v. Obs. Forms: see SHED v.1 [OE. tosceádan, f. TO-2 + sceádan, SHED v.1: = OHG. za-, zisceidan.] trans. To separate, divide, diffuse, scatter, part; in OE. also, to discriminate, discern, distinguish.
c. 888. K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxiv. § 3. Ælc þing þe tosceaden bið from oðrum bið oðer, oþer þæt þing. Ibid., xl. § 7. Se þe ʓesceadwisnisse hæfð, se mæʓ deman & tosceadan hwæs he wilniʓan sceal.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Hom., II. 106. He toscæt hi on twa, swa swa scephyrde toscæt scep fram gatum.
c. 1200. Ormin, 19862. Forr þatt he wollde hire & te king Todælenn & toshædenn.
c. 1205. Lay., 30262. He nom his lauerdes hefd … & his lockes he to-scædde.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 241. Leonida … fil vppon the oþer deel anyȝt … and to schad hem euerich oon from oþer. Ibid. (1398), Barth. De P. R., XIX. xiv. (Bodl. MS.), lf. 295 b/2. Depe rede toschedeþ þe siȝt as liȝt doþe.
b. intr. To divide, separate, fall apart.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. Wace (Rolls), 6276. So þat þe Romayns route to-schadde, & dide hem to þe hauene fle.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), I. 133. Þe hepes of grauel to schedeþ and to falleþ.
