n.
Major third (Mus.),
Minor third (Mus.),
a. [ OE. thirde, AS. þridda, fr. þrī, þreó, three; akin to D. derde third, G. dritte, Icel. þriði, Goth. þridja, L. tertius, Gr.
Third estate.
Third order (R. C. Ch.),
Third person (Gram.),
Third sound. (Mus.)
n. (O. Eng. Law) An under constable. Shak. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. pl. (Eng. Law) The third part of the corn or grain growing on the ground at the tenant's death, due to the lord for a heriot, as within the manor of Turfat in Herefordshire. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In the third place. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (A.S. Law) A third part of the profits of fines and penalties imposed at the country court, which was among the perquisites enjoyed by the earl. [ 1913 Webster ]
. (Electric Railways)
. (Electric Railways) A system in which a third rail is used for carrying the current for operating the motors, the rail being insulated from the ground and the current being taken off by means of contact brushes or other devices. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
v. t.
That with a spear was thirled his breast bone. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. Thrall. ] (Scots Law) The right which the owner of a mill possesses, by contract or law, to compel the tenants of a certain district, or of his sucken, to bring all their grain to his mill for grinding. Erskine. [ 1913 Webster ]