Pa. t. trod, arch. trode. Pa. pple. trodden, trod. Forms: see below. [OE. tredan (pa. t. træd, pl. trǽdon, pa. pple. treden); ME. treden (trad, trêden, treden); a Common Teut. strong vb., = OFris. treda (trad, tred, trêd-, treden), OS. tredan (trad, trâd-un, treden); MDu., MLG. trēden, Du., LG. trēden, OHG. tretan (trat, trâtun; gi-tretan), MHG., Ger. treten; Da. træde, Sw. träda, Norw. treda; OTeut. *tred-; *trad-, pl. *træd-; tred-, of which a weak grade trud- gave Goth. trudan (*traþ, *trêdum, trudans), and ON. troða (trað, tráðum; troðinn). Not certainly known outside Teutonic. In the 14th c. (in Hampole a. 1340), either under Norse influence, or by assimilation to vbs. of Class IV (brecan, bræc, brocen), the pa. pple. troden (later trodden, trode, trod) began to be substituted for the original treden, although the latter in its shortened form tred(e, tread survived with some to the 17th c., and is still in dialect use. In the end of the 14th c. troden is found in the pl. of the pa. t., and from the 16th c trode, trod also in the sing. Ormin has a weak pa. pple. trededd for treden, and a weak pa. t. tredide, tredde appears in the later Wyclifite version. Cf. OE. treddian, OHG. trettôn, ON. treðja, OTeut. type *tradjan, perh. orig. intensive, but subseq. mixed up with the primary strong vb.]
A. Illustration of Forms.
1. Inf. and Pres. stem. 1 tredan, (trædan), 3–4 treden, 3–5 trede, (4 tredde), 4–7 tred, (5 tredyn, tradde), 6–8 treade, 6– tread. Inflexions 1 trædað, trides, trideð, 4 tredeth, 6 treddis.
Beowulf, 1965. ʓewat him þa se hearda … sæ-wong tredan.
a. 800. Riddles, viii. 1. Þonne ic hrusan trede. Ibid., lviii. 5. Trædað bearonæssas. Ibid., lxxxi. 24. Hio … grundbedd trideð.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, xc. 13. Ðu … trides leon & dracan.
a. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Th.), lv[i]. 1. Miltsa me, Drihten, forðon me man tredeð.
c. 1200. Ormin, 11946. Godess þeowwess gan onn himm & tredenn himm wiþþ fote.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, vii. 5. Þe enmy … tred [conculcet] in erth my lyf.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 2160. The harde stoon … on which we trede and goon.
1388. Wyclif, Rom. xvi. 20. God of pees tredde Sathanas vndur ȝoure feet.
c. 1440. Tradde [see B. 11].
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 21. Let hym beware, that he trede not to moche vppon the corne.
1535. Coverdale, Job xl. 7. Treade all the vngodly vnder thy fete.
1567. Gude & Godlie B. (S.T.S.), 108. Thow sall … tred on the cruell Cocketrice.
1567. Sc. Acts Jas. VI. (1814), III. 41. Þame þat treddis hairis in þe snaw.
1570. Levins, Manip., 206/1. To Treade, go, gressus ponere.
1583. Babington, Commandm., viii. (1590), 354. Vntoothsome is that trueth euer, that trendeth downe my liking.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. ix. 27. Which … under foot doth tread The mightie ones [rhyme dread].
2. Pa. t. α. 1 træd, 2–5 trad; 3–5 tradd, 4–5 trade, 5 tradde. β. 6 Sc. tred, (8 tread). γ. 6–9 trode, 6– trod (6 trodd). δ. pl. 1 trǽdon, 4 trêden, (treeden), 4–5 trōden, 5 trāden, trād, 6 trood, 4–9 trode, 6– trod. ε. (weak conj.) 4 treddede, pl. trediden, tredden, 5 treyde.
α. Beowulf, 1882. Beowulf þanan … græs-moldan træd.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2561. Forr ȝho tradd deofell unnderrfot.
1388. Wyclif, Ecclus. xxiv. 11. Y trad bi vertu on the neckis of all excelent men.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, XIX. iv. 778. His hors … trade his [own] guttes … vnder his feet.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxxix. (Arb.), 105. The wulf trade forth to the foxe in grete wrath. Ibid. (1484), Fables of Æsop, II. xx. The oxe … thradde and thrested her [the frog) with his fote. Ibid. (c. 1489), Blanchardyn, xxiv. 89. The grasse wher vpon he trad.
β. 1550. Rolland, Seven Sages, 37. With feit [scho] it tred.
1737. Whiston, Josephus, Antiq., II. ix. § 7. Moses … tread upon it with his feet.
γ. 1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings xiv. 9. A wylde beest … ran ouer ye hawthorne and trode it downe. [So 2 Chron. xxv. 18.]
1600. Heywood, 2nd Pt. Edw. IV., II. iv. Wks. 1874, I. 139. Pity that ere awry she trod her shoe.
1738. Gray, Tasso, 15. Against the stream the waves secure he trod.
1823. Byron, Juan, VI. cxi. The way in which he trode.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxvi. One of the bravest and most noble gentlemen that ever trode a court.
δ. a. 1300[?]. Debate of Body & Soul, 423. Ther alle þe fendes fet it trode [rhyme brode].
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 347. Some [birds] troden hir makes and on trees bredden [C. XIV. 166. And some treden … and on trees bredden].
1382. Wyclif, 2 Kings ix. 33. The hors houes that treden [1388 to tredden] hyre.
c. 1420. Chron. Vilod., 2940. & nyst neuer where þey wenton ny trede.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 173 b/2. They trad the corne in the feldes doun.
1526. Tindale, Luke xii. 1. In so moche that they trood won another.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Kings vii. 17. The people trode [Wycl. trade] vpon him, so that he dyed.
a. 1604. Hanmer, Chron. Irel. (1633), 33. The Irish … trode not upon Scottish soile.
1715–20. Pope, Iliad, XV. 412. The wondering crowds the downward level trod.
1850. Hawthorne, Scarlet L., Introd. (1879), 16. Trode the unworn street.
ε. (weak conj.)
1388. Wyclif, 2 Kings xiv. 9. The beestis … passiden, and tredden [v.r. treteden] doun the cardue. Ibid., Luke xii. 1. So that thei treden [v.rr. treeden, traden, trediden; 1382 troden] ech on othir.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), VII. 9. His feete … with whom he treyde [L. pulsaverat] the tumbe of blissede Odo.
3. Pa. pple. α. 1–3 treden, 3–4 i-trede, y-tredde, 6 tredden, tredd(e, 6–7 Sc. tred, 7 tread. β. 4–7 troden, (4 troddun), 6– trodden; 4 i-trode, 4–9 trode, (7 troad(e), 5– trod. γ. (weak conj.) 3 (Orm.) trēdedd.
α. a. 900. trans. Bæda’s Hist., III. xvi. [xxii.] (1890), 224. Utworpen … & fotum treden[e] & in eorðan ʓehwyrfde wæron.
c. 1315. Shoreham, Poems, i. 821. Namore ne greueþ hyt ihesus Þanc sonne [? stone] itrede in felþe.
c. 1410. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxiv. If ye se it [the lair] gret and brode and wele ytredde.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys (1570), 203. They under foote are tred.
c. 1520. M. Nisbet, N. Test. in Scots, Rev. xiv. 20. The lake was treddin [1388 Wyclif, troddun] without the citee.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. Rom., 31. Lye they on the grounde and are tredde vnderfoote.
1580. Sidney, Ps. XXXI. vi. Like a broken pott, in myer tredd.
1600. Hamilton, Facile Traictise, Ded. Brocht in contempt and tred vnderfut.
1608. Topsell, Serpents (1658), 619. The Water-nep … which under-foot is tread [rhyme bed].
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., II. 86. Being trampled and tread upon.
β. a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter xvii. 42. Þai sall be troden vndire my luf.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 3402. Wit here horse troden.
1600. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 821. The Percies with it troden under foot.
1614. T. Adams, in Spurgeon, Treas. Dav., Ps. xiii. 5. Are trodden down by the poor.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), V. 379. Hym semede þat he [a cross] was nouȝt worþy to be trode [Caxton, trede] wiþ his feet. Ibid., VIII. 113. His baner was i-trode in þe fen.
1607. Topsell, Hist. Four-f. Beasts (1658), 234. Hens do lay egges being not troad by a Cock.
1614. Earl Stirling, Domes-Day, III. lxxx. Their empty channels may be troad on dry.
1621. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 359. To haue … trod vnder foot the Law of God.
1725. Pope, Odyss., V. 124. By mighty Jove’s command … have I trod this pleasing land.
1774. Beattie, Minstr., II. vi. Which heretofore his foot had never trode.
γ. c. 1200. Ormin, 5728. Beo trededd dun.
B. Signification.
1. trans. To step upon; to pace or walk on (the ground, etc.); to walk in (a place); hence, to go about in (a place, etc.).
Beowulf [see A. 1].
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. X. 101. Selden Moseþ þe Marbelston þat men ofte treden.
1382. Wyclif, Deut. xi. 24. Eche place that ȝoure foot tredith, shal be ȝour.
1591. Troub. Raigne K. John (1611), 26. Treading my Confines with thy armed troupes.
1594. ? Greene, Selimus, Wks. (Grosart), XIV. 212. Then let our winged coursers tread the winde.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 543. He who treads the bleak Meotian Strand.
1729. G. Adams, trans. Sophocles, Oedip. Colon., I. v. II. 102. The Goddesses … whose Ground you have trod.
1802. Wordsw., Sonn., ‘Here, on our native soil.’ ’Tis joy enough and pride For one hour’s perfect bliss, to tread the grass Of England once again.
1823. Chalmers, Serm., I. 397. As hardy adventurers as ever trode the desert in quest of novelty.
1837. W. Irving, Capt. Bonneville, II. 53. The trapper stands … and gazes upon a promised land which his feet are never to tread.
b. Phrases. To tread the stage (the boards), to act upon the stage, to follow the profession of an actor (also fig. to write stage-plays). To tread † clay, this earth, shoe-leather, to be alive, to live; to tread the deck, to be on board ship, be a sailor; to tread the ground, to walk.
1691. G. Langbaine, Acc. Eng. Dram. Poets, 465. Shakespear by him reviv’d now treads the Stage.
1700. Dryden, Flower & Leaf, 182. Methought she trod the ground with greater grace.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 22, ¶ 2. One that never trod the Stage before.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. xiii. 274. As skilful seamen as ever trod a deck.
1789. Burns, To Dr. Blacklock, x. She is a dainty chuckie, As e’er tread clay.
1825. Scott, Talism., xxiv. The steeds … chafed on the bit, and trod the ground more proudly.
1828. J. T. Smith, Bk. Rainy Day (1861), 255. A better man never trod shoe-leather.
1858. Lytton, What will He do? I. viii. She had never then trod the boards.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. viii. 164. No man that ever trod this earth was ever endowed with greater natural gifts.
2. To step or walk upon or along; to follow, pursue (a path, track, or road); also fig.
Beowulf, 1353. On weres wæstmum wræc-lastas træd.
1551. Recorde, Pathw. Knowl., To Rdr. I will not cease … treading the paths of labour.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 517. The downward track he treads.
1754. Chatham, Lett. Nephew, vi. 40. Those who have trod the paths of the world before them.
1841. G. P. R. James, Brigand, xix. I never forget a path I have once trodden.
1884. W. H. White, Mark Rutherford’s Deliverance, viii. (1892), 111. Yet he treads his path undisturbed.
b. † To tread a person’s steps (fig.), to walk in the steps of, follow the example of (obs.); to tread back one’s steps (fig.), to retrace one’s steps (now rare or obs.).
1579. W. Wilkinson, Confut. Familye of Loue, 100. To … tread the steppes of Gods sonne.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., II. 117. S. Philip … was fastened to the Crosse, and stoned to death, treading the steps both of his Master, and of Stephen.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Ess. on Women, Wks. 1711, IV. 152. They tread the Steps of their parents, meerly by instinct.
1752. Foote, Taste, Ded. (ed. 4), 6. In the following Sheets her Steps have been trode with an undeviating Simplicity.
1777. Priestley, Matt. & Spir. (1782), I. i. 7. The philosophical part of the world [may] tread back their steps.
1831. D. E. Williams, Life & Corr. Sir T. Lawrence, I. 243. We must tread back our steps.
† c. To tread the feet of, to trace the footprints of. Sc. Obs. rare.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., VI. (S.T.S.), I. 350. To schue thrie suofte horses backward, that … the persewer … mycht not find how to tred the horses fute rycht.
d. To tread a measure, † a dance, etc., to go through a dance in a rhythmic or stately manner; to go through in dancing; so to tread a march. arch. and poet.
1577. Grange, Golden Aphrod., M ij b. After these came Silenus … treadyng the hornpype.
1580. H. Gifford, Gilloflowers (Grosart), 118. Thrice happy is their chaunce, That never knew to treade the lover’s daunce.
1590. Greene, Orl. Fur., Wks. (Rtldg.), 90/1. That did but Venus tread a dainty step.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 1148. Teaching decrepit age to tread the measures.
1808. Scott, Marm., V. xii. ‘Now tread we a measure!’ said young Lochinvar. Ibid. (1810), Lady of L., II. vii. The proud march which victors tread.
1859. Jephson, Brittany, iii. 30. The favoured one who should tread a measure with her Imperial Majesty.
3. intr. To walk, go, pace; to set down the feet in walking; to step. Also said of the foot.
In quot. c. 897 rendering L. terere of the Vulgate.
c. 897. K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., xlvii. 357. Aworpen mon … bicneð mid ðæm eaʓum, & trit mid ðæm fet, & spricð mid ðæm fingre.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1515. All þe brade stretis … þar he trede sulde.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xxxix. (Arb.), 105. The wulf trade forth to the foxe in grete wrath.
1535. Coverdale, Deut. xi. 24. All the places that the soles of youre fete treade vpon, shalbe yours. Ibid., Ezek. xliii. 19. Ye Leuites that … treade before me to do me seruyce.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., IV. vii. 149. As arrant a villaine and a Iacke sawce, as euer his blacke shoo trodd vpon Gods ground. Ibid. (1601), Jul. C., I. i. 29. As proper men as euer trod vpon Neats Leather.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., I. 22. I haue trod foure seuerall times from end to end of it.
1748. Thomson, Cast. Indol., II. xxxv. An honest sober beast, that … full softly trode.
1816. Byron, Prisoner of Chillon, xi. Avoiding only, as I trod, My brothers’ graves without a sod.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xxi. 149. I crossed the glacier, treading with the utmost caution along the combs of ice.
b. intr. In phrases, esp. in fig. sense. To tread on air, to walk buoyantly or jubilantly; to tread on eggs, on delicate ground, on thin ice: see the sbs.
1481. Caxton, Reynard, xliii. (Arb.), 118. Eueriche of them tredeth in the foxes path and seketh his hole.
1580. Sidney, Ps. XXV. vi. He doth … teach the humble how to tread.
1668. Denham, Prudence, Poems 147. Sense, her Vassal, in her footsteps treads.
1694. F. Bragge, Disc. Parables, xi. 381. Misery, and shame, and repentance, always tread close at the heels of wickedness.
1709. Pope, Ess. Crit., 625. Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread [rhyme dead].
a. 1734. North, Lives (1826), I. 266. He had his jury to deal with, and if he did not tread upon eggs, they would conclude sinistrously.
1817. Jas. Mill, Brit. India, II. V. vi. 560. On the principal ground, however, the parliament … trode nearly blindfold.
1839. T. Mitchell, Aristoph., Frogs, 452, note. Was the author treading upon still more delicate ground than the Scholiast has imagined?
1874. Whyte-Melville, Uncle John, xxii. Leaving the gaol in the early winter twilight, Mr. Lexley seemed to tread on air.
4. intr. To step on (something in one’s way); to put the foot down upon accidentally or intentionally, esp. so as to press upon.
c. 1384. [see b].
c. 1489. Caxton, Blanchardyn, xiv. 49. His courser … tradd vpon one of his armes.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., III. 274. He will come … to think it vnlawfull … to treade vpon a strawe lying a crosse.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., III. i. 79. The poore Beetles that we treade upon.
c. 1643. Ld. Herbert, Autobiog. (1824), 180. Finding my bare feet hurt by the stones I trod on.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., xx. A body can’t set their foot down without treading on ’em.
1887. Bowen, Æneid, II. 380. When a traveller … Treads on a snake unseen.
b. Phrase. To tread on any one’s heels or toes (also fig.); see the sbs.
c. 1384. Chaucer, H. Fame, III. 1063. Tho behynde begunne vp lepe And clamben vp on other fast … And troden [v.r. treden] fast on other heles.
1638. Junius, Paint. Ancients, 15. To come so neere as to tread upon their heeles.
1710. Addison, Tatler, No. 250, ¶ 11. If asking Pardon is an Attonement for treading upon ones Toes?
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 153, ¶ 1. The Cocking young Fellow who treads upon the Toes of his Elders.
1868, 1879. [see TOE sb. 5 i].
1896. Sir W. Walrond, in Libr. Mag., Dec., 504. If they legislated too much they were bound to tread on somebody’s toes.
5. trans. † a. To step or walk with pressure on (something) esp. so as to crush, beat down, injure, or destroy it; to trample. Obs. (exc. as in b.)
c. 825. [see A. 1].
a. 900. Fotum treden [see A. 3].
a. 1000. Ags. Ps. (Th.), xc. 113. Þu … miht … bealde nu basiliscan tredan.
a. 1340. Hampole, Psalter, xxiv. 1. Wha sa ligges þare in, þe deuel tredis him.
1387. [see A. 3 β].
1535. Coverdale, Luke xii. 1. There were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, in so much that they trode one another.
1573–80. Baret, Alv., V 23. Treade a worme on the taile, and it turneth againe.
1656. B. Harris, Parival’s Iron Age (1659), 145. He was found amongst the dead, so trodden, and tumbled … that he was hard to be known.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 160. To make ’em tight … they imploy Men to tread them [raisins] with their Feet.
b. With adverbial extension, as to tread down, under foot, in the mire, to the ground, to pieces, etc.; to tread to death, to kill by trampling.
c. 1200. Ormin, 2248. Alle þa Þatt tredenn dun & cwenkenn All þatt tatt iss onnȝæness Godd.
c. 1290. S. Eng. Leg., I. 206/207. Þe deoulene ornen opon hem and treden heom to þe grounde.
14[?]. Sir Beues, 1195 (MS. M.). He … tredith hym vnder his fete In the dirte.
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccxxii. 739. In the thicke of the prease, they … were troden vnder fote to dethe.
1556. Olde, Antichrist, 99 b. The B. of Rome … is not ashamed to treade ye Lordes anointed neckes under his abominable feet.
1652. C. B. Stapylton, Herodian, XIX. 159. Some he kils and some he treads to Jelly.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 79. He thought he should be … troden down like mire in the Streets.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. viii. Being trod to death like a frog or a young puppy.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xvi. The wild boar of the forest, which treadeth down with his hoofs, and rendeth with his tusks.
c. fig. To crush, to oppress; to treat with contemptuous cruelty.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 21. Tredynge vnder fote & vtterly despysynge all worldly pleasure & payne.
1652. in W. M. Williams, Ann. Founders’ Co. (1867), 32. For manie years extreamly trodden and kept under foote by the power and will of the Master.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xxix. The luxuriant great ones of the world shall no more tread us to the earth.
1775. S. J. Pratt, Liberal Opin., xlviii. (1783), II. 66. In the city, the spirit of humanity is too often trod under feet by the spirit of trade.
1857. Holland, Bay Path, xxix. Her memory … trodden under feet by malice, prejudice, and superstition.
1889. Gretton, Memory’s Harkback, 163. In his early days the masses were a good deal trodden down.
d. intr. for pass. To be trampled down.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. II. i. The Gironde … has trodden on it, and yet not trodden it down…. It is a well-spring, as we said, this black-spot; and will not tread down.
6. intr. To trample on or upon. Also fig.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Luke x. 19. Ic sealde eow anweald to tredenne ofer næddran & snacan.
c. 1330. Amis & Amil., 2096. He … trad [MS. drad] on him in the slough.
1382. Wyclif, Luke x. 19. I have ȝouun to ȝou power of defoulinge, [gloss] othir tredinge, on serpents, and scorpiouns.
c. 1450. trans. De Imitatione, III. xiv. 82. Þat al men mowe goo over þee, and trede vppon the as vppon myre of the streete.
1590. Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., III. ii. Tread upon his neck, And treble all his father’s slaveries.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot., IV. (S.T.S.), I. 225. The sygne of the croce … vpon the ground, quhairthrouche feit mychte haue occasione to tred or tramp thairvpon.
1683. Col. Rec. Pennsylv., I. 79. James Kilner Trode upon him on board the Ship.
1733. Fielding, Quix. in Eng., II. i. Each man rises to admiration by treading on mankind.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxxix. A hatred as intense … as if my foot trode on your neck.
1884. Pae, Eustace, 79. Was he a worm to be trod on thus without turning?
7. trans. To press (something) downwards with the foot or feet in treadling or pedalling.
To tread water, in swimming, to move the feet as in walking upstairs, while the body is kept erect and the head above water.
1680. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., xii. 209. The nearer the Fore-end of the Treddle you Tread, the easier you bring down the Pole. Ibid. Tread the Treddle nimbly down.
1800. Hull Advertiser, 15 Nov., 4/3. I always raised myself by treading water.
1843. Morning Post, 24 May, 2/2. Thinking that he was ‘treading water’ he did not at first consider him to be in danger, but observing him in a few moments to sink, he called for the boat…. The body was found at twelve o’clock deeply imbedded in the mud.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exp., xxxviii. (1856), 343. Seal breast-high, were treading water with their horizontal tails.
8. Of the male bird: To copulate with (the hen). Also absol.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 501. Sone so þu hauest itrede Ne myht þu leng a word iqueþe.
1377. [see A. 2 δ].
c. 1386. Chaucer, Nun’s Pr. T., 358 (Ellesm.). He … fethered Pertelore twenty tyme And trad [14[?] Lansd. MS. trade hire] as ofte.
1599. T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 24. Before the hardie Cocke Beganne to tread, or brooding henne to clocke.
1614. Markham, Cheap Husb. (1623), 143. If your Henne be trodden with a carryon Crow, or Rooke,… it is mortall and incurable.
a. 1687. Cotton, trans. Martial, III. lviii. (1689), 59. I’ th’ Yards are seen, Cocks treading Rhodian Hens.
1721. Bradley, Philos. Acc. Wks. Nat., 78. It is common for Cock Pheasants to tread the Hens of common Poultry.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), V. 165. It matters not much whether she be trodden by the cock or no; she will continue to lay.
1910. A. Platt, trans. Aristotle’s De Generatione, III. viii. 751, in Smith & Ross, A’s Wks., V. When once the hens have been trodden, they all continue to have eggs almost without intermission, though very small ones.
B. absol. Of birds: To copulate.
1486. Bk. St. Albans, Hawking, a ij. We shall say that they [Hawks] trede.
a. 1659. Osborn, Queries, Wks. (1673), 612. I my Self have seen both Swallowes and Hobbies build and tread upon their first Appearance.
1774. G. White, Selborne, 28 Sept. The fact that I would advance is, that swifts tread, or copulate, on the wing.
† c. trans. with out: To engender, beget (offspring). Obs. rare–1.
1594. Lyly, Moth. Bomb., I. i. As your Worship being wise begot a foole, so he being a foole may tread out a wise man.
9. trans. To thresh (corn) by trampling it on a threshing-floor: said of the oxen, etc., or of one using them; also with out. b. To press out the juice of (grapes) by trampling them in a vat. c. To tramp (clothes) in washing; see TRAMP v.1 3 c.
1382. Wyclif, Deut. xxv. 4. Thow shalt not bynde the mouth of the oxe tredinge thi fruytis in the flore. Ibid., Isa. xvi. 10. Wyn in the presse he shal not trede, that to treden was wont; the vois of the trederes I toc awey.
1446. Lydg., Two Nightingale Poems, ii. 155. It is [I], quod he, that trade it al alone. Withouten felawe I gan the wyne out-presse.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., 42 b. Corne … in some place they … lyke to tread it out with Oxen.
1792. A. Young, Trav. France, 31. This universal one of treading out the corn, with which all the towns and villages in Languedoc are now alive.
1801. Farmer’s Mag., Aug., 313. I was long, and greatly prejudised against treading wheat.
1848. Clough, Bothie, ii. The clothes that they trod in the wash-tub.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), II. I. ii. 20. Who wine desires, let him the ripe grapes tread.
10. To make or form by the action of the feet in walking; esp. to beat (a path or track). Const. out.
c. 1410. Wele ytredde [see A. 3 α].
1552. Huloet, Tread out, exculco, as.
1563. Homilies, II. Rogation Week, IV. (1640), 235. The ancient terris of the fields, that old men beforetime with great paines did tread out.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 450. Hee that diggeth the garden, is to be considered, though he cannot treade the knottes.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng., I. i. 51. Paths trodden by the footsteps of ages.
1860. Tennyson, Sea Dreams, 117. But she with her strong feet up the steep hill Trod out a path.
1865. Visct. Milton & W. B. Cheadle, Northwest Passage by Land, viii. (1867), 114. A track would require to be trodden out with snow-shoes to enable the dogs to travel.
11. Horticulture. To beat down and consolidate (soil) by treading; also with plants, etc., as object.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., II. 256. Sette hem depe … And tradde hem fast aboue.
1693. Evelyn, De la Quint. Compl. Gard., II. 149. The first layer being thus compleated … the Gard’ner proceeds to lay the second, third, &c. beating them with the back of his Fork, or else treading them with his Feet.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 66. The ground should be previously trodden or rolled.
1845. Florist’s Jrnl., 31. The whole should be gently trod with the feet.
12. intr. Of land (tread loose, hence ellipt. tread): To yield or give to the tread (? as after frost). dial.
1847. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., VIII. I. 73. When the soil treads loose in the spring, it is very important to use the heavy roller, or some other means of consolidating the soil.
1891. Malden, Tillage, 49. When once the land ‘treads’ the horses are best in the furrow. Ibid., Gloss. s.v., Land is said to tread when it puddles or poaches under the feet of the horses employed upon it.
13. trans. With advbs.: To get or put into or out of some position or condition by treading; esp. to put out (fire) by treading. (See also 5 b, c.)
To tread up (partridges), to flush them by walking up to the covey (? in contrast to the practice of using dogs).
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon (1602), 3. The fire … would breake out (if not troade out in time) of it selfe.
c. 1682. J. Collins, Salt & Fishery, 121. The Meat is … pack’d or trodden into Cask … with Salt betwixt every Lane or Lay.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 314. Trample with thy Feet, and tread it in.
a. 1745. Swift, Direct. Servants, iii. Throw the [candle] snuff on the floor, and then tread it out, to prevent stinking.
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, in Coltness Collect. (Maitl. Cl.), 118. One of them asked … would I have my toes trode off? ‘Is your toes trode off?’ said I.
1808. Col. Hawker, Diary (1893), I. 13. I trod up the whole covey.
1847. W. C. L. Martin, The Ox, 168/1. Buried deep … with quick lime, and covered up with earth closely trodden down.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., i. I. 149. The flame of civil war … was trodden out before it had time to spread.
1888. J. Inglis, Tent Life in Tigerland, 8. The cattle had trod down all the dried leaves.
b. To tread one’s shoe awry (the shoe, one’s foot, amiss, etc.), to fall from chastity. See also AWRY A. 2 c. ? Obs. So to tread one’s shoes straight, to conduct oneself circumspectly, to walk warily (dial.).
c. 1422. Hoccleve, Min. Poems, xxiv. 66. No womman … But swich oon as hath trode hir shoo amis.
1520–1662. [see AWRY A. 2 c].
1616. R. C., Times’ Whistle, VI. 2541. Due pennance thou deservst to doe For tredding thus awry thy slippery shoe.
1642. J. Eaton, Honey-c. Free Justif., 110. If she chance to tread her foot a little awry.
1870. E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., I. 112. They mun tread their shoes very straight or there’ll be a row with our Squire.
Hence Treading ppl. a.
1562. J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 214. There be mo treadyng cockes then one.
