Now dial. Forms: 1 trus, 3–4 trous, 6–7 trousse, trowse, 5– trouse. [OE. trus, perh. a. OIcel. tros rubbish, fallen leaves and twigs, ON. and Norw. tros, Sw. trås, perh. in ablaut relation with tras twig, sprout: see TRASH sb.1; but the ON. word is applied only to twigs, etc. used for burning.] Brushwood, cuttings from hedges or copses; = TRASH sb.1 1.
978. Charter Bp. Oswald, in Kemble, Cod. Dipl., III. 169. Ðæt mylenstall and vi. æcras ðærto, and vi. foðra truses ælce ʓeare on Bloccanlea.
1293. Anc. Deed, A. 9277 (P.R.O.). Dederunt … dicto Hamundo…, trous de alnetis et spinis ad claudendum schidstauid yord.
a. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xxxix. 110. For hope of ys thornes to dutten is doren, He mot myd is twy-byl other trous make.
1458. Anc. Deed, A. 7587 (P.R.O.). To take als moche wode & trouse vpone þe seid londe growyng as is sufficiaunt for closure of alle þe seid londes.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 126. Lay thy small trouse or thornes, that thou hedgeste withal, ouer thy quickesettes.
1573. Nottingham Rec., IV. 149. Fellyng of trouse … in the nere Coppy.
1600. Holland, Livy, VI. x. 223. They provided themselves out of the fields of a number of faggots, of brushwood, and such like trousse, and so … filled up the ditches close to the wals.
1610. Nottingham Rec., IV. 301. To fetch any trowse or tinsell out of the same woodes.
1691. Blount’s Law Dict. (ed. 2), Tinet,… Trouse, Brushwood and Thorns to make and repair Hedges.
1881. Miss Jackson, Shropsh. Word-bk., s.v., ‘That rough trouse ool be rar’ stuff fur breastin’ the ‘edge to keep the ship [i.e., sheep] out.’
Hence † Trouse v. Obs., to cut brushwood (cf. TRASH v.3); † Trousing vbl. sb. (in quot. attrib.).
1512. Nottingham Rec., IV. 454. A trowsyng ax.
1787. Grose, Provinc. Gloss., s.v., Trousing a hedge or faggot; trimming off the superfluous branches. Warw.
