From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Trice \Trice\, n. [Sp. tris the noise made by the breaking of
glass, an instant, en un tris in an instant; probably of
imitative origin.]
A very short time; an instant; a moment; -- now used only in
the phrase in a trice. "With a trice." --Turbervile. " On a
trice." --Shak.
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A man shall make his fortune in a trice. --Young.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Trice \Trice\, v. t. [OE. trisen; of Scand. or Low German
origin; cf. Sw. trissa a sheave, pulley, triss a spritsail
brace, Dan. tridse a pulley, tridse to haul by means of a
pulley, to trice, LG. trisse a pulley, D. trijsen to hoist.]
[Written also trise.]
1. To pull; to haul; to drag; to pull away. [Obs.]
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Out of his seat I will him trice. --Chaucer.
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2. (Naut.) To haul and tie up by means of a rope.
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