4. pl. (Law) The third part of the estate of a deceased husband, which,
by some local laws, the widow is entitled to enjoy during her life.
Major third (Mus.), an interval of two tones. — Minor third (Mus.), an
interval of a tone and a half.
Third"-bor`ough (?), n. (O. Eng. Law) An under constable. Shak.
Johnson.
Third"ings (?), 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.
Third"ly, adv. In the third place. Bacon.
Third"-pen`ny (?), 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.
Thirl (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Thirled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Thirling.]
[See Thrill.] To bore; to drill or thrill. See Thrill. [Obs. or Prov.]
That with a spear was thirled his breast bone.
Chaucer.
Thirl"age (?), 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.
Thirst (?), n. [OE. thirst, þurst, AS. þurst, þyrst; akin to D. dorst,
OS. thurst, G. durst, Icel. þorsti, Sw. & Dan. törst, Goth. þaúrstei
thirst, þaúrsus dry, withered, þaúrsieþ mik I thirst, gaþaírsan to
wither, L. torrere to parch, Gr. te`rsesqai to become dry, tesai`nein
to dry up, Skr. tsh to thirst. √54. Cf. Torrid.] 1. A sensation of
dryness in the throat associated with a craving for liquids, produced
by deprivation of drink, or by some other cause (as fear, excitement,
etc.) which arrests the secretion of the pharyngeal mucous membrane;
hence, the condition producing this sensation.
Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill
us, and our children . . . with thirst?
Ex. xvii. 3.
With thirst, with cold, with hunger so confounded.
Chaucer.
2. Fig.: A want and eager desire after anything; a craving or longing;
— usually with for, of, or after; as, the thirst for gold. "Thirst of
worldy good." Fairfax. "The thirst I had of knowledge." Milton.
Thirst, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Thirsted; p. pr. & vb. n. Thirsting.] [AS.
þyrstan. See Thirst, n.] 1. To feel thirst; to experience a painful or
uneasy sensation of the throat or fauces, as for want of drink.
The people thirsted there for water.
Ex. xvii. 3.