry, Pigeons, etc., 27 July, 377 (Prize list). Third … a good black Red, but a little out of feather, which, no doubt, threw her.

1909.  W. R. Inge, Faith, xi. (1910), 193. The sceptic cannot throw his opponent if his own feet are in the air.

  20.  To cause forcibly (a tree or structure) to fall; to bring, knock, break, or cut down; to fell. In Coal-mining: see quot. 1881.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 139. Some of them, they threwe to the grounde and consumed with fire.

1878.  Jefferies, Gamekeeper at H., i. 14. In the spring when the oak timber is throwed [dial. speech]. Ibid., iii. 52. The entire wood is thrown and renovated.

1881.  Raymond, Mining Gloss., Throwing,… the operation of breaking out the spurns, so as to leave the hanging coal unsupported, except by its own cohesion.

1908.  Daily News, 25 Jan., 9. Some 40 telephone wires had to be temporarily cut, in order to enable the [chimney] shaft to be ‘thrown.’

  b.  spec. To throw an ant-hill: see quot. and cf. GELD v.¹ 3 d. dial.

1848.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., IX. I. 17. Ant-hills … are quickly checked by throwing, or gelding. Ibid., 25 [see GELD v.¹ 3 d].

  ** 21.  Of a horse, etc.: To cause (the rider) to fall off; to unseat, shake off; = throw off, 42 a; also in passive to be thrown (from a horse or vehicle).

1531.  Elyot, Gov., II. xiii. The courser … will stere and plonge and endeuour hym selfe to throwe hym.

1623.  Massinger, Bondman, II. ii. This morning, As I rode to take the air, the untutored jade Threw me, and kicked me.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., II. xii. 265. One of their horses fell down and threw his rider.

1890.  J. Payn, Burnt Million, II. xxx. 248. He was thrown from his horse in the steeplechase.

1893.  Field, 4 March, 335/3. Had the [bicycle-]rider been thrown or killed.

  22.  Of a snake, a bird, etc.: To cast (the skin); to moult (feathers). Of a horse: to cast or lose (a shoe).

1590.  Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 255. There the snake throwes her enammel’d skinne.

1765.  Treat. Dom. Pigeons, 41. If your Pigeons … stop in their molting, so that they don’t throw their feathers well.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., ix. To shoe my horse,… you may see that he has thrown a forefoot shoe.

1841.  J. T. Hewlett, Parish Clerk, I. 168. The post-boy … contrived to ‘throw a shoe’ [i.e., off his horse].

  23.  Of domestic animals: To produce as offspring; to give birth to, to drop. Also absol., to throw true, to produce offspring true to the parent type. (Cf. also throw back, 38 d.)

1845.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., V. II. 546. You cannot possibly tell what sort of foal your mare may throw. Ibid. (1858), XIX. I. 28. In a breeding sow for a dairy farm … we should have a disposition to throw large farrows and a good supply of milk.

1892.  Pall Mall G., 16 June, 2/3. Each of these [three varieties of the rabbit] has marked and unmistakable characteristics, and each of them, to use the naturalist’s phrase, ‘throws true.’

1903.  Times, 9 Jan., 5/2. In 1884 she threw a calf to a bison bull.

  b.  gen. To produce: see quots.

1891.  Morning Post, 25 Dec., 6/5. Indian or Ceylon teas … throw a stronger liquor than the same amount of China tea would in double or treble the time.

1892.  Garden, 27 Aug., 194. Sown early and transplanted a good distance apart, the plants will throw immense heads of flowers.

  *** 24.  Of a fountain or pump: To eject or project (water); to discharge; also absol. Of a locomotive steam-engine: to throw fire, to discharge burning fuel from the funnel. Cf. throw out, up, senses 44, 48.

1644.  Evelyn, Diary, 27 Feb. The fountain of Laocoon is in a large square pool, throwing the water neere 40 feet high.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 374 (orig. 241). The Waters boil, and belching from below, Black Sands, as from a forceful Engine throw.

1806.  O. Gregory, Mech. (1807), II. 175. A machine by which water is thrown upon fires.

1864.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XXV. II. 293. The pumps … throw daily 60,000 to 70,000 gallons.

1893.  Field, 4 March, 332/3. Bad stoking may be … the cause of a locomotive ‘throwing fire.’

  25.  A horse is said to throw his feet, when he lifts them well in moving, esp. over rough ground. Also transf. (slang): see quot. 1900.

1827.  Scott, Chron. Canongate, ii. A famous piece of rough upland pasture, for rearing young colts, and teaching them to throw their feet.

1900.  J. Flynt, Tramping w. Tramps, iv. 397. Throw the Feet, to beg, ‘hustle,’ or do anything that involves much action.

  26.  To form by throwing up with a spade or shovel; to cast up, raise (a mound, etc.). = throw up, 48 d. rare.

1843.  Marryat, M. Violet, xlii. Nearly all the hills in this part of New York were thrown by human hands.

  27.  To vomit; cf. throw up, 48 b. Sc. and dial.

18[?].  Wilson, Tyneside Songs (1890), 374. He retched an’ he threw i’ the hight oo his anguish.

Mod. Sc.  ‘I no sooner get up but I begin to throw.’

  IV.  Intransitive senses related to II and III.

  28.  intr. To cast or fling oneself impetuously; to spring, start, leap, rush. Obs. exc. as in quots. 1812, 1891, and in sense 48 j.

  (Allied in sense to 9, but found earlier, and app. not derived from it.)

c. 1205.  Lay., 807. Or his horse he þreou [c. 1275 aþreu]. Ibid., 12321. Þa cheorles up þreowen [c. 1275 vp þreuwen].

1508.  [see throw out, 44 o].

1535.  Stewart, Cron. Scot. (Rolls), II. 192. Out of his wame ane meruelus multitude Of foule serpentis … thair threw.

1812.  Sporting Mag., XXXIX. 186. Which she [the hare] was prevented doing by all the dogs throwing at her at the same time.

1891.  Atkinson, Moorland Par., 83. The black dog, according to the expression used, ‘threw at her.’

  † 29.  intr. To fall with violence or force. Obs.

  (Looks like an intrans. or passive of sense 19, but occurs earlier.)

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 6831. Þe king þi an laddre to þe ssip clam an hey & þreu vp to doun in þe se.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 201. He þrompelde atte þrexwolde and þreuh [v.rr. fel, stey] to þe grounde.

  V.  Figurative and transferred senses.

  30.  trans. To cause to pass, go, or come into some place or position by some action likened to throwing; to put or place with haste, suddenness, or force; e.g., to put (a garment) on or off hurriedly, hastily, or carelessly.

  (Many of these uses come very near the literal sense, and form a transition to the more fig. senses following.)

c. 1384.  Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 235. And euery man Of hem … Had on him throwen a vesture.

a. 1400.  Sir Beues (E.) 3777 + 3. Euery knyȝt and hys squyer Fayre queyntyse on hem ganne þrowe For no man scholde hem knowe.

1655.  Stanley, Hist. Philos., III. (1701), 101/1. He is now coming to Athens, being thrown out of his House by the People.

1711.  Spect., No. 116, ¶ 6. The Hare immediately threw them [the hounds] above a Mile behind her.

1722.  Steele, in Addison’s Drummer, Ded. He only spoke it, and I took all the Pains of throwing it upon Paper.

1786.  J. Hunter, Treat. Venereal Dis., VI. iii. § 2 (1810), 509. The quantity of mercury, to be thrown into the constitution … must be proportioned to the violence of the disease.

1799.  Med. Jrnl., I. 424. No doubt but the father would have suffered equally with the son, had it [poison] not so soon been thrown off the stomach.

1806.  Coleridge, Three Graves, xxxiii. Her arms Round Ellen’s neck she threw.

1816.  J. Dallaway, Stat. & Sculp., 350. The paludamentum was a vestment … thrown over the cuirass and fastened over the shoulder with a golden clasp.

1843.  R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., vii. 84, note. I threw some common injection into the tibial arteries.

1859.  Musketry Instr., 39. Throw the rifle smartly to the front of the right shoulder.

1883.  Will Carleton, in Iowa County Democrat, 23 Nov., 4/1.

1891.  A. Gissing, Moorland Idyll, II. iv. 102. To throw a hand to a drowning man.

  b.  In figurative uses of various phrases, as to throw the reins on, to throw a veil over, etc.; to throw good money after bad, to incur a further loss in trying to make good a previous one; to throw oneself or be thrown at (a man), of a woman, to put herself or be put designedly in the way of, so as to invite the attention of; to throw oneself into the arms of, to become the wife or mistress of.

c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, I. 214. Throw Reins on thy passions, and serve us.

1825.  Scott, Talism., iv. That modest pride which throws fetters even on love itself. Ibid. (1831), Ct. Robt., xxxi. To be, without her own consent, thrown, as it were, at the head now of one suitor, now of another.

1833.  J. H. Newman, Arians, II. i. (1876), 147. However plausible may be the veil thus thrown over heterogeneous doctrines, the flimsy artifice is discomposed so soon as [etc.].

1871.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., IV. xviii. 231. Their wives were throwing themselves into the arms or other men.

a. 1891.  Besant, in J. M. Dixon, Idiom. Eng. Phr., 336. As for the girls, Claire, they just throw themselves at a man.

  c.  With immaterial object (e.g., blame, influence, power, obstacles, etc.)

c. 1620.  T. Robinson, Mary Magd., 301. So the bewitchinge oracle y^t throughes, About the maidens fancy, strange Deludinge showes.

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 325. Thro’ Heav’n, and Earth, and Ocean’s Depth he throws His Influence round.

1718.  Pope, Iliad, XIII. 291. On Greece no blame be thrown.

1753.  Miss Collier, Art Torment., II. ii. (1811), 129. Throw a languidness into your countenance;… appear so perfectly dejected and low-spirited, that [etc.].

1856.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XVII. II. 367. The carriage of materials is usually thrown upon the tenant.

1869.  W. Longman, Hist. Edw. III., I. viii. 138. Philip threw every obstacle in the way of reconciliation.

1871.  Earle, Philol. Eng. T., 133. They throw the accent often on the close of a word.

1890.  T. F. Tout, Hist. Eng. from 1689, 36. Skill in such arts gradually threw real power into the hands of a ring.

  d.  To put into as an addition; to add, incorporate; = throw in, 41 b.

1676.  Lister, in Ray’s Corr. (1848), 125. I would either put them [observations] out separately,… or throw them into Mr. Willughby’s store.

1862.  Temple Bar Mag., VI. 503. The saddle being thrown into the bargain.

a. 1904.  A. Adams, Log Cowboy, vii. 85. Flood’s attention once drawn to the brand, he ordered them thrown into our herd.

  31.  spec. a. A person is said to be thrown into prison, etc., when roughly or forcibly imprisoned.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 175. The Turke throweth his Ambassadoure in pryson.

1776.  Trial of Nundocomar, 73/1. When Maha Rajah was first thrown into confinement.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., v. I. 630. This impostor was thrown into prison for his fraud.

1892.  Gardiner, Stud. Hist. Eng., 285. Richard was carried to London and thrown into the Tower.

  b.  Troops, succor, supplies, or the like are said to be thrown into a besieged place, or a strategic position. Also refl.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., II. 119. The Town had beene carried … if Sir Francis Vere had not throwne himselfe into it with one thousand sixe hundred English.

1693.  Mem. Cnt. Teckely, II. 145. A great number of Gentry, who had thrown themselves into the place.

1736.  Lediard, Life Marlborough, I. 157. The States … threw 12,000 Men into that Place.

1823.  Examiner, 95/2. Provisions had been thrown into Corinth previously to this incursion.

1836.  Alison, Hist. Europe (1849–50), V. xxvii. § 68. 58. He threw six thousand men across the principal arm into a wooded island.

1844.  H. H. Wilson, Brit. India, III. ii. III. 57. A detachment was thrown forward to Ramoo.

1869.  T. Hughes, Alfred, ix. 108. He throws himself into a castle or fort called Cynwith.

  c.  A bridge or arch is said to be thrown from one side to another of, or over, a river, passage, or space. Also fig.

1751.  J. Brown, Shaftesb. Charac., 74. This visionary arch which he hath … thrown over the depths of error.

1793.  Regal Rambler, 74. He proposes to throw a bridge over the Fleet-market.

1819.  Scott, Ivanhoe, xlii., note. The skill to throw an arch,… or erect a stair.

1849.  Tait’s Mag., XVI. 16/1. A suspension bridge has been thrown over the river.

  32.  To cause to fall, pass, or come into or out of some condition or relation (or place or thing implying this); properly with the connotation of abruptness, suddenness, or force; to cast, force, drive, plunge, thrust. Usually with prep.

1560.  Becon, Chr. Knt., Wks. II. 148. Adam & Eua, whom after thou haddest deceaued through thy lyenge, thou threwest them hedlonge into synne and death.

a. 1652.  J. Smith, Sel. Disc., IX. viii. (1859), 442. God hath never thrown the world from Himself.

1705.  in Hearne, Collect., 28 Sept. (O.H.S.), I. 49. They … threaten’d to … throw me out of my Chaplain’s place.

1766.  Goldsm., Vic. W., xviii. The fatigues I had undergone threw me into a fever.

1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, XII. vii. (Rtldg.), 432. Chance threw me across him, as he came out of a printing-house.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., xviii. I do not suspect his equanimity of being so easily thrown off its balance.

1821.  Examiner, 386/1. I cannot let the land be thrown out of cultivation.

1869.  W. Longman, Hist. Edw. III., I. iv. 63. The Scots were thrown into confusion.

1893.  Nat. Observ., 7 Oct., 527/1. Recruited by men thrown idle by the selfish policy.

  b.  To put deftly into a particular form or shape; to express in a specified form (in speech or writing); to convert or change into some other form; to turn or translate into another language.

1723.  Waterland, 2nd Vind. Christ’s Div., xxiii. Wks. 1823, III. 408. I have reason to complain of your … not throwing your disjointed materials into a more neat and regular order.

1740.  J. Clarke, Educ. Youth (ed. 3), 177. A Master should be able to throw the Latin … into proper English.

1766.  Compl. Farmer, s.v. Lucern, A quarter of an acre; which we threw into fifty-four rows.

1789.  Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, etc., I. Pref. 6. I have not thrown my thoughts into the form of private letters.

1824.  Examiner, 362/1. Two dress boxes … were thrown into one.

1892.  H. R. Mill, Realm Nat., xii. 233. The surface … is thrown into a sheet of ridges.

1893.  Traill, Soc. Eng., Introd. 30. Cædmon … throws Scripture into metrical paraphrase.

  c.  To throw open (apart, asunder): to set open (separate, break asunder) with a sudden or energetic impulse; hence fig. to make publicly accessible or available (also to throw open the gates of). To throw open one’s doors to, to receive as a guest, to welcome.

1641.  Earl Monm., trans. Biondi’s Civil Wars, V. 141. Vowing that if hee did not yeeld up the Towne within three dayes they in despight of him would throw open the Gates to the King.

1709–10.  Addison, Tatler, No. 116, ¶ 1. I had ordered the Folding Doors to be thrown open.

c. 1790.  Imison, Sch. Art, I. 72. The explosion of the gun-powder will throw asunder the roof.

1817.  N. Worcester, Friend to Peace, 74. If this be true virtue,… we may throw open the gates of heaven to bloody cut throats, while we exclude every humber follower of Jesus.

1827.  Roberts, Voy. Centr. Amer., 235. The depositories were not thrown open.

1830.  Examiner, 408/2. The railway … will be thrown open … in August.

1844.  A. B. Welby, Poems (1867), 46. As the blossom waits the breeze Before it throws the leaves apart.

1850.  Tait’s Mag., XVII. 85/2. Labouring to throw open the gates of commerce.

1885.  Mrs. C. Praed, Affinities, vi. He … threw open the shutters.

1890.  T. F. Tout, Hist. Eng. from 1689, 192. A University Reform Act … threw open the endowments.

  33.  refl. To throw oneself on or upon: to have urgent recourse to (some one) for succor, support, or protection; to commit oneself entirely to (his generosity, mercy, or the like). Also in pass. to be made or become dependent upon.

1650.  Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, iv. I. 235. In time of temptation be not busie to dispute, but … throw your self upon God.

1799.  [Aikin & Mrs. Barbauld], Even. at Home, III. 82. He returned with more humility in his looks, and said that he pleaded guilty, and threw himself on the mercy of the court.

1801.  Charlotte Smith, Lett. Solit. Wand., I. 87. To throw myself into the protection of my only parent.

1812.  Examiner, 24 Aug., 534/1. They are obliged to throw themselves on the parish for aid. Ibid. (1830), 550/1. Thrown upon their own resources.

1877.  Miss Yonge, Cameos, Ser. III. ix. 8. His wife threw herself upon James’s mercy.

1891.  Temple Bar Mag., April, 489. I must throw myself upon Ida’s indulgence.

  34.  To throw oneself into: to engage in with zeal or earnestness.

1868.  in Q. Victoria, Life Highl., Pref. 7. A mind … throwing itself … into the enjoyment of [etc.].

1871.  Freeman, Hist. Ess., Ser. I. iv. 113. The faculty of throwing himself with a lively interest into times so alien to our own.

1881.  Gardiner & Mullinger, Stud. Eng. Hist., I. v. 86. England threw herself … into a war of conquest against France.

1888.  Burgon, Lives 12 Gd. Men, II. v. 46. He was … prepared to throw himself heart and soul into any project.

  b.  So to throw one’s soul, heart, life, spirit, energy, efforts, etc., into a thing or action.

1829.  Examiner, 373/2. She threw her whole soul into her voice.

1868.  E. Edwards, Ralegh, I. iii. 43. He continued to throw all his energy into the distasteful duty.

1890.  Field, 8 Nov., 707/3. The Blackheath forwards threw great spirit into their play.

  VI.  In combination with adverbs.

  35.  Throw about. a. trans. See simple senses and ABOUT.

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. XX. 163. This sleuthe … a slynge made, And threwe drede of dyspayre a dozein myle aboute.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1840), II. iii. 52. They … threw everything about in such a manner, that the poor men found … some of their things a mile off.

1885.  Manch. Exam., 6 May, 5/1. A policeman had seen him throwing his arms about.

  b.  Naut. absol. or intr. To turn about at once; to go directly upon the other tack; to go about, put about. Also fig. Also to throw round.

1591.  Spenser, M. Hubberd, 80. I … meane for better winde about to throwe.

1757.  Capt. Randall, in Naval Chron., XIV. 98. They threw about, and stood for us again.

1894.  Times, 10 July, 11/1. When the vessels next met the American was far enough ahead to throw about on the Britannia’s weather bow.

1894.  Daily News, 24 July, 8/4. Shortly afterwards Vigilant threw round, and stood in.

  36.  Throw aside. a. trans. See simple senses and ASIDE.

1530.  Palsgr., 281/1. Throwyng asyde, disordring, debaux.

1695.  Telfair, New Confut. Sadd. (1696), 10. His dog catcht a Fulmard by the way, which Andrew threw aside when he came into the House.

1841.  Lane, Arab. Nts., I. i. 44. When thou atest the date, and threwest aside the stone, it struck my son. Ibid., ii. 79. He threw aside the jar.

1857.  Miller, Elem. Chem. (1862), III. 162. When masses of the husk of the grape … are thrown aside, and allowed to ferment.

  b.  spec. To cast aside out of use, or as useless; fig. to discard, cease to use.

1827.  Clare, Sheph. Cal., 59. The old beechen bowl … is thrown aside.

1857.  Miller, Elem. Chem. (1862), III. 14. A little of the dried oxide of copper, which is thrown aside.

1880.  Fowler, Locke, viii. 128. He throws aside the technical phraseology of the schools.

  37.  Throw away. † a. trans. To cast away from oneself; to reject; to refuse to admit or accept. Obs.

1382.  Wyclif, 1 Sam. xv. 23. Forthi … that thow hast throwen aweye the word of the Lord, the Lord hath throwen awey thee, that thow be not kyng.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VI. 12. Þrow not awey þat þou hast to forhonde approved.

  b.  To cast away out of one’s hands or possession as useless or unneeded.

1530.  Palsgr., 756/2. I throwe awaye, as we do thynges that we care nat for…, je deguerpis,… je desjecte.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron. Edw. IV., 204 b. The Lyncolnshyre men … threw away their coates, the lighter to runne away, and fled.

1650.  Jer. Taylor, Holy Living, i. I. 25. He that will throw away a good book, because it is not curiously guilded, is more desirous to please his eye, than to inform his understanding.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., I. i. § 5. They will … throw away the Blessings their hands are fill’d with, because they are not big enough to grasp every thing.

1700.  Dryden, Charac. Gd. Parson, 37. He melts, and throws his cumbrous cloak away.

1742.  Lond. & Country Brew., I. (ed. 4), 64. A fresh Cask must be tapped … and the remaining Part of the other throw’d away.

1893.  Hodges, Elem. Photogr. (1907), 101. The used solution … is thrown away.

  c.  To spend or use without adequate return; to squander, waste; to bestow upon an unworthy object; also, to neglect to take advantage of (an opportunity, etc.); spec. at Cards, to play (a losing card) when one cannot follow suit, to discard.

1653.  Jer. Taylor, Serm. for Year, I. xxii. 294. We are pleased to throw away our time.

1714.  Spect., No. 624, ¶ 1. Advice … would be but thrown away upon them.

1748.  Hoyle, Games Impr. (1778), 56. Do not trump it, but throw away a losing Card, which makes room for your Partner’s Suit.

1761.  Gray, Lett. to Wharton, 9 May. I had rather Major G. throwed away his money than somebody else.

1798.  Wordsw., We are Seven, xvii. ’Twas throwing words away; for still The little Maid would have her will.

1861.  Temple Bar Mag., II. 447. The Abbé’s prayers will not be thrown away.

Mod.  Do not throw away your chance.

  d.  refl. To throw oneself away: chiefly said of a woman in reference to marriage.

1680.  Otway, Orphan, I. i. Where Dilatory Fortune plays the Jilt With the brave noble honest gallant man, To throw her self away on Fools and Knaves.

1891.  E. Peacock, N. Brendon, I. 243. She had thrown herself away on one utterly unworthy of her.

  38.  Throw back. a. trans. See simple senses and BACK adv.

a. 1822.  Shelley, A Juno, Wks. 1888, I. 410. The manner in which the act of throwing back one leg is expressed.

1831.  Scott, Cast. Dang., i. The reflection of the evening sun, sometimes thrown back from pool or stream.

1859.  Habits Gd. Soc., iii. 148. The frock-coat should be ample and loose, and a tall well-built man may throw it back.

1890.  Gerard, Sensitive Plant (1891), III. III. xvi. 149. Each tall mirror threw back the image in the other.

  b.  To put back in time or condition; to delay, make late, throw behind; to retard or check in expected or desired progress; to reduce to a previous or lower condition.

1840.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., I. IV. 453. I … am not thrown back in getting the land sown. Ibid. (1850), XI. II. 419. Wet weather is what throws sheep back. Ibid. (1858), XIX. II. 294. The loss of that fortnight … throws an incoming tenant back a whole year.

1868.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. vii. 114. That … parliamentary life which … the Norman Conquest threw back for many generations.

  c.  With upon: to compel to fall back upon, or recur to; cf. FALL v. 81.

1857.  J. H. Newman, Cath. in Eng., Ded. The violence of our enemies has thrown us back upon ourselves and upon each other.

1892.  Chamb. Jrnl., 4 June, 355/2. If there is no comic boy,… we are thrown back upon Checkley.

  d.  intr. To revert to an ancestral type or character not present in recent generations; to exhibit atavism. colloq. Also fig. (Cf. 23.)

1879.  ‘Cavendish,’ Card Ess., etc., 63. ‘Throwing back’ more nearly … to the parent games, Poker … is invented.

1887.  A. Lang, Myth, Ritual, & Relig., I. 195. Another child may be said in the language of dogbreeders to have ‘thrown back.’

1893.  Standard, 22 April, 4/3. In politics Lord Derby ‘threw back’ to the family creed of an earlier generation.

1899.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 279. She ‘throws back’ to her savage ancestors.

1911.  Galsworthy, Patrician, II. i. 176. He and his ideas throw back to the Middle Ages.

  e.  intr. To go back in date to, to have a history reaching back to; to hark back, cast back.

1892.  Sat. Rev., 28 May, 635/1. His Metaphysic … begin with Kant, and only ‘throws back’ to Kant’s forerunners.

1892.  Illustr. Sporting & Dram. News, 17 Sept., 39/2. An old hostelry that throws back nobody knows how many centuries…; throwing back three quarters of a century, a hundred men mustered here.

  39.  Throw by. a. trans. To put aside with decision; to reject from present use; to discard.

1611.  B. Jonson, Catiline, I. i. It can but shew Like one of Ivnoes … disguises…: and will … When things succeed, be throwne by, or let fall.

1674.  Flavel, Husb. Spir., ii. 27. My lazy heart throws by the shovel, and cryes, ‘Dig I cannot!’

1770.  Hist., in Ann. Reg., 39. Aly Bey … has thrown by the mask, and … boldly mounted the throne.

1825.  J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, III. 187. I took another name. I threw by that of my father.

  † b.  To dismiss from consideration; to set aside.

1710.  S. Palmer, Proverbs, 141. His best actions thrown by and lessen’d by false turns.

1710.  Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), III. 36. They are very angry with him, and throw by what he has done as being against the Government.

  40.  Throw down († adown). a. trans. See simple senses and DOWN adv.

  To throw down a horse, (of a rider) to cause or allow it to fall.

c. 1250.  Long Life, 37, in O. E. Misc., 158. Weilawei deþ þe schal adun þrowe Þer þu wenest heȝest to steo.

c. 1275.  Lay., 12323. Þe cheorles … þa king icnewen and hine adun þreuwe.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VII. 349. A grym strook of liȝtnynge smoot þe cherche tour … and þrew [v.r. þruw] doun þe crucifex,… and þrew doun oure Lady ymage.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, III. (1598), 361. After her song with an affected modestie, she threw downe her eye.

1660.  F. Brooke, trans. Le Blanc’s Trav., 371. The Mountains … throw down divers Rivers.

1714.  Spect., No. 558, ¶ 4. Another after a great deal of puffing, threw down his Luggage.

1787.  ‘G. Gambado,’ Acad. Horsem. (1809), 44. Take care never to throw your horse down, it is an unlucky trick.

  b.  Expressing a symbolic action; as to throw down one’s arms, to surrender; to throw down one’s brief (of a barrister), to decline to go on with a case; so to throw down one’s pipe, etc.

  To throw down the GAUNTLET or GLOVE: see these words.

1685.  S. Wesley, Maggots, Argt. 18.

1700.  S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind. 58. Most of them threw down their arms.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 49, ¶ 2. Mr. Beaver has thrown down his Pipe.

1833.  Disraeli, Cont. Flem., I. i. I throw down the volume in disgust.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xx. IV. 523. Williams threw down his brief.

  c.  To cause to fall, to overthrow, demolish (a building, etc.); also fig.

c. 1330.  Arth. & Merl. (Kölbing), 9306. Baners & castels adoun y-þrawe.

1340.  Ayenb., 23. Þe grete wynd, þet þrauþ doun þe greate tours.

c. 1425.  Eng. Conq. Irel., 18. Thay lay all I-drow a-doune and I-cast to grond.

1528.  Sel. Cas. Star Chamb. (Selden), II. 19. That the sayd J. M. shuld throwe downe and avoyde the sayde enclosures from the sayd comon grownde.

1530.  Palsgr., 756/2. I throwe downe to the grounde, or distroye a thynge.

1645.  Evelyn, Diary, 8 Feb. The ruines of a very stately Temple or Theatre … throwne downe by an earthquake.

1713.  Addison, Cato, II. v. 67. Must one rash word … Throw down the merit of my better years?

1766.  Fordyce, Serm. Yng. Wom. (1767), I. vii. 302. The admiration raised … is often … thrown down.

1838.  Thirlwall, Greece, III. 101. The Athenians … ordered the Potidæans to throw down the walls of their town on the side of the Peninsula of Pallene.

  d.  To deposit or cause to be deposited from solution; to precipitate.

1812.  Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 120. Earths, and oxides, are usually thrown down from their solutions in union with water.

1838.  T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 188. Alcohol throws it down from its aqueous solution.

1864.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XXV. II. 566. Water that contains much lime on boiling throws down a white deposit.

  e.  Agric. (a) To plough (land) so as to level it down; opposed to gather up (GATHER v. 16). (b) To convert (arable land) into pasture; to lay down to grass. (Cf. LAY v. 51. m.)

1844.  Stephens, Bk. Farm, I. 477. The mode of ploughing exactly opposite to twice-gathering-up is that of cleaving or throwing down land.

1891.  S. C. Scrivener, Our Fields & Cities, 143. It is capable of being applied … to almost any land, including that ‘thrown down’ to grass.

  f.  fig. To put down with force; to lower in rank or station; to degrade, humiliate; to deject in spirits; also, to destroy the effect of, bring to nought.

c. 1450.  trans. De Imitatione, III. xxi. 89. I am sone þrowen doun with litel aduersite.

1567.  Satir. Poems Reform., vi. 23. God wil haue the pride of man doune thrawin.

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 725. Lifting and throwing downe Princes at her pleasure.

1729.  G. Adams, trans. Sophocl., Antiq., V. i. II. 65. Fortune raises up, and throws down, makes one fortunate, and another miserable.

  g.  slang. To overcome; to prove too much for; to floor, ‘give a fall’ to.

1891.  Harry Fludyer, 98 (Farmer). I think I shall floor mine [‘exam.’], and Dick’s sure to throw his examiners down.

  h.  U. S. slang. To discard, throw off.

Mod. U.S.  ‘Is she still engaged?’ ‘Why no, she threw her beau down.’

  41.  Throw in. a. trans. See simple senses and IN.

13[?].  K. Horn, 1176 (Harl. MS.). Þe ryng þat þou yn þrewe.

1679.  M. Rusden, Further Discov. Bees, 91. Throwing in a few handsfull of peas.

1730.  A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 303. The Window above that Stair throws the Light in.

1892.  Illustr. Lond. News, 21 May, 634/3. He was thrown in with men who … had been intimately acquainted with the Zulu people.

Mod. Cookery Bk.  Throw in a bunch of sweet herbs.

  b.  To put in as a supplement or addition; to add, esp. to a bargain. Cf. 30 d.

1678.  Lady Chaworth, in 12th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. V. 45. Lord Shrewsbery is like to marry Mr. Chiffens his daughter, who will be first and last made worth 40,000l. to him, and they talke as if the King should throw in a Dukedome.

1679.  Mrs. Behn, Feign’d Curtizan, III. i. Cou’d you not … throw in a little Love and Constancy, to inch out that want of Honesty of yours?

1824.  Examiner, 471/2. Additional dialogue and incident should be … thrown in.

1892.  Black & White, 22 Oct., 476/1. [The] story turns … on murder and revenge, with a little love thrown in.

  c.  To introduce, insert, or interject in the course or process of something; esp. to interpose or contribute (a remark); to put in.

1704.  Norris, Ideal World, II. xii. 509. A further reflection which it may be convenient to throw in to this explanatory account to make it more full and entire.

1739.  trans. Algarotti on ‘Newton’s Theory’ (1742), I. 7. I threw in, from Time to Time, little Digressions to vary the Conversation.

1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 85. The old dames … Throw in their hints of man’s deluding ways.

1890.  Baring-Gould, Urith, xxxi. ‘Not a grain,’ threw in Julian, hotly.

1891.  Harper’s Mag., Dec., 102/1. I wish to throw in a parenthesis.

  d.  In technical uses (often absol.). (a) Fishing. To make a cast (in quot. fig.). (b) Hunting. To start (hounds) upon the scent. (c) Wrestling and Pugilism. To toss one’s hat into the ring as a challenge or acceptance; hence fig. to become a candidate, put in for. (d) Football and Cricket. Cf. throw-in sb. (THROW- 2).

1823.  Mirror, No. 14. I. 213/2. When you launch a good thing, which is only heard by the person next you, wait patiently for a pause, and throw in again.

1844.  J. T. Hewlett, Parsons & W, liv. The hounds were thrown in.

1886.  Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., Drow in, to give or accept a challenge in a wrestling or cudgel-playing match.

1887.  Shearman, Athletics & Football, 348 [Association]. The halves at the sides too must learn to throw in from touch, for this duty as a rule devolves upon them.

1889.  H. Vassall, Rugby Game, 27. There are endless ways of throwing in, and he must practise.

1892.  Field, 8 Oct., 553/3. [He] prefers the glory of winning the Cambridgeshire to throwing in for his chance of the £5000 to-morrow.

  e.  To throw in one’s lot with: to enter into association with, so as to share the fortunes of (see LOT sb. 1 e); so with fortune, interest.

1867.  [see LOT sb. 1 e].

1870.  Rogers, Hist. Gleanings, Ser. II. 97. He would have thrown in his lot with the Hydes.

1889.  Mrs. C. Carr, Marg. Maliphant, III. xxx. 27. On which side do you suppose he would throw in his interest?

1890.  Eng. Illustr. Mag., Dec., 173. He willingly threw in his fortune with theirs.

  † f.  intr. At the game of hazard: To throw a number the same as the main (MAIN sb.³ 1: see note there) or which has a certain correspondence with it (see NICK sb.¹ 6); to win at hazard. Obs.

1880.  Encycl. Brit., XI. 547/1. The player or ‘caster’ calls a ‘main’ (that is, any number from five to nine inclusive). He then throws with two dice. If he ‘throws in,’ or ‘nicks,’ he wins the sum played for from the banker or ‘setter.’… If the caster ‘throws out’ by throwing aces, or deuce ace (called crabs), he loses.

  42.  Throw off. a. trans. (lit. and fig.) See simple senses and OFF.

1447–8.  J. Shillingford, Lett., 2 Feb. (Camden), 36. How hit was procured and shortly throwen of.

1647.  Hammond, Power of Keys, iii. 30. He had thus confidently thrown off these Epistles from being written by Ignatius.

1720.  Waterland, Eight Serm., 115. I was once inclinable to defer the Treating of it some time longer; thinking it most suitable … to throw it off to the last part of what I intend upon this Subject.

1726.  Leoni, Alberti’s Archit., I. 15/1. The Covering … shou’d … incline of one side to throw off the Rain.

1747.  Franklin, Lett., Wks. 1840, V. 182. To show that points will throw off as well as draw off the electrical fire.

1790.  Mrs. Wheeler, Westmld. Dial., ii. 65. Bil Watson … flayd Galoway, et it set off a Gallop an thraad him off.

1823.  J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 52. A concave glass … will throw the objects off and reduce their size.

1892.  Sat. Rev., 7 May, 542/1. The pumps … were throwing off 7,000 gallons per minute.

  b.  To rid or free oneself by force from, to get rid of, shake off (a yoke, restraint, burden, etc.); to repudiate or reject the authority of; also, to cast off, disown (an associate).

1618.  Bolton, Florus (1636), 131. The first who threw the yoake off, were the Macedonians.

1681.  Dryden, Span. Friar, III. iii. ’Twould be better yet, Cou’d you provoke him to give you th’ occasion, And then to throw him off.

1793.  J. Bowles, Real Ground Pres. War w. France (ed. 5), 75. Throwing off every restraint of honour and principle.

1822.  Examiner, 229/2. The Spanish Colonies … have thrown off the yoke of the mother country.

1879.  Dowden, Southey, iii. 64. Unless the disease were thrown off by regular exercise.

1899.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 156. An extraordinary power of throwing off fatigue.

  c.  To cast off, put off energetically (something put on or assumed, as a garment); to divest oneself of (a quality, character, habit, feeling, etc.); to lay aside quickly or decisively; to discard.

1681.  Dryden, Span. Friar, IV. ii. Virtue must be thrown off; ’tis a coarse garment.

1697.  J. Lewis, Mem. Dk. Glocester (1789), 8. To throw off childish toys, saying he was then a man.

1706.  E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 41. He throws off his Gown and Hypocrisy together.

1872.  C. E. Maurice, S. Langton, i. 52. He throws off his chancellorship at once.

1885.  Manch. Exam., 28 Sept., 5/3. If he should suddenly throw off his coat in a cold room.

1893.  Nat. Observ., 7 Oct., 535/2. Monson threw off the pirate and appeared the king’s officer.

  d.  To shake off or divert (a pursuer or competitor in a race); = throw out, 44 k; also, to throw off the scent.

1695.  Blackmore, Pr. Arth., I. 354. Reason … stops her pace, Is soon thrown off, and quits th’ unequal Chase.

1891.  Blackw. Mag., CXLIX. 468/1. He wasn’t to be thrown off by a false scent.

1892.  Field, 2 April, 475/1. A check threw hounds off for a minute. Ibid. (1893), 11 Feb., 186/3. The leading hounds are very near him; he cannot throw them off.

  e.  Hunting. To free from the leashes, to start (hounds) in the chase; to let fly (a hawk, etc.). Now esp. absol. or intr., of foxhunters or hounds: To begin hunting; hence fig. to make a beginning in anything; to begin.

1735.  Somerville, Chase, II. 123. Where … the rank Mead Affords the wand’ring Hares a rich Repast; Throw off thy ready Pack.

1784.  Cowper, Wks. (1837), XV. 150. On Friday … we attended an attempt to throw off a balloon at Mr. Throckmorton’s.

1825.  Scott, Betrothed, xxiii. Each holding a hawk on his wrist, and anxiously adjusting the mode in which they should throw them off.

1892.  Field, 7 May, 664/2. They threw off the hounds, found an otter, and, after two hours, killed.

  intr.  1812.  Sporting Mag., XXXVII. 88. They [hounds] throw off generally three times a week.

1818.  Col. Hawker, Diary (1893), I. 162. I threw off in the great woods round Cold Henley.

1866.  Gladstone, in Morley Life (1903), II. V. ix. § 5. 156. I had to throw off in my new capacity.

1892.  Field, 26 Nov., 808/1. Many packs would not have thrown off at all on such a morning.

  f.  To eject, emit, give off, esp. from the body or system; esp. to expel or discharge (waste or morbid products); rarely, to vomit.

1737.  Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 235. These Creatures throw off a vast deal from their Lungs in Respiration.

1747.  trans. Astruc’s Fevers, 105. A crisis, or critical depuration of the humours, whereby the peccant matter is thrown off:… just as we see in the small-pox, measles, &c.

1829.  Examiner, 267/2. When he found anything disagreeing with his stomach, he retired and threw it off.

1846.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VII. II. 308. Plants decompose carbonic acid, and throw off oxygen.

1862.  Temple Bar Mag., VI. 474. Dense volumes of smoke are thrown off.

1864.  Gd. Words, 102/1. They exude, or throw off from themselves, the spent materials which are excrementitious.

1891.  Harper’s Mag., Aug., 357/1. From all parts of the living body living gemmules are being thrown off.

  g.  To produce and send forth (as offspring or the like); esp. of a hive of bees: to send forth (a swarm). Cf. 23. Also = throw out, 44 d.

1828.  Examiner, 541/2. A swarm of bees thrown off from one of his scapes.

1842.  J. Aiton, Domest. Econ. (1857), 268. The gray rabbit … generally throws off three, four, five, or six litters … by the first of June.

1862.  Temple Bar Mag., IV. 548. A massive pillar … threw off rough branches of stone.

1892.  Gd. Words, Dec., 816/1. Its territory was small and it threw off many colonies.

  h.  To produce with speed and facility (a literary or artistic work or sketch); to execute in a ready and spontaneous manner.

1761.  Ramsay’s Ever-green, I. 5, note. That this Way of throwing off a Verse easily was first introduced by him.

1823.  J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., p. iv. The new articles … having been ‘thrown off at a heat,’ stood particularly in want of re-revision.

1850.  Tait’s Mag., XVII. 115/2. Those exquisite works which … Chantrey so frequently threw off in marble.

1893.  Temple Bar Mag., XCVIII. 518. Having thrown his compositions off at white heat.

  i.  Printing. To print off. (Often with mixture of the literal sense.)

1803.  Scott, Lett. to Ballantyne, 21 April, in Lockhart. I have to thank you for the accuracy with which the Minstrelsy is thrown off. Longman and Rees are delighted with the printing.

1873.  Spencer, Stud. Sociol., vi. 126. Its own immense edition is thrown off in a few hours every morning.

  j.  To deduct from the total; to knock off.

1821.  Examiner, 385/2. An abatement of rent, Mr. S! Why … last year I threw you off 200l.

1845.  P. Parley’s Ann., VI. 299. Perhaps, if you are a good girl, and pay regularly every week, I may throw you off something at the end of the year.

  43.  Throw on. a. trans. See simple senses and ON. b. To put on (apparel) hastily or carelessly: the opposite of throw off, 42 c. c. To put (hounds) on the scent. † d. ? To win (a main) at hazard (obs.); cf. throw in, throw out, 41 f, and 44 m.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Compl. Mars, 99. He thrwe [v.rr. threw(e, throweth] on his helme of huge wyght.

1801.  Sporting Mag., XVIII. 95. He once won 17,000l. at hazard, by throwing on, as it is called, fourteen successive mains. Ibid. (1815), XLV. 253. After the usual law, the hounds were thrown on.

1862.  Temple Bar Mag., VI. 421. He throws on his colour at once, with a very evident freedom of pencil.

1873.  J. Richards, Wood-working Factories, 76. Watch persons trying to throw on a belt [upon a pulley]…. The one will throw it on instantly.

  44.  Throw out. (See also OUT-THROW.) a. trans. See simple senses and OUT; spec. of frost, etc.: to force (young plants) out of the ground.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. vi. 6. The pitteous mayden … Does throw out thrilling shriekes, and shrieking cryes.

1600.  J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, II. 81. His theeues carcase is throwne out to be deuoured of dogs.

1706.  E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 100. He … falls to throwing every Thing out at the Window.

1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Marygold, The flowers of the common marygold … promote sweat, and are good to throw out the small-pox, or any other eruption.

1830.  Lyell, Princ. Geol., I. 406. [In an earthquake] Cones of sand, six or eight feet in height, were thrown out of the lands near the Runn [of Cutch].

1840.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., I. III. 272. The wheat is usually only thrown out in severe frosts. Ibid. (1847), VIII. I. 66. The rolling and treading … prevent the plants being thrown out by alternate frosts and thaws.

1885.  J. K. Jerome, On the Stage, 42. To make your voice ‘carry,’ you have to throw it out, instead of letting it crawl out when you open your mouth.

  b.  To put out forcibly or suddenly from a place, office, or employment; to eject, expel, turn out.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 18. Whome … god suffreth … vtterly to be throwen out from the kyngdome of glorye.

1710.  Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), II. 348. Ld. Rialton … will be thrown out the next Election.

1780.  Warner, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1844), IV. 382. I suppose it is not possible to throw Barrow out.

1826.  Examiner, 387/2. General Palmer has been thrown out for Bath.

1890.  Burlington (WI) Free Press, 1 Jan. 2/2. Five thousand coal miners in the vicinity of Scranton, Pa., were thrown out of work on the 25th by the shutting down of mines.

  c.  transf. and fig. To put forth vigorously from within; to emit, radiate (heat or light); to exude; to produce, be the source of; to send out, put forth (buds, shoots, etc.).

1750.  trans. Leonardus’ Mirr. Stones, 99. It grows warm, and throws out a heat.

1756.  P. Browne, Jamaica, 236. Whereever the trunk or larger branches of this tree are wounded, they throw out a thick resinous gum.

1838.  T. Thomson, Chem. Org. Bodies, 999. Plants, when exposed to the light, absorb carbonic acid, decompose it, and throw out again the greatest part of the oxygen.

1845.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VI. II. 580. Artichokes … throwing out stems from 7 to 10 feet in length.

1850.  Lynch, Theoph. Trin., xii. 235. Truth and goodness throw out a vivifying electric agency.

1880.  C. R. Markham, Peruv. Bark, xviii. 210. The plants … had begun to bud and throw out young leaves.

1896.  C. A. Young, The Sun, 226. To supply the heat which the sun throws off (enough to melt each minute a shell of ice nearly fifty feet thick over his entire surface) would require the condensation of enough vapor to make a sheet of liquid six feet thick in the same time—supposing, that is, the latent heat of the solar vapors not greater than that of water vapors.

  d.  To cause to project, protrude, stretch out, or extend; spec. in Bookbinding, see quot. 1880.

1849.  Thackeray, Pendennis, xxii. We’ll throw a conservatory out, over the balcony.

1861.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XXII. II. 352. Both ranges throw out spurs.

1880.  Zaehnsdorf, Bookbinding, 8. By mounting a map on a guard the size of the page it may be kept laid open on the table beside the book…. This is technically called ‘throwing out’ a map.

1890.  R. M. Kettle, Old Hall, II. ii. The old trees … threw out giant branches.

  e.  To bring into prominence or relief, to cause to ‘stand out.’

1860.  Ruskin, Mod. Paint., V. IX. viii. § 4. 283. The tone of the whole is dark and gray, throwing out the figures in spots of light.

  f.  Mil. To send out (skirmishers, etc.) to a distance from the main body. Also in fig. context.

1834–47.  J. S. Macaulay, Field Fortif. (1851), 265. The infantry will … throw out skirmishers, and … push on to support them.

1862.  Temple Bar Mag., V. 373. Mamma throws out skirmishing parties among likely shops.

1863.  Ld. Lytton, Ring Amasis, x. His senses, all on the alert, were throwing out scouts and outposts in every direction.

1893.  Forbes-Mitchell, Remin. Gt. Mutiny, 258. We bivouacked on the plain, strong piquets being thrown out.

  g.  To give utterance or expression to; now esp. to put forward tentatively, give (a hint or suggestion); also with obj. clause, to suggest.

1611.  Beaumont & Fl., Maid’s Trag., IV. ii. I have thrown out words That would have fetch’d warm blood upon the cheeks Of guilty men.

1633.  Earle, Microcosm., lxxviii. (Arb.), 103. Not a jest throwne out, but he will make it hitt him.

a. 1763.  W. King, Polit. & Lit. Anecd. (1819), 246. Such an infamous appellation, that I scarce believe the most fiery sectarist among us … would dare to throw out.

1793.  Trial of Fyshe Palmer, 33. He at first threw out that till these were totally abolished we would contend with them.

1869.  A. W. Ward, trans. Curtius’ Hist. Greece, II. III. ii. 392. Athens unhesitatingly accepted the challenge thrown out.

1891.  Cornh. Mag., July, 106. The hint of danger which Norbury threw out was the one thing needed.

  h.  To put forth visibly, display, exhibit; also † refl. to express oneself freely; to ‘launch out.’

1710.  Pope, Lett. (1735), I. 116. I Resume my old Liberty of throwing out myself upon Paper to you.

1763.  J. Brown, Poetry & Mus., v. 85. His warlike Genius threw itself out, in Subjects that were grand and terrible.

1806.  A. Duncan, Nelson, 32. The signal was thrown out for the … fleet to prepare for action.

1890.  Mrs. R. Jocelyn, M.F.H.’s Daugh., xvii. Belton’s horse also threw out signs of distress.

  i.  To dismiss from acceptance, use, or consideration; to reject; to leave out of a reckoning; in Écarté, to discard, ‘throw away.’

1618.  in Foster, Eng. Factories Ind. (1906), 48. What I found grose I thrue out or cutt.

1660.  Milton, Free Commw., Wks. (1847), 449/1. To us who have thrown it [monarchy] out, received back again, it cannot but prove pernicious.

1753.  Miss Collier, Art Torment., Fable, 233. The letter L … confined the competitors to the lion, the leopard, the lynx, and the lamb. The lamb, by almost general consent, was instantly thrown out, as knowing nothing of the subjects treated of.

1811.  Sir Wm. Scott, Dodson’s Rep., I. 31. Some circumstances stated on behalf of Captain Honeyman, which I may also throw out as immaterial.

1856.  Olmsted, Slave States, 241. They … made further clearings in the forest, and ‘threw out,’ to use their own phrase, so much of the land as they had ruined.

1896.  Indianapolis Typogr. Jrnl., 16 Nov., 407. When the contract expires, this newspaper will throw out its linotype machines.

  j.  Of a legislative assembly or a grand jury: To reject (a bill, etc.).

1707.  Vulpone, 2. This Proposal … occasion’d very great Debates … and was Scandalously Treated and thrown Out.

1732.  Hearne, Diary, 27 Sept. His petition … was thrown out of the house.

1817.  Parl. Deb. Ho. Lords. The grand jury … whose duty it was to find the bills had thrown them out.

1873.  P. V. Smith, Hist. Eng. Inst., II. v. 175. The Ballot Bill … was thrown out by the Lords.

  k.  Sporting. To put out of place or order by leaving behind in a chase or race; to distance, outpace.

1713.  Addison, Cato, II. i. A Virtue that has cast me at a Distance, And thrown me out in the Pursuits of Honour.

1807.  Sporting Anecd., 179. Jack was mounted on a hunter, which he assured me was never yet thrown out.

1823.  Scott, Quentin D., ix. I had been unluckily thrown out, and was riding fast, to be in my place.

1889.  W. Westall, Birch Dene, III. xii. 202. More than once he threw them [his pursuers] out by a double.

  l.  To disturb (a person) from his self-possession, train of thought, normal or equable state of mind, or ordinary course of action (see OUT adv. 5); = put out, PUT v.¹ 47 f.

1844.  J. H. Newman, Lett. (1891), II. 442. He was surprised and thrown out by finding I did not seem to be what he had fancied.

1891.  Murray’s Mag., April, 551. Seeing her there acting the part of a governess … threw him out.

1891.  Field, 28 Nov., 837/3. The visitors kicked off, but the heavy ground at first seemed to throw them out.

  † m.  absol. In the game of hazard, To make a losing cast (see note s.v. MAIN sb.³ 1). Obs.

a. 1680.  Butler, Satyr Gaming, 80. Although he … crucify his Saviour worse Than those Jew-Troopers that threw out, When they were raffling for his Coat.

1765.  Earl March, in Jesse, Selwyn & Contemp. (1843), I. 308. I am very sorry to hear that you are still throwing out [note, at hazard] as well as me.

  n.  Cricket. Of a fieldsman: To put (the batsman) ‘out’ by throwing the ball so as to hit his wicket. So in Baseball, to put (a base-runner) ‘out’ by throwing the ball to a player on or near a base.

1871.  Hoppe, s.v. Out, ‘Out’ wird der einzelne Schläger … wenn ein andrer der fielders während des crossing den Ball gegen das wicket werfen kann (he is thrown out).

1892.  Field, 11 June, 870/3. Mr. Jackson threw him out from cover-point, when the batsmen were attempting a short run.

  o.  intr. (for refl.) † To turn out, throng or press out (obs.); to move outwards from a center; to strike out with hands or feet; to let oneself go; to push out (as a root). Cf. sense 9.

1508.  Dunbar, Flyting, 217. Of Edinburgh, the boyis as beis owt thrawis.

15[?].  Peblis to the Play, v. Thai out threw Out of the townis untald.

1774.  Wollaston, in Phil. Trans., LXI. 561. The pendulum did not … throw-out so far by about 7′ as it generally did.

1798.  J. T. Duckworth, in Naval Chron. (1799), I. 78. The wind throwing out caused me to anchor.

1798.  in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1799), II. 296. He threw out and kicked a good deal.

1809.  Malkin, Gil Blas, III. iv. ¶ 4. The fear of talking absurdly prevents you from throwing out at all.

1825.  J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 518. The pallet A can throw out till it reach a,… B will throw out as far on the other side.

1855.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XVI. I. 176. Such soils turn up as a fine mould … and the roots can throw out without impediment.

  p.  intr. or absol. Of a printing machine: To fail to register.

  45.  Throw over. a. See simple senses and OVER.

1857.  Hughes, Tom Brown, II. viii. Jack Raggles is furious, and begins throwing over savagely to the further wicket.

  b.  To throw overboard (in fig. sense); to cast off (a lover, associate, or ally); to abandon.

1836.  T. Hook, G. Gurney, II. 186. I was satisfied that Emma had thrown me over.

1874.  Stubbs, Const. Hist., I. vi. 163, note. Mr. Freeman … throws over the latter part of Palgrave’s theory.

1890.  T. F. Tout, Hist. Eng. from 1689, 27. They threw over their allies.

  Throw round (Naut.): = throw about, 35 b.

  46.  Throw to. † a. trans. To put quickly with something else which is already there. Obs.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 2939. Anoþire boll was him broȝt, & bathe he deuoydid, And ȝit he threw to þe thrid, & thrast in þare-eftir.

  b.  To close (a door, etc.) with force.

1741.  Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. xv. 26. I made shift to get into it [the chamber], and threw-to the door, and it locked after me.

1892.  Chamb. Jrnl., 23 July, 473/1. The slamming of one of the church doors, as if thrown-to by a draught.

  47.  Throw together. a. trans. See simple senses and TOGETHER.

1717.  Berkeley, Lett. to Pope, Wks. 1871, IV. 82. A wonderful variety of hills, vales, ragged rocks, fruitful plains, and barren mountains, all thrown together in a most romantic confusion.

  b.  To put together hastily or roughly; to combine or collect without much care or finish. (Said in relation to literary work.)

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 105, ¶ 3. On my retiring to my Lodgings, I could not forbear throwing together such Reflections as occurred to me upon that Subject.

1713.  Berkeley, Guard., No. 88, ¶ 3. I shall throw together some passages relating to this subject.

1748.  Anson’s Voy., III. ii. 308. I shall … throw together the most interesting particulars … in relation to … Tinian.

  c.  To bring (persons) casually into contact or association.

1831.  Society, I. 207. They were to meet as old friends, when they were next thrown together in London.

1889.  Froude, Two Chiefs Dunboy, xxi. 313. They had been thrown together as children, but had rarely met since.

1902.  Times (Philad.), 15 June, 12/3. A large sum of money has been pledged by Mr. Rockefeller’s university in that city [Chicago] if the sexes, which are now thrown together in the college class rooms, shall be separated.

  48.  Throw up. a. trans. See simple senses and UP. † spec. To throw open (a gate, etc.) (obs.).

  To throw up the sponge, to give in, surrender: see SPONGE sb., and cf. CHUCK v.² 2 b.

14[?].  Sir Beues (M.) 1655 + 20. Anon the gates he gan up throwe.

c. 1422.  Hoccleve, Jereslaus’ Wife, 364. Vp he threew an heuy syk.

1675.  Brooks, Gold. Key, Wks. 1867, V. 511. You may throw up your caps at them, and bid them do their worst.

1780.  Coxe, Russ. Disc., 253. The chain of islands here laid down may … be considered as thrown up by some late volcanos.

1797.  Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), XVI. 492/2. When the cable is finished, to shorten it two fathoms more, which our workmen call throwing the turn well up.

1833.  J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, II. vii. 189. The fresh coals … will throw up … a body of thick smoke.

1842.  Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., III. II. 171. Land … thrown up into very narrow ridges. Ibid. (1850), I. IV. 381. Milk … throws up less cream in glass than in wood.

1861.  Temple Bar Mag., III. 221. She hastily threw up the window.

1893.  Argosy, Aug., 116. The seaweeds thrown up on his estate.

  b.  To discharge by vomiting; to vomit. Also (slang) to throw up one’s accounts, in same sense (cf. CAST v. 83 b).

1732.  Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, iii. It is easy to judge of the Cause by the Substances which the Patient throws up.

1763.  C. Johnston, Reverie, I. 135. Before he can be on the guard, hitting him a plump in the bread-basket, that shall make him throw up his accounts.

1822–34.  Good’s Study Med. (ed. 4), II. 449. Blood from the stomach … thrown up by vomiting.

  c.  To raise (the hands, eyes, etc.) quickly or suddenly; spec. in Throw up your hands, as a command to surrender: cf. Hands up (HAND sb. 54).

1746.  Francis, trans. Hor., Sat., II. vii. 54. I throw my Nose up to a savoury Steam.

1821.  Examiner, 524/1. Eternally throwing up their eyes to heaven.

1880.  [see BAIL v.³ 2].

1865.  Montana Post, 2 Sept., 4/2. When near enough, they sprang out on a keen run, with levelled shot-guns, and usually gave the word, ‘Halt! Throw up your hands, you sons of b——s!’

1887.  I. R., Lady’s Ranche Life Montana, 37. He was suddenly aware of a horse galloping rapidly up behind him, and heard a shout: ‘Throw up your hands!’

1890.  Fenn, Double Knot, III. i. 19. The woman threw up her hands and reeled.

1891.  Eng. Illustr. Mag., No. 88. 306. Bail up, throw up your hands now, or I’ll shoot every man jack of you.

  d.  To cast up (a heap or earthwork) with or as with the spade; to erect or construct hastily.

1586.  Day, Eng. Secretary, I. (1625), A iij. The gardner, who first throweth vp his earth on a rude heape.

1709.  Steele, Tatler, No. 6, ¶ 10. The Greeks threw up a great Intrenchment to secure their Navy.

1869.  Hughes, Alfred the Gt., vi. 71. They … threw up earthworks, and entrenched themselves there.

1880.  R. Mackenzie, 19th Cent., III. ii. 287. Armed crowds began to appear, and barricades were thrown up.

  e.  To render prominent or distinct; to cause to ‘stand out’; to make noticeable by contrast.

1882.  Mrs. Oliphant, Lit. Hist. Eng., I. 288. A … background to throw up and bring into full relief the figure.

1885.  Monkhouse, in Mag. Art, Sept., 474/2. The dado is darker … and throws up the rest effectively.

1891.  G. D. Galton, La Fenton, vi. The black folds of her dress throwing up … the marble pallor of her face.

  f.  Naut. To throw (a ship) up in (into, on) the wind, to turn the vessel into the wind till she points almost directly to windward; also absol. said of the navigator.

1769.  Falconer, Dict. Marine (1789), Donner vent devant, to throw a ship up in the wind, or in stays.

1832.  Marryat, N. Forster, xlvii. The Windsor Castle was thrown up on the wind. Ibid. (1833), P. Simple, xvi. We threw up in the wind.

  g.  To cease definitely to do, use, or practise; to give up participation in, or the exercise or use of; to relinquish, abandon, quit, give up; originally in the phrase to throw up the game or one’s cards, i.e., to place one’s cards face upwards on the table on withdrawing from the game. Also absol.

1678.  Butler, Hud., III. III. 543. Bad Games are thrown up too soon, Until th’ are never to be won.

1681.  W. Robertson, Phraseol. Gen. (1693), 1225. To throw up his cards, desistere a lusu.

a. 1687.  Petty, Pol. Arith., i. (1691), 33. To throw up their Husbandry, and make no use of their Lands, but for Grass [etc.].

1731.  Gentl. Mag., I. 539. The Evidence for the King being full and clear, the Defendant’s Council threw up their Briefs.

1874.  T. Hardy, Madding Crowd, xlvi. He … threw up his cards and forswore his game for that time and always.

1889.  Repentance P. Wentworth, II. xii. 261. He decided to throw up his practice at the Bar.

1894.  Times (weekly ed.), 19. Jan., 49/1. When he was 20 he threw up his employment.

  h.  To throw it up against, at, to one (low colloq.): to cast it in one’s teeth, to upbraid one (with obj. cl.). Cf. cast up (CAST v. 83 i).

1890.  Univ. Rev., 15 Oct., 198. The children in the street throws it up against me I ain’t got no father.

  i.  intr. Of hounds: To lift the head from the ground, the scent having been lost.

1856.  ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Rur. Sports, I. VI. v. 128/1. Whenever it happens, and the hounds begin to throw up, and really cannot hunt, it is better to take them away.

1893.  Field, 4 Feb., 170/2. Hounds suddenly threw up in a most unaccountable manner.

  j.  intr. Falconry. See quots. (Cf. 28.)

1881.  Graphic, 5 Nov., 470/3. I [a falcon] stopped my downward course … spread my wings, and ‘threw up’ towards the upper air.

1900.  Michell, Art Hawking, 128. Instead of throwing up high, as they would if they had missed, they check their flight quickly, and … descend rapidly on the panting or dazed foe.

1901.  Fisher, Remin. Falconer, 96. No hawk stooping from a very high pitch can readily clutch or grasp her prey. She rushes upwards (i.e. throws up) impelled by her momentum … turns over, and is on the grouse directly. Ibid., 113.

VII.  49. In various proverbial, figurative, idiomatic, or colloquial phrases (beside those mentioned under the senses to which they belong), as throw off one’s BALANCE, over the BAR, COLD WATER on, a DAMP on, DIRT, the GAUNTLET, off one’s GUARD, the HELVE after the hatchet (so the HANDLE after the head, the ROPE after the bucket), the HOUSE out at (of) the windows, OVERBOARD, off the SCENT, into the SHADE, the STOCKING (at a wedding), down the STREAM, in one’s TEETH, to the WINDS, etc.; as to which see the sbs.

  For the verb-stem in combination: see THROW- in Comb.