*treb*

{ } n. An instrument turning on a center, for boring holes. See Bit, n., 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. (Naut.) A retractable or sliding keel used on sailboats, formed of a broad board or slab of wood or metal which may be raised into a water-tight case amidships, when in shallow water, or may be lowered to increase the area of lateral resistance and prevent drifting to leeward when the vessel is beating to windward. It is used in vessels of all sizes along the coast of the United States
Syn. -- centreboard, drop keel, sliding keel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. same as centerboard.
Syn. -- centerboard, drop keel, sliding keel. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ OE. treble threefold, OF. treble, treible, L. triplus. See Triple. ] 1. Threefold; triple. [ 1913 Webster ]

A lofty tower, and strong on every side
With treble walls. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mus.) (a) Acute; sharp; as, a treble sound. Bacon. (b) Playing or singing the highest part or most acute sounds; playing or singing the treble; as, a treble violin or voice. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Trebly; triply. [ Obs. ] J. Fletcher. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ “ It has been said to be a corruption of triplum [ Lat. ], a third part, superadded to the altus and bassus (high and low).” Grove. ] (Mus.) The highest of the four principal parts in music; the part usually sung by boys or women; soprano. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This is sometimes called the first treble, to distinguish it from the second treble, or alto, which is sung by lower female voices. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Trebled p. pr. & vb. n. Trebling. ] 1. To make thrice as much; to make threefold. “Love trebled life.” Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To utter in a treble key; to whine. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He outrageously
(When I accused him) trebled his reply. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become threefold. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being treble; as, the trebleness of tones. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Triblet. [ 1913 Webster ]