Chapter Trouble to Truth of T by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Truss his Points (To). To tie the points of hose. The points were the cords pointed with metal, like shoe-laces, attached to doublets and hose; being very numerous, some second person was required to “truss” them or fasten them properly.

“I hear the gull [Sir Piercie] clamorous for someone to truss his points. He will find himself fortunate if he lights on anyone here who can do him the office of groom of the chamber.”- Sir W. Scott: The Monastery, chap. xvi.

Trusts The combinations called rings or corners in the commercial world. The chief merchants of an article (say sugar, salt, or flour) combine to fix the selling price of a given article and thus secure enormous profits. These enterprises are technically called “trusts,” because each of the merchants is on trust not to undersell the others, but to remain faithful to the terms agreed on.

Truth Pilate said, “What is truth?” This was the great question of the Platonists. Plato said we could know truth if we could sublimate our minds to their original purity. Arcesilaos said that man's understanding is not capable of knowing what truth is. Carneades maintained that not only our understanding could not comprehend it, but even our senses are wholly inadequate to help us in the investigation. Gorgias the Sophist said, “What is right but what we prove to be right? and what is truth but what we believe to be truth?”