sb. pl. Also 6 trewis, (8–9 truis). [ad. Irish trius, Gael. triubhas, sb. sing., ad. Eng. TROUSE (singular, with pl. trouses), but from the final (sound of) s treated as a plural, with no singular in use: cf. drawers, breeches.] Close-fitting trousers, or breeches combined with stockings, formerly worn by Irishmen and Scottish Highlanders, and still by certain Scottish regiments.
a. 1568. Montgomerie, Misc. Poems, liv. 3. Smoir cunary takin trewis breikles McBradȝan.
[1581. A. Trollope, Lett., 12 Sept., in Cal. St. Papers, Irel., 1574–85, 318. They had ech of them a hatt, a lether jerken, a payre of hosen, which they called trowes, and a payre of broges.]
a. 1653. Z. Boyd, Zion’s Flowers (1855), Introd. 19. Content to weare the Irish trews.
1728. Ramsay, Teat. Misc., Highland Laddie, ii. I’d take young Donald without trews, With bonnet blew, and belted plaidy.
[1746. Act 19–20 Geo. II., c. 39 § 17. The Plaid, Philibeg, or little Kilt, Trowse, Shoulder Belts, or whatsoever of what peculiarly belongs to the Highland Garb.]
1771. Pennant, Tour Scot. in 1769 (1794), 210. The truis were worn by the gentry, and were breeches and stockings made of one piece.
1790. Burns, On Battle of Sheriffmuir, iii. Had you seen the philibegs, And skyrin tartan trews, man.
1808. Scott, Marm., V. v. The chequer’d trews, and belted plaid.
1834. Planché, Brit. Costume, 338.
1860. Knight, Pop. Hist. Eng., VI. viii. 134, note. Prince Charles Edward is painted as wearing the truis, the breeches and stockings in one piece, or hose pantaloon.
1911. C. F. Atkinson, in Encycl. Brit., XXVII. 585/1. Highland regiments wear tartan kilt…; Lowland regiments (also Scottish Rifles, Highland Light Infantry, and all mounted officers) tartan trews.
Hence Trewsman, one who wears trews; a Highlander.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, iv. We have a wheen canny trewsmen here.
