Forms: see next. [sb. use of TRIPLE a.; cf. OF. triple in sense 5 below (c. 1450 in Godef., Compl.).]
1. A triple quantity, sum, or number; thrice as much or many, the product of a number multiplied by three.
c. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, 20. Of alle þise herbes,… take euen porcion, outtake of wodebynde, of whiche … be taken þe triple or quadriple.
1557. Recorde, Whetst., N iij b. Multiplie that triple, by the same quotiente. And set it doune vnder the first triple.
1674. Jeake, Arith. (1696), 195. Triple the Root, and multiply this triple by the Root.
1789. T. Taylor, Proclus, II. 16. Not only the doubles, but also the triples, and all multiples of the same quantity.
1830. H. Angelo, Remin., I. 327. To add more than triple to his income.
† b. A set or series of three; a triad. Obs. rare.
1653. R. G., trans. Bacon’s Hist. Winds, 203. This triple of Principles hath been introduced by the Chymists.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 464. The Sins, or Judgments of others may make this Triple of Petitions out of that unparallel’d Paterne.
2. In technical and elliptical uses. † a. Mus. Triple measure or rhythm. Obs. b. A triple star.
c. A magic lantern having three optical tubes combined in one.
1597. Morley, Introd. Mus., 9. Where it comprehendeth three semibriefes, as in a triple.
1890. C. A. Young, Uranography, § 32, 11. Monocerotis, a fine triple.
1892. Photogr. Ann., II. 531. Optical lanterns. Single lanterns. Biunials and triples.
d. Baseball. A hit resulting in the batter advancing to third base.
1883. Times-Picayune, 22 May, 1/7. Peltz played left field for the winners, went to the bat 5 times, made 1 run, 2 hits, one a triple, 3 put-outs, no assists and no errors.
3. Bell-ringing. A peal rang on seven bells with the tenor, i.e., the eighth, behind; the bells interchanging each time in three sets of two.
1798. in Gentl. Mag., April (1825), 298/2. A full and compleat peal of grandsire tripples, consisting of 5040 changes.
1872. Ellacombe, Ch. Bells Devon, etc., iii. 238. A peal of ‘London Union Triples.’
1902. Westm. Gaz., 23 Oct., 12/2. A boy of fourteen … took part in ringing 1,260 changes, which constitutes a quarter-peal of Grandsire Triples.
† 4. = TREBLE sb. 7 b. Obs. rare–1.
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D. (Arb.), 83. The Peale of belles rong by the parish Clerk, and Roister Doisters foure men. The first Bell a Triple.
† 5. = TREBLE sb. 4. Obs. rare–1.
1600. Fairfax, Tasso, XVIII. xxiv. The humaine voices sung a triple hie.
