tread 
treadle. 6. Manner of stepping: as, a horse 
with a good trend. 6. The flat r horizontal 
part of :i Mrp or M.-iir; ;i tiv;nl-Kn;inl. 7. The 
length of a shiji's krcl. 8. The bMfiagmfMM 
of a wheel or of a runner on a road or rail. 9. 
The part of a rail on which the wheeK hear. 
10. The part of :i stilt on which the foot rests. 
11. That part of the sole of a boot or Hhoe 
whieh touches the ground in walking. 12. 
The top 'it' the banquette of a fortification, on 
which soldiers stand to fire. 13. The uppi-r 
side of the bed of a lathe between the head- 
stock and (lie back-center. 14. The width 
in .in pi-dal to pedal of a bicycle, linrii nml 
Ili/lii r, Cycling, p. :!46. 15. A wound on the 
coronet of a horse's foot, produced by the shoe 
nl cither hind or fore foot of the opposite side. 
Rubber tread, a piece of rubber, usually roughened or 
n.miKiitftl mi one si.li'. fastened on a car- or carriage-step 
to Rive a secure foothold. 
tread-behind (trod'be-hind*), . A doubling; 
tin endeavor to escape from a pursuer by fall- 
ing behind. [Rare.] 
Mis tricks and traps and tread-behiwt*. 
Naylnr, Reynard the Fox, p. 20. (Daviet.) 
tread-board (tred'bord), . 1. The horizontal 
part of a step, on which the foot is placed. 2. 
One of the boards of a treadmill upon which its 
operator steps. 
treader (tred'er), M. [rerf + -/T 1 .] One who 
or that which treads. 
The treader* shall tread out no wine In their presses 
Isa. xvl. 10. 
tread-fowlt (tred'fonl), . [ME. tredefotcl ; < 
tread, r., + obj./oirJ.] A cock. 
Thow woldest nan been a tredefowel aright. 
Chaucer, Prol. to Monk's Tale, 1. 5T. 
treading (tred'ing), u. [Verbal n. of tread, r.] 
1. The act of setting down the foot; a step. 
My feet were almost gone, my treading* had well-nigh 
sllpt. Book of Common Prayer, Psalter, Ps. Ixxill. 2. 
Treading consists In pressing and kneading the clay- 
paste little by little with bare feet. Glaxs-makintj, p. 30. 
2. That which is trampled down. 
The off horse walks on the grass, but outside of the line 
of cut ; consequently, Ills treadingg are met by the machine 
on the return journey, and cut clean. Ure, Diet., IV. 28. 
3. The act of the cock in copulation. 
treadle (tred'l), . [Also treddle; < ME. tredyl, 
< AS. tredel, a step, < trcdan, tread : see tread.] 
1. A lever designed to be moved by the foot to 
impart motion to a machine, as a lathe, sewing- 
machine, or bicycle. It consists usually of a form 
of lever connected by a rod with a crank ; but other forms 
employ straps or cords for transmitting the power. In the 
bicycle the treadle is practically the crank itself. In the 
organ, particularly the pipe-organ, and many machines, 
the drop-press, etc., where the treadle does not impart a 
rotary motion, but only starts, stops, or otherwise controls 
the machine or instrument, it is more properly a pedal. 
but in the reed-organ the foot-levers by which the feeders 
are operated are called either treadle* or pedal*. See cute 
under pegger, potter, reed-organ, ripple, sewing-machinr, 
and sprinif-hammer. 
2. The tough ropy or stringy part of the white 
of an egg; the chalaza: so called because for- 
merly supposed to be the male sperm. Com- 
pare tread, 4. 
treadle (tred'l), r. '. ; pret. and pp. treadled, ppr. 
treadling. [< treadle, .] To operate a treadle ; 
specifically, in playing a reed-organ, to oper- 
ate the feeders by means of the foot-levers or 
pedals. 
treadle-machine (tred'1-ma-shen*), w. A small 
printing-press worked by the pressure of the 
foot on a treadle. 
treadler (tred'ler), n. [< treadle + -'.] One 
who works a treadle. -Treadlers' cramp, an occu- 
pation neurosis affecting sewing-machine operators, scis- 
sors-grinders, and others who use treadle-machines: of a 
similar nature to writers' er<u/ip(whlch see, under writer). 
A case of Treadler's Cramp. Lancet, 1891, 1. 410. 
treadling (tred'ling), u. [Verbal n. of treadle, 
p.] The act of using the treadles or pedals of 
a reed-organ. 
treadmill (tred'mil), n. [< tread + wiWi.] 1. 
An appliance for producing rotary motion by 
the weight of a man or men, or of an animal, as 
a horse, stepping on movable steps connected 
with a revolving cylinder or wheel. The name is 
now rarely given to industrial appliances of this nature, 
but chiefly to those used as means of punishment in some 
prisons. Compare hane-poioer, s, and see cut in next 
column. 
Hence 2. Figuratively, a monotonous and 
wearisome round, as of occupation or exertion : 
as, the tri'iiilmill of business. 
The everlasting tread-mill of antecedent and consequent 
goes round and round, but we can neither rest nor make 
progress. Xew Princeton Ren., I. 187. 
tread-softly (tred'soft'li), . The spurge-net- 
tle, Jatroplta ureas, variety stimnlosa (or ./. xW- 
405 
C,| in 
a 
Ir 
a, bottom timbers of frame : *, rollers attache*! to the treads, one 
of which U fully shown at t ; rf. if, brake-shoe and brak*kver re- 
spectively, used In stopping the machine ; t, one of the two inclinol 
planes on opposite sides of the machine upon which the rollers t run ; 
/, inclosure for horse or mule which operates the machine ; f, driving- 
wheel, which in use U belted to the machine to be driven. 
mulosa), found from Virginia to Florida and 
Louisiana. 1 1 is a herbaceous plant with a long peren- 
nial root, a low weed armed with white bristles half an 
inch long, which sting severely. Also called ttinyintj 
bush. 
treadwheel (tred'hwel), w. A contrivance for 
utilizing the weight of men or animals to pro- 
duce rotary motion, whieh can then be applied 
to various mechanical purposes, it I* of two 
principal forms : (a) A hollow cylinder set with the axis 
horizontal. An animal, as a doc, walks on the inner sur- 
face of the cylinder, to which battens are secured as a 
foothold, and thus revolves it (6) A large flat disk of 
wood or other material set at an angle of about twenty 
degrees with the horizon. The animal which moves it 
stands on the disk at one side of the axis or pivot ; Its 
weight causes the disk to turn, and it U thus compelled 
to continue walking In order to keep its footing, 
treaguet (treg), n. [< It. tregua = Sp. tregun 
= Pg. treijoa = Pr. trega, tregua, trera, trev = 
OF. trece, trice, F. trve,< ML. treuga (also, after 
OF., trera), a truce, < Goth, triggita = OHG. 
triuira = OS. treutca = AS. treotc, truth, truce : 
see true, truce.] A truce. 
She them besought, during their quiet treayue, 
Into her lodging to repaire awhile. 
Spenter, F. Q., II. II. S3. 
treason (tre'zn), . [< ME. trenon, trestin, treisvn, 
traisoun, trayst>n,<.OF.trahi3oii,traiiui<>n,traiii, 
F. tralnson = Pr. traicio, traazo, tracio, tramtio 
= Sp. trairiun = Pg. traieSo, < L. traditio(n-), a 
giving up, surrender, delivery, tradition, < tra- 
ders, pp. traditus, give up, deliver over, betray: 
see tradition, of which t reason is a doublet.] 1. 
A betraying; treachery; breach of faith. 
The false Oenelon, 
He that purchased the treson 
Of [i. r.. toward] Rowland and of Ollvere. 
Chaucer, Death of Blanche, 1. 1122. 
He that did by treason work our fall 
By treason hath delivered thee to us. 
Marlowe, Jew of Malta, v. 4. 
Britton . . . more clearly states the Idea of " betrayal " 
as distinct from that of "lese-majesty," and includes In 
treaon any mischief done to one to whom the doer repre- 
sents himself as a friend. Stubbs, Const. Hist, 443. 
Specifically 2. Violation by a subject of his 
allegiance to his sovereign or liege lord, or to 
the chief authority of the state, in old English law 
it was (a) against the King or supreme power of the state, 
and more specifically called hiyh treason, or (6) against 
any other superior, as a master, etc., and called petit treason 
or petty treastm. Various offenses falling far short of what 
is now deemed treason, such as counterfeiting money, were 
so considered. By modern law in England treason, more 
specifically called hit/h treason, includes such offenses as 
imagining the king's (or queen's) death (that Is, proposing 
to kill, malm, or restrain him), or levying war against 
him, adhering to his enemies, killing his wife or eldest 
son or heir, violating his wife or daughter or heir's wife, 
or killing the chancellor, treasurer, or a Justice In office. 
Treason against the United States consists only in levying 
war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, or In 
giving their enemies aid and comfort ; treason against a 
State Is generally defined as consisting in hostility to a 
State only. The former punishment for treason in F.ng 
land was that the condemned should be drawn on a hurdle 
to the place of execution, and there be hanged and dis- 
emboweled alive, and then beheaded and quartered ; and 
a conviction was followed by forfeiture of land and goods, 
and attainder of blood ; but the penalty is now hanging. 
Those that care to keep your royal person 
From treaton't secret knife and traitor's rage. 
Shale., -1 Hen. VI., III. 1. 174. 
Treaton doth never prosper : what 's the reason ? 
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason. 
Sir John Harington, Of Treaton. 
Treaton is a breach of allegiance, and can be committed 
by him only who owes allegiance, either perpetual or tem- 
porary. Marshall. 
Constructive treason, anything which, though lacking 
treasonable intent, Is declared by law to be treason and 
punishable as such. Numerous acts suggestive of disaf- 
fection were formerly punished as constructive treason 
upon the pretext that they were In law equivalent to actual 
treason. Hence the provision of the i .institution of the 
fulled States (Art. IIL 5 SX according to which "Treav- 
treasure 
son against the United State* shall consist only In levy- 
Ing War agalnit them, or In adhering to tin ii I i,< mi. - 
uiving them Aid anil i ..nif.-rt No IVIN.II shall I.. 
vlcted of Treason unless on the testimony of two Wit- 
nesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession In open 
i ...irt. The Congress shall have power to declare the 
I'niii-liin. n( of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall 
work Corruption of Blmid. or rorfritun i-xcept during 
the Life of the Person attainted." 
Lord Oeorge Gordon was thrown Into the Tower, and 
was tried before Lord Mansfield on the charge of high 
treason for levying war upon the Crown. The charge 
was what U termed by lawyers conttrurtire treason. It 
rested upon the aaaertlon that the agitation which he 
had created and led was the originating cause of the out- 
rage, that had taken place. 
l*tku, Eng. In 18th Cent., xlii. 
High treason, s.-.- d.-f. :t. Mlnprision of treason. 
See mupriiiaiii. Petit or petty treason, the crime of 
killing a person to whom the offender owes duty or sub- 
jection, aa for a servant to kill his master, or a wife her 
husband. Ai a name for a specific offense the Una to 
no longer used, such crimes being now deemed murder 
onljr.- Statute of Treasons, an Kngllsh statute .1 
(8 Edw. III., c. _') declaring, (or the first time, what 
offenses should be adjudged treason. Treason Felony 
Act. ."ee/efony.-Byn. Wee perjldlous. 
treasonable (tre'zn-a-bl), a. [< treason + 
-able.] Of or pertaining to treason; consist- 
ing of treason ; involving the crime of treason, 
or partaking of its guilt. 
Bark, how the villain would close now, after his trea- 
tonablt abuses ! Shot., \l for M . v. 1. 847. 
Syn. See perfidious. 
treasonablenesa (tre'zn-a-bl-nes), . The 
character of being treasonable. 
treasonably (tre'zn-a-bli), adr. In a treason- 
able manner. 
treason-felony (tre'zn-fel'on-i), M. In Eng. 
law, the offense of compassing, imagining, de- 
vising, or intending to deprive the king or 
queen of the crown, or to levy war within the 
realm, in order forcibly to compel the change 
of royal measures, or to intimidate either 
house' of Parliament, or to excite an invasion 
in any of the crown's dominions. 
treasonous (tre'zn-us), a. [< treason + -out.] 
Treasonable. 
He had glv'n flrst his military Oath to Anlas, whom if 
he had betral'd, the King might suspect him of like Irea- 
tonmu mlnde towards himself. Milton, Hist Eng., v. 
treasonryt, [< treason + -ry.] Treason. 
I am right rad of treaxonrie. 
Sony of the Outlaw Murray (Child's Ballads, VI. -_: i 
treasonyt, H. [< treason + -y 3 .] Treason; 
treachery. 
It Is tauld me the day, sir knight, 
Ye've done me treasonie. 
Young Waters (Child's Ballads, IIL SOS). 
treasure (trezh'ur), n. [Early mod. E. also 
threamtre, threanor, in awkward imitation of the 
L. spelling tltesaurus; < ME. tresure, tresur, tre- 
nor, trenore, tresour, < OF. tresor, later thresor, 
F. tre'xor, with unorig. r, prop. * tenor, = Pr. the- 
saur = Sp. tcsoro, OSp. also trenoro = Pg. tlie- 
sovro = It. texoro (dial, trasoro), < L. thesaurus. 
< Or. fh/oavp6f, a store laid up, treasure, a trea- 
sure-house, store-house, chest, < riBivai, set, 
place: see thesis, theme, do*. Ct. thesaurus.] 1. 
Money or jewels in store ; wealth accumulated ; 
riches hoarded ; particularly, a stock or store of 
money in reserve. 
The value of a mine is a matter for a Kings Threator. 
John Dee (Ellls's Lit Letters, p. S8). 
If thou be'st death, 111 give thee England's treasure, 
Enough to purchase such another island, 
So thou wilt let me live, and feel no pain. 
S*o*.,2Hen. VI.,111. S. S. 
2. Specifically, gold or silver, either as it comes 
from the mine, or in bullion, coin, or plate; es- 
pecially, coin. 
The several parcels of his plate, his treasure, 
Rich stuffs, and ornaments of household. 
Shot., Hen. VIII., IIL 2. 12A. 
3. A quantity of anything gathered together; 
a store ; a wealth. 
We have treasures In the Held, of wheat and of barley, 
and of oil and of honey. Jer. xlL 8. 
4. Something which is greatly valued; that 
which is highly prized or very valuable. 
O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst 
thon! . . . 
"One fair daughter, and no more. 
The which he loved passing well.' 
Shot:., Hamlet, IL 2. 4ZS. 
This gentleman, as humble as you see him, 
Is even this kingdom's treasure. 
Beau, and PI., Laws of Candy, ill. 1. 
As bees flee hame wi' lades o' treasure. 
Burnt, Tarn o' Shanter. 
5t. A treasure-house ; a treasury. 
Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the 
treasure! of the house of the Lord, and the treamrei of the 
king's house. 1 Ki. XT. 18. 
