Pros. Also in Gr.-Lat. form 6 trocheus, 6–7 (9) trochæus. [ad. L. trochæus, ad. Gr. τροχαίος, prop. adj. (sc. πούς foot) running, tripping, f. τρόχος a running, course, f. τρέχειν to run; cf. F. trochée (1572 in Hatz.-Darm.).] A metrical foot consisting of a long followed by a short syllable; in accentual verse, of an accented followed by an unaccented syllable. Also called CHOREE.
1589. Puttenham, Eng. Poesie, II. xiii. (Arb.), 133. For your Trocheus of a long and short ye haue these words mānĕr, brōkĕn, tākĕn, bōdiĕ, mēmbĕr, and a great many moe.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 1259. For when the melody and rhythme or measure was artificially set to, & the number or rhythme alone cunningly transmuted, so as a Trochæus was put in stead of a Pæon.
1603. Daniel, Def. Rhyme, G j b. if we shold say the state of China, which neuer hard of Anapestiques, Trochies, & tribracques, were grosse, barbarous and vnciuile.
a. 1771. Gray, Corr., etc. (1843), 240. The measure … is Dimeter-Iambic, but admits of a Trochee, Spondee, Amphibrachys, Anapæst, &c. in almost every place.
1803. Coleridge, Met. Feet, i.
| Trochee trips from long to short; | |
| From long to long in solemn sort. |
† b. = TRIBRACH. Obs. rare–1.
1586. W. Webbe, Eng. Poetrie (Arb.), 69. A roote of 3 sillables … is either simple or myxt. The simple is eyther Molossus, that is of three long,… or Trochæus, that is of 3 short.
