1 C1 formal
To haul something up quickly and fasten it in position using a rope, especially on a ship.
"The sailors triced up the hammocks each morning to keep the lower decks clear."
separable
trice up
C1 formal separable transitive
To haul up and secure something with a rope, especially in a nautical context.
In plain English
To pull something up and tie it in place with a rope.
What does "trice up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To pull upward and fasten with a rope.
Actually means
To pull something up and tie it in place with a rope.
Usage tip
Primarily a nautical/sailing term. 'Trice' derives from Middle Dutch meaning to pull. Almost exclusively found in maritime writing or historical fiction. Extremely rare in modern everyday usage.
Words that pair with "trice up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
sail hammock rope rigging cargo yard
How to conjugate "trice up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
trice up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
trices up
he/she/it
Past simple
triced up
yesterday
Past participle
triced up
have + pp
-ing form
tricing up
continuous
Hear "trice up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "trice up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "trice up"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.