v. Sc. Obs. [Etymology and meaning obscure; perhaps there are here two words.
In sense 2, possibly:—OE. *þyrscan in ʓe, of-þyrscan, ‘to press, press down, repress’; but this does not suit sense 1, for which some suggest identity with FRUSH v., with th for f; but this also seems to fail to give the sense ‘cut or cleave.’]
1. trans. ? To cut asunder, cleave.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, III. 190. The thrusande blaid his hals in sonder schayr. Ibid., XI. 252. His gud suerd … His body in twa it thurschyt euirlikdeill.
1483. Cath. Angl., 387/2. To Thrusche. [No Latin.]
2. To thrust, press.
1600. Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1816), IV. 206/2. [He] pullit vp the brod of the windo Quhairvnto the said mr alexander had thrusschit his majesteis heid and schulderis. [Panton’s Dissert. Gowry Consp., 1812, quotes the passage with thrust.]
