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Webster 1913 Edition

Thrave

Thrave

(thrāv)
,
Noun.
[OE.
þrave
,
þreve
, Icel.
þrefi
; akin to Dan.
trave
; cf. Icel.
þrīfa
to grasp.]
1.
Twenty-four (in some places, twelve) sheaves of wheat; a shock, or stook.
[Prov. Eng.]
2.
The number of two dozen; also, an indefinite number; a bunch; a company; a throng.
“The worst of a thrave.”
[Obs.]
Landsdowne MS.
He sends forth
thraves
of ballads to the sale.
Bp. Hall.

Webster 1828 Edition

Thrave

THRAVE

,
Noun.
A drove; a herd. [Not in use.]

THRAVE

,
Noun.
The number of two dozen. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024

thrave

thrave

English

Verb

thrave ‎(third-person singular simple present thraves, present participle thraving, simple past and past participle thraved)

  1. (transitive, Britain, dialectal) To urge; compel; importune.
Related terms
  • thraft

Etymology 2

From Middle English thrave, threve, thrafe, from Old Norse þrefi ‎(“a bunch or handful of sheaves”), related to Old Norse þrifa ‎(“to grasp”). Cognate with Swedish trave, Danish trave.

Alternative forms

  • threave (obsolete), threve (obsolete)

Noun

thrave ‎(plural thraves)

  1. (Britain, dialect) A sheaf; a handful.
  2. (Britain, dialect, obsolete) Twenty-four (or in some places, twelve) sheaves of wheat; a shock, or stook.
  3. (Britain, dialect, obsolete) Two dozen, or similar indefinite number; a bunch; a throng.
    • Landsdowne MS
      The worst of a thrave.
    • Bishop Hall
      He sends forth thraves of ballads to the sale.

Etymology

From Middle English thraven, from Old English þrafian ‎(“to press; urge; compel; rebuke; argue; contend”), from Proto-Germanic *þrabōną ‎(“to press; drive”), from Proto-Indo-European *trep- ‎(“to scamper; trample; quake; tread”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian troawje, droawje ‎(“to trot”), West Frisian drave ‎(“to trot”), Dutch draven ‎(“to lope; trot”), German traben ‎(“to trot”), Swedish trava ‎(“to trot”), Icelandic þrefa ‎(“to wrangle; dispute”).

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