Obs. exc. dial. [app. f. Norse: cf. Sw. traska, Norw. traske:—*traðska in the same sense.]
1. intr. To walk or run with exertion and fatigue, esp. through mud or mire.
1607. W. S[mith], Puritan, IV. i. A guarded Lackey to run befor’t, and pyed liueries to come trashing after’t.
1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch Old One, I. iv. I still trashed and trotted for other men’s causes.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 59. To trash on foot in the mire on a rainy morning.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1744), X. 72. Those that trash through the mire and dirt.
1825. Brockett, N. C. Words, Trash,… to tramp about with fatigue.
1878. Cumberld. Gloss., Trash,… to walk quickly over wet ground. ‘Trashan’ through thick and thin for a heall day togidder.’
2. trans. To fatigue (with walking, running, or exertion); to wear out.
1685. Life Bp. Jewell, 36. Being naturally of a spare and thin Body, and thus restlesly trashing it out with reading, writing, preaching and travelling, he hastened his death.
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, x. He hasna a four-footed creature but the vicious blood thing he rides on, and that’s sair trashed wi’ his night wark.
1821. Carlyle, Early Lett. (1886), II. 5. The fineness of the weather did not prevent the journey from trashing me a good deal.
1911. Blackw. Mag., Nov., 605/2. The bullocks will be trashed.
b. fig. To labor (a point). [Cf. thrash.]
a. 1670. Hacket, Abp. Williams, I. (1692), 87. Every Nation know their own way best, to what they are tied, as we know ours. He is a Busie-body that trasheth this in a Pulpit.
Hence Trashing ppl. a., fatiguing, wearing out; also Trash-mire dial., one who trashes in the mire.
1828. Craven Gloss., Trash-mire, a slut.
1861. Times, 25 Sept. They have had long marches, bivouacs in bad nights, and very trashing work.
