galwes

Scots: galow, gallo, gallows

English: gallow, gallows

From Old English ġealga, galga, from Proto-Germanic *galgô.

‘The tree,’ quod she, ‘the galwes is to mene,
And Iuppiter bitokneth snow and reyn,’ [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Monk's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3941-3942

‘The tree,’ said she, ‘is to signify the gallows,
And Jupiter betokens snow and rain,’ …


folily

...for thynges that been folily doon, and that been in hope of Fortune, shullen nevere come to good ende.

1387, Chaucer, “v. 7061”, in The Tale of Melibee:

Foolishly, idiotically, in an ill-advised or knowledgeless way.

Immorally; in a sinful, immoral or evil way.


loresman

English: loresman

From lores (“pieces of knowledge”) + man (“man, person”).

af

(rare) instructor, tutor, teacher; especially a religious one.


salvin

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of saven


rody

The vapour, which that fro the erthe glood,
Made the sonne to seme rody and brood; [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Squire's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 393-394

The vapor that glided up from the earth,
Made the sun seem ruddy and broad; …


felefold

From Old English felafeald (“manifold, many times over”), equivalent to fele (“many”) + -fold. Compare Dutch veelvoud, German Vielfalt.

inh

Mum and the Sothsegger
The grapes grovid a-grete in gardyns aboute, And oþer fruytz felefold in feldes and closes.

Manifold; multiple, various; varied, diverse.


felefold

many times over; in many ways; in various ways or places


widewhere

Thus I wente wide-wher, Dowel to seche

14ᵗʰ Century, Langland, Piers Plowman (A-Text), Passus 9

In Surrie whylom dwelte a companye
Of chapmen riche, and therto sadde and trewe,
That wyde-wher senten her spycerye,
Clothes of gold, and satins riche of hewe;
Her chaffar was so thrifty and so newe,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 134-140

With hem, and eek to sellen hem hir ware.
In Syria once dwelt a company
Of rich merchants, and moreover trustworthy and true,
That wherever they sent their oriental goods,
Cloth of gold, and satins rich in color;
Their merchandise was so serviceable and so novel,
That every person has desire to trade
With them, and also to sell them their goods.

That every wight hath deyntee to chaffare


brasen

English: brazen, brasen

Yola: brazon, brason

From Old English bræsen (“made of copper, bronze”); equivalent to bras (“brass”) + -en (“made of”).


secre

[...] But to his wyves tolde he his secree,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Monk's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3211-3212

Through which he slow him-self, for wrecchednesse.
… But to his wives he told his secret,
Through which he slew himself for wretchedness.


chaunterie

English: chantry

From Old French chaunterie; equivalent to chaunten + -erie.

[...] And ran to London, un-to sëynt Poules,
To seken him a chaunterie for soules, [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 509-510

… And run to London unto Saint Paul's,
To seek an appointment as a chantry priest, …

An endowment for the maintenance of a priest to sing a daily mass for the souls of specified people

A chantry (chapel set up for the above endowment)

[...] Fro þe kyng watʒ cummen with knyʒtes in to þe halle,
Þe chauntre of þe chapel cheued to an ende; [...]

c. 14th century, Gawain Poet, part I, stanza 4, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, line 62-63

… For the king was come with knights into the hall,
And chanting in the chapel had chimed to an end; …

(rare) The chanting which occurs during Mass.


povert

Povert is hateful good, and, as I gesse,
A ful greet bringer out of bisinesse; [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1195-1196

Poverty is a hateful good and, as I guess,
A very great remover of cares; …


sorweful

English: sorrowful

This sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun,
Goth in the chambre, roming to and fro,
And to him-self compleyning of his wo;
That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, ‘alas!’

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1070-1073

Goes in the chamber roaming to and fro,
And to himself lamenting his woe;
That he was born, full often he said, ‘alas!’


auntrous

English: adventurous

And for he was a knyght auntrous,
He nolde slepen in noon hous,
But liggen in his hoode.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Ryme of Syr Thopas”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 219-21:


gerner

English: garner

Scots: girnel, garnel

Borrowed from Old French gernier, grenier, from Latin grānārium; equivalent to greyn + -er.

Wel koude he keepe / a Gerner and a Bynne / Ther was noon Auditour / koude on hym wynne

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “Here Bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunt́burẏ”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 9, verso:

He could keep a granary and a grain-bin well, / and there was no auditor who could best him.

A granary; a building for storing grain.


heroner

Bothe heroner and faucon for ryuere

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


godelich

[...] ‘Swich thing is gladsom, as it thinketh me,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Nun's Priest's Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 3968-3969

… ‘Such a thing is pleasing, as it seems to me,
And of such a thing it would be good to tell.’

And of swich thing were goodly for to telle.’


ruggy

Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun,
With flotery berd, and ruggy asshy heres, [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 2882-2883

With waving beard and rough hair sprinkled with ashes, …


honestetee

I speke this for the synne of superfluitee, and nat for resonable honestitee, whan reson it requireth.

1394, Chaucer, “v. 436”, in The Parson's Tale:


mervaille

Fyve thousand folk it was as gret mervaille

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 502-503

It was as great marvel five thousand folk
To feed with five loaves and two fish.

With loves fyve and fisshes two to fede.


opye

For he had yive his gayler drinke so
Of a clarree, maad of a certeyn wyn,
With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn,
That al that night, thogh that men wolde him shake,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1470-1475

And thus he fleeth as faste as ever he may.
For he had so given his jailer drink
Of a spiced and sweetened drink made of a certain wine,
With narcotics and pure opium of Thebes,
That all that night, though men would shake him,
The jailer slept, he could not awake;
And thus he flees as fast as ever he can.


recoveree

English: recovery

From Old French recovree; equivalent to recoveren + -e (participial suffix).

(rare, Late Middle English) Restoration or granting of that which is legally due.


meritote

What eylith you, some gay gerl, God it wote / Hath brought in you thus on the meritote.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Myllers Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, line 662:

A children's game of swinging on ropes or similar until dizzy.


mistihead

And Phoebus your father, with his streames red, / Adorns the morrow, consuming the sort / Of misty cloudes, that would overlade / True humble heartes with their mistihead.

14th c., Geoffrey Chaucer, A Goodly Ballad of Chaucer; republished as David Laing Purves, compiler, The Canterbury Tales with Other Poems, 1870:


gameful

English: gameful


leyser

English: leisure

Yola: lizure

Borrowed from Old French leisir, laisir, variants of loisir.

Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie. Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales.


mooder

[...] Wel mighte a mooder than han cryed ‘allas!’

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Clerk's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 563

… Well might a mother then have cried ‘alas!’


wrawnesse

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, section 53, line 680

But Sloth does no such diligence; he does all thing with vexation, and with fretfulness, slowness, and making excuses, and with idleness and disinclination; for which the book says: ‘Cursed be he that does the service of God negligently.’

But Accidie dooth no swich diligence; he dooth alle thing with anoy, and with wrawnesse, slaknesse, and excusacioun, and with ydelnesse and unlust; for which the book seith: ‘acursed be he that doth the service of god necligently.’


atazir

From Old French [Term?], from Arabic التأثير (at-taʔṯīr, “influence”).

O Mars, o atazir, as in this cas!

14th c., Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, The Man of Law’s Tale, lines 304-305

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

(astrology, rare) The influence of a celestial body on other such bodies or on the fortunes of people.


mody

English: moody

Scots: muidie

From Old English mōdiġ, from Proto-Germanic *mōdagaz; equivalent to mode + -y.

Boastful, conceited, arrogant, or vain; displaying pride.

Furious; causing conflict, war, or strife.

Courageous, mighty, glorious; praiseworthy.

(rare) Showing sadness; mournful, upset, crying, dreary.


shildy

From Old English sċyldiġ (“guilty, sinful, criminal”), from Proto-Germanic *skuldīgaz, equivalent to shild + -y. Cognate with West Frisian skildich (“guilty”), Dutch schuldig (“guilty”), German schuldig (“guilty”), Swedish skyldig (“guilty”).


rethoryke

Highte this clerk, whos rethoryke sweete Enlumined al Itaille of poetrye

1394, Chaucer, “v. 32”, in The Clerk's Prologue:


flotery

with flotery berd

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


shild

From Old English sċyld (“guilt, sin, crime, offence, fault, debt, due, obligation, liability”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots sculd (“debt”), North Frisian schild (“debt, guilt, fault”), West Frisian skuld (“debt, guilt, fault”), Dutch schuld (“debt, fault, guilt”), German Schuld (“debt, guilt, fault”), Swedish skuld (“debt, guilt, blame”), Norwegian skyld (“guilt”), Icelandic skuld (“debt”), Lithuanian kaltė (“guilt”).


Hobb

English: Hobb


Robb

English: Robb


welle

English: well

Yola: well

From Old English wielle, from Proto-Germanic *wallijǭ.


bleynte

14th c. Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales. The Knight's Tale: 219-21.
He cast his eye upon Emelya,
And therwithal he bleynte, and cryede "A!"
As though he stongen were unto the herte.


glasynge

English: glazing

Scouring, polishing; the smoothening of surfaces.


undepartable

no wys man ne may doute of undepartable peyne of the shrewes

c. 1382 (date written), Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “Boetius de consolatione Philosophie”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC:


eschaunge

English: exchange

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman eschaunge, from eschaungier (“to exchange”); equivalent to es- + chaunge.

Exchange; giving in compensation for something received:

Trade, commerce; mercantile intercourse.

Moneychanging; the exchange of currency.


myselven

mesen (dialectal)

Variant of mi-selfe, myself. Compare German Low German mi sülven (“myselven, myself”).


beggestere

He knew the tavernes wel in every toun
And everich hostiler and tappestere
Bet than a lazar or a beggestere;

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prologues”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 240-242:


storier

Either from storie + -er or a shortening of historier.

(rare, Late Middle English) historian, storyteller


nale

great feastes at the nale

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Freres Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


inobedient

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, section 24, line 392

Disobedient is he that disobeys for spite to the commandments of God, and to his superiors, and to his spiritual father.

Inobedient, is he that disobeyeth for despyt to the comandements of god and to hise sovereyns, and to his goostly fader.


inventif

English: inventive

From Old French inventif, from Medieval Latin inventivus, from Latin inventum.


abbey-laird

a monastery ruled by a landed proprietor


wrecche

O Troilus, what may men now thee calle
But wrecche of wrecches, out of honour falle
Into miserie, in which I wol biwayle

Mid-1380s, Geoffrey Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde, Book IV, lines 270-273

Criseyde, allas! Til that the breeth me fayle?


markisesse

English: marchioness

But wᵗ glad cheere to the yate is she went / With oother folk to greete the markyſeſſe / And after that doth forth hir biſyneſſe

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The [Clerkys] Tale [of Oxenford]”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 188, verso:

But with a glad countenance she went to the gate / Along with other folks, to greet the Marchioness / And afterwards she went about her business.


thornen

English: thornen (obsolete)

Inherited from Old English þyrnen, from Proto-West Germanic *þurnīn, from Proto-Germanic *þurnīnaz (“of thorns”), equivalent to thorn + -en (“made of”).

Composed of thorns or thorny plants; made of or consisting of thorns.


thornen

thornen (infinitive)
to thornen (infinitive)
thorne (infinitive)
thorne (first-person present singular)
thorned (first-person past singular)
thornest (present second-person singular)
thornedest (past second-person singular)
thorneth (present singular third-person)
thorned (past singular third-person)
thorne (present singular subjunctive)
thorned (past singular subjunctive)
thorne (imperative present singular)
thornen (plural present)
thorne (plural present)
thorneden (past plural)
thornede (past plural)
thorneth (imperative plural present)
thorne (imperative plural present)
thornynge (participle present)
thornende (participle present)
thorned (participle past)
ythorned (participle past)

English: thorn


unaquit

For it was nevere knowe yit
That charite goth unaquit.

c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:


ellebore

A day or two ye shul have digestyves
Of wormes, er ye take your laxatyves,
Of lauriol, centaure, and fumetere,
Or elles of ellebor, that groweth there, [...]
A day or two you shall have digestives
Of worms, before you take your laxatives,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4151-4154

Or else of hellebore, that grows there, …

Of spurge laurel, centaury, and fumitory,


fermacy

To othere woundes, and to broken armes,
Some hadden salves, and some hadden charmes;

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 2711-2714

They dronken, for they wolde hir limes have.
To other wounds and to broken arms,
Some had salves, and some had charms;
Medicines made of herbs, and also of sage
They drank, for they wanted to have their limbs cured.


sloggy

Thanne comth Sompnolence, that is, sloggy slombrynge..and this synne comth of slouthe.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Parsons Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


adrad

English: adread

Past participle of adreden, from Old English ondrǣdan.

They were adrad of him as of death.

1387–1400, Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue, Line 607:


lymail

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Tale of the Chanons Yeman”, in The Canterbury Tales, Harleian ms. 7334; republised and transcribed in Frederick J. Furnivall (editor), The Harleian ms. 7334 of Chaucer's Canterbury tales, 1885, →OCLC, page 568, lines 1266–1269

In the end of which an ounce (and no more) / Of silver filings were placed, just as / had previously been in his coal, and [the vessel] was stopped well with wax / To keep the filings in completely

in þende of which an vnce and no more / Of siluer lymail put was as bifore / was in his cole and stopped wiþ wex wel / For to kepe in his limail euery del


artow

Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale.
This was thyn ooth, and myn also certeyn,
I woot right wel thou darst it nat withseyn.
Thus artow of my conseil, out of doute.


relik

English: relic

Borrowed from Old French relique, from Latin reliquiae.

(by extension) A valuable object or individual

(in translations) A remnant; a remainder.

(rare) An effect; the remains of something.


hegge

English: hedge

Scots: hedge

From Old English heċġ, from Proto-West Germanic *haggju. The final vowel is generalised from the Old English inflected forms.

A col-fox, ful of sly iniquitee,
That in the grove hadde woned yeres three,
By heigh imaginacioun forn-cast,
The same night thurgh-out the hegges brast [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4405-4408

A fox, full of sly iniquity,
That in the grove had dwelled three years,
By exalted imagination predestined,
The same night through the hedges broke …

A bush or shrub; a stout or short woody plant.

(rare) An enclosure; a fenced-off or bounded area.


ferthe

English: fourth

Scots: fourt

Yola: vourthe

From Old English fēorþa, fēowerþa; equivalent to and often remodelled after four + -the (ordinal suffix).

⁊ þe firſte beeſte .· liyk a lioun / ⁊ þe ſecounde beeſte .· lijk a calf / ⁊ þe þꝛidde beeſte .· hauynge a face as of a man / ⁊ þe fourþe beeſte .· liyk an egle fleynge

c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Apocalips 4:7, page 118v, column 2; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:

And the first beast [was] like a lion; and the second beast [was] like a calf; and the third beast had a face like a human; and the fourth beast [was] like an eagle flying.

Swiche manere wordes hadde we on honde / Now wol I ſpeken of my fourthe houſbonde.

a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath's Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, lines 451–452:

Those kinds of words we had on hand / Now I'll speak of my fourth husband.


ferthe

English: fourth

Scots: fourt

One of four equal parts of a whole; a fourth.


payen

payen (infinitive)
to payen (infinitive)
paye (infinitive)
paye (first-person present singular)
payed (first-person past singular)
payest (present second-person singular)
payedest (past second-person singular)
payeth (present singular third-person)
payed (past singular third-person)
paye (present singular subjunctive)
payed (past singular subjunctive)
paye (imperative present singular)
payen (plural present)
paye (plural present)
payeden (past plural)
payede (past plural)
payeth (imperative plural present)
paye (imperative plural present)
payynge (participle present)
payende (participle present)
payed (participle past)
ypayed (participle past)

English: pay

Yola: paay

From Old French paiier, from Latin pācāre, present active infinitive of pācō.


payen

English: payen (obsolete)

From Anglo-Norman paien, paen, from Latin pāgānus.


payen

English: payen (obsolete)

[...] With alle the rytes of his payen wyse.

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 2370

… With all the rites of his pagan manner (of worship).


wern

He is too great a niggard that will wern/ A man to light a candle at his lantern.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


unsad

From Old English unsæd (“unsated, insatiable”). See un-, and sad.

inh

O ſterne people,vnſad and vntrewe[…]

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Clerke of Oxenfordes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio liiii, recto, column 1:


clappe

English: clap

Scots: clap

A loud sound or commotion, especially consisting of speech.

(rare) A strike or attack; a forceful motion.

(rare) An lucky or unlucky event or happening.

(rare) A part of a mill that impels grain.


capitainerie

English: captainry

Borrowed from Middle French capitainerie; equivalent to capitain + -erie.

bor+

(rare) The position of a military administrator of a fort or settlement.


traht

From Old English traht (“text, passage: exposition, treatise, commentary”) see below.

der

To þysen twam wifmannen awrat se ilca Jeronimus manigfealde tractbec, — Early English Homilies, c1150

Ðis godspel is langsum & hæfð longne traht. — Homilies in MS Bodley, c1175


furour

desc

obsolete <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">furour</i>

English: furor (obsolete furour)

Borrowed from Middle French fureur, from Old French furor, from Latin furōrem.

(Late Middle English, rare) furor, wrath


transgressour

English: transgressor

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman transgressour, from Latin transgressor. Compare transgressioun.


surveyour

English: surveyor

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman surveour; equivalent to surveyen + -our.

An overseer, superintendent, or supervisor:

A household official who manages and organises meals.

(law) One who oversees the executors of a will.

One who manages and enforces the regulations of a guild or university.

A government officer or supervisor, especially of customs.


nutte

From Old English nytt (“use, utility, advantage”); cognate with Dutch nut (“use”).

der

nought to nuttes

A he seide þat Bruttes neoren noht to nuttes, ah he seide þat þe Peohtes weoren gode cnihtes. — Layamon's Brut, c1275


snapli

Hell hint þan þat gerard grim And selcuth snapli snybbid him, "þu prince of tinsel and þu duke Of wastful werk ..." — Cursor Mundi, 1400


jangleresse

Old French jangleresse, feminine of jangleor.


gelen

gelen (infinitive)
to gelen (infinitive)
gele (infinitive)
gele (first-person present singular)
geled (first-person past singular)
gelest (present second-person singular)
geledest (past second-person singular)
geleth (present singular third-person)
geled (past singular third-person)
gele (present singular subjunctive)
geled (past singular subjunctive)
gele (imperative present singular)
gelen (plural present)
gele (plural present)
geleden (past plural)
gelede (past plural)
geleth (imperative plural present)
gele (imperative plural present)
gelynge (participle present)
gelende (participle present)
geled (participle past)
ygeled (participle past)

English: geal

Scots: geal, jeel

From Old French geler, from Latin gelāre.


cicle

From Late Latin cyclus, possibly through an unattested Old French form.

þe great cicle of þe Ester terme


repreve

[...] ‘Besyde a welle Iesus, god and man,
Spak in repreve of the Samaritan:’ [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 15-16

… ‘Beside a well, Jesus, God and man,
Spoke in reproof of the Samaritan:’ …


barbre

Allas / vn to the Barbre nacion / I moste anon / syn þat it is youre wille

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The [Mannes] Tale [of Lawe]”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 115, verso, lines 281–282:


henen

And yet ik have alwey a coltes tooth,
As many a yeer as it is passed henne

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Reeve's Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 3888-3890

And yet I have always a young man's desires,
As many years as have passed hence
Since my tap of life began to run.

Sin that my tappe of lyf bigan to renne.


resalgar

[...] Resalgar, and our materes enbibing;
And eek of our materes encorporing, [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canon's Yeoman's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 814-815

… Arsenic, and soaking our materials;
And also of forming a compound of our materials, …


trappures

Ther maystow seen devysing of herneys
So uncouth and so riche, and wroght so weel
Of goldsmithrie, of browding, and of steel;
The sheeldes brighte, testers, and trappures; [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 2496-2499

There canst thou see preparation of armor
So exotic and so rich, and wrought so well
Of goldsmiths' works, of embroidery, and of steel;
The bright shields, horses' head-armor, and horse-armor; …


opie

For he had yive his gayler drinke so
Of a clarree, maad of a certeyn wyn,
With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn,
That al that night, thogh that men wolde him shake,
The gayler sleep, he mighte nat awake; [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1470-1474

For he had so given his jailer drink
Of a spiced and sweetened drink made of a certain wine,
With narcotics and pure opium of Thebes,
That all that night, though men would shake him,
The jailer slept; he could not awake; …


gnast

English: gnast

From Old English *gnāst, from Proto-Germanic *gahnaistô.


gleen

Alternative form of glewen (“to play music”)


wopen

Til he so longe hadde wopen and compleyned.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Squyers Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, line 523:


enchauntour

English: enchanter

Scots: enchanter

From Old French enchanteor, from Latin incantātor; equivalent to enchaunten + -our.

But lat us go now to thilke horrible sweryng of adjuracioun and conjuracioun, as doon thise false enchauntours or nigromanciens in bacyns ful of water, or in a bright swerd, in a cercle, or in a fir, or in a shulderboon of a sheep.

14ᵗʰ C., Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, The Parson's Tale, section 38, https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Canterbury_Tales/The_Parson%27s_Prologue_and_Tale


samod

Inherited from Old English samod, from Proto-West Germanic *samaþ, from Proto-Germanic *samaþa (“together”). Akin to Old High German samit (“together”), German samt, sammt (“together with”).

Þenne faræþ þa haliᵹe men ... ant samod siþiæð mid englæ werod. — Bodley Homilies, c1175

[…]ah bi þe teileſ ha beoð ſomet · ⁊ beoreð ðes deofleſ bleaſen þe bꝛune of galneſſe ·

c. 1225, “Feorðe dale: fondunges”, in Ancrene Ƿiſſe (MS. Corpus Christi 402), Herefordshire, published c. 1235, folio 78, verso; republished at Cambridge: Parker Library on the Web, 2018 January 5:

[…] both are bound together at their extremities, and they have the Devil's flames with them: the fire of lasciviousness.


holour

‘And if that she be fair, thou verray knave,
Thou seyst that every holour wol hir have;
She may no whyle in chastitee abyde,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 253-256

‘And if she be fair, thou utter knave,
Thou sayest that every lecher wants to have her;
She can not remain chaste for any length of time,
Who is assailed on every side.’


losengerie

From Old French losengerie; equivalent to losengen + -erie.

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, section 40, line 613

Flatterers are the devil's nurses, that nourish his children with milk of deceit.

Flatereres been the develes norices, that norissen hise children with milk of losengerie.


streit

desc

English: strait, streit (obsolete), streight (obsolete) (obsolete)

Yola: streigkt, streyght

Borrowed from Old French estreit (modern form étroit), from Latin strictus, perfect passive participle of stringō (“compress, tighten”).


rasour

This Sampson never sicer drank ne wyn,
Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne shere, [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Monk's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3245-3246

This Sampson never drank alcoholic drinks nor wine,
Nor on his head came any razor or scissors, …


chesteyn

Wilwe, elm, plane, assch, box, chesteyn.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


chewet

English: chewet (obsolete)

Unknown; formed as if from chewen + -et; but the OED considers this unlikely.


resemblable

For man of Soule resonable
Is to an Angel resemblable

c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:


attern

English: attern

From Old English ǣtren, ættern, from Proto-West Germanic *aittrīn.


infortuned

I, woful wrecche and infortuned wight / And born in corsed constellacioun, / Mot goon, and thus departen fro my knight […]


adweschen

enm-verb

adweschen (third-person singular simple present adwescheth, present participle adweschende, adweschynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle adwesched)

adwescheth (present singular third-person)
adweschende (participle present)
adweschynge (participle present)
adwesched (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

From Old English ādwǣsċan (“to extinguish, quench, put out, put an end to, put down, suppress, staunch, blot out, appease, destroy”), from Proto-Germanic *uz- (“out”) + Proto-Germanic *dwaiskijaną (“to suffocate”), from Proto-Indo-European *dʰew- (“to dwindle, die”). Compare English dush.

der

(transitive) to quench; extinguish (fire, pain, malice, enemies, etc.)


favel

From Old French favel. Uses after the 14th century are based on William Langland's The vision of Piers Plowman.


sleighty

English: sleighty (obsolete)


adle

English: adle

From the oblique forms of Old English ādl, from Proto-West Germanic *aidlu, from Proto-Germanic *aidlō.


schiften

schiften (infinitive)
to schiften (infinitive)
schifte (infinitive)
schifte (first-person present singular)
schifted (first-person past singular)
schiftest (present second-person singular)
schiftedest (past second-person singular)
schifteth (present singular third-person)
schifted (past singular third-person)
schifte (present singular subjunctive)
schifted (past singular subjunctive)
schifte (imperative present singular)
schiften (plural present)
schifte (plural present)
schifteden (past plural)
schiftede (past plural)
schifteth (imperative plural present)
schifte (imperative plural present)
schiftynge (participle present)
schiftende (participle present)
schifted (participle past)
yschifted (participle past)

English: shift

Scots: shift, schift

From Old English sċiftan, from Proto-Germanic *skiftijaną; equivalent to schyft + -en (infinitival suffix). Doublet of skift.

To share out, redistribute, split equally.

To break apart, ruin, smash, make dissolute.


plentevous

English: plenteous

From Old French plentiveus (“fertile, rich”), from plentif (“abundant”), from plenté (“abundance”), from Latin plenitatem, accusative of plenitas (“fullness”), from plenus (“complete, full”), from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós (“full”).

Chaucer
Withoute bake mete was nevere his hous,
Of fissh and flessh, and that so plentevous
It snewed in his hous of mete and drynke.


ferforthly

As swooꝛ his ooth / as he was trewe knẏght /
he wolde doon / ſo ferfoꝛthlẏ his mẏght
Up on the tiraint Creon / hem to wreke
That al the peple of Grece sholde speke[...]

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Knẏghtes Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 14, recto:

And swore an oath that as he was a true knight he would unleash his strength on Creon so completely, with the aim of destroying him, that all the people of Grece should speak...

1516, Robert Fabyan, Cronicle, Pynson; Reprinted in 1811, Henry Ellis (ed.), The New Chronicles of England and France, London:. "Quinta Pars Cadwalader", p. 127.
& therewith great hūger & famyne ouer sprad the lande, ẏ by occasyon of one & other, the people of this realme was wonderfully mynysshed, & lassyd so ferforthlye, that, as witnessith Galfryde, & also the Englisshe Cronycle, the quicke bodyes suffysed not to bury the ded.

And thereupon great hunger and famine spread over the land, and thus by several means the people of this land were greatly diminished, and were lessened so completely that, as Galfyde and the English Chronicle witness, the living were not enough to bury the dead.


cuvent

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of covent


filst

enm-verb

filst (third-person singular simple present filsteth, present participle filstende, filstynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle filsted)

filsteth (present singular third-person)
filstende (participle present)
filstynge (participle present)
filsted (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

From Old English fylstan (“to aid, support, help, protect”), contraction of Old English fullǣstan (“to help, support”), from ful-, full- (“full-, fully”) + lǣstan (“to follow, help, serve, perform, do, carry out, accomplish, endure, last, continue, furnish, pay, grant”), equivalent to full- + last. Cognate with Old Saxon fullēstian (“to help, aid”), Old High German fulleistjan (“to help, aid”).


firren

head

firren (plural and weak singular firrene)

firrene (plural)
firrene (singular weak)

Scots: firren


ful-

English: full-; (fulfil, fulfill)

Inherited from Old English ful-, full-, from Proto-West Germanic *fulla-, from *full (“full”, see ful).

(largely unproductive) full, fully, perfectly


niste

So dronk he was he niste what he wrought.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wyfe of Bathes Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


blancmanger

English: blancmange

For blankmanger that made he with the beste. A Schipman was ther, wonyng fer by weste

1387, Chaucer, “v. 387”, in General Prologue:

A sort of fricassee with white sauce, variously made of capon, fish, etc.; blancmange.


eyr

The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond

1387, Chaucer, “v. 2993”, in The Knight's Tale:

The fire, the "air", the water, and the land


holdscipe

They said they did it out of loyalty to the monastery.

Sægdon þet hi hit dyden for ðes mynstres holdscipe. — Peterborough Chronicle, 1121


gestour

English: jester

Scots: jestar

Equivalent to gesten + -our; compare geste (“a deed”).

mynstrales and gestours for to telle tales

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Ryme of Syr Thopas”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


sumdel

From sum (“some”) + del (“deal, part, portion”).

compound

Thow hast the so wel born In lokynge of myn olde bok totorn..That sumdel of thy labour wolde I quyte.

c'''. 1380, Geoffrey Chaucer, Parliament of Fowls:

Sumdel of tyme passide, and thei weren hooldun in kepyng.

We hafe sent...oure breþere as of what maner I seyde, þai be redy, lest of þat þat we hafe ioyed, it be voyded in sumdele.

1425, “The Pauline Epistles”, in Wycliffe Bible, 2 Cor 9:3:

in ~: in this instance, in this case (transl. of Latin in hac parte)


letuary

Ful redy hadde he his apothecaries,
To sende him drogges and his letuaries,
For ech of hem made other for to winne;

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 425-428

He had his apothecaries all ready
To send him drugs and his electuaries,
For each of them made the other to profit;
Their friendship was not recently begun.

Hir frendschipe nas nat newe to biginne.

And many a letuarie hadde he ful fyn,
Swiche as the cursed monk dan Constantyn
Hath writen in his book de Coitu;

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Merchant's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1809-1812

And many a very fine aphrodisiac had he,
Such as the cursed monk, Dan Constantine,
Has written in his book Concerning Intercourse;
To eat them all he was not at all averse.

To eten hem alle, he nas no-thing eschu.


hosse

(Late Middle English) Alternative form of whos (“whose”, genitive)


feyne

‘We shul first feyne us cristendom to take,’ [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 351

‘We shall first pretend to receive Christendom,’ …


mistery

Alternative form of mysterie (“mystery”)


wharven

enm-verb

wharven (third-person singular simple present wharveth, present participle wharvinge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle warfte)

wharveth (present singular third-person)
wharvinge (participle present)
warfte (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

From a merging of Old English hweorfan (“to turn, change; move, go, come; wander about, roam, go about; turn back, return, turn from, depart; die; be converted”) and Old English hwearfan/hwierfan (“to turn, change, convert, return; wander, move, go, depart; exchange, barter; overturn, destroy”).

der

Wið him warfte Brien al his iweden.

(please add an English translation of this quotation)
With him wharved Brian all his clothes.

to change; convert; transform; exchange; (the participle hwerefinde was used as an adjective meaning changeable)

Þis lage flemeð þe fule gost ut of þe child, and he wandrede wide, wernende longe, sechende him oðer stede on bileffulle manne.

to move about; wander; (the participle wharrfedd was used as an adjective meaning confused)

to roll about, tumble, tussle; to roll together

(when reflexive) to come together in battle


pyke

English: pike, peak; pick (in part)

Scots: pike, pick

Yola: pick

From Old English pīc, from Proto-West Germanic *pīk, from Proto-Germanic *pīkaz.

A point or end of something in general; especially the end of a shoe.

A pike; a piercing weapon with a spike affixed.

A pickaxe; an axe with a chisel edge on one side.

A number of other tools noted for their pointiness.

A barb or talon of an animal or a plant.

A pike (fish with a barbed mouth (Esox lucius))


forleten

enm-verb

forleten (third-person singular simple present forleteth, present participle forlette, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle forleten)

forleteth (present singular third-person)
forlette (participle present)
forleten (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

English: forlet

Scots: forleet

From Old English forlǣtan (“to leave”), from Proto-Germanic *fralētaną.

Þe same I will do þe Þat for-lete at my lare. — Man þus on rode ... Religious Lyrics of the XIVth Century, c1425

To forsake, disregard, abandon; reject; intr. to be neglectful

Whan he bigynneth any good werk, anon he wol forleten it and stynten.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

We shule tellen alle ure gultes..and no þing of þe soðe forlete.

Repentant folk that stynte for to synne and forlete synne er that synne forlete hem.

To yield, to give up, resign; renounce; to put away; to release, let go, refrain from injuring

Moo renovelaunces of olde forleten aqueyntaunces.

To lose (something), be deprived of; forfeit; lose track of

Þam þe he her on worlde mucel to forlæteþ, mucel he to þam eft seceð. — Homilies in MS Bodley, 1175

To give or forgive; allow, permit, grant

Þe king him gon to sweten, þat ufel hine gon forleten. — — Layamon's Brut, 1275

To let (blood); eliminate, to discharge; of a disease: to leave (someone).


blewe

Scots: blew, blue

desctree

English: blue, blew, blewe (obsolete)
Tok Pisin: blu
→ Fiji Hindi: bulu
→ Shona: bhuluu
→ Somali: buluug
→ Swahili: bluu, buluu
→ Tooro: bururu

From Anglo-Norman blew; from Proto-Germanic *blēwaz. See also blo.


blewe

English: blue

Scots: blew, blue


nigromancien

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, section 37, line 603

But let us go now to this horrible swearing of exorcism and conjuring spirits, as do these false enchanters or necromancers in basins full of water, or in a bright sword, in a circle, or in a fire, or in a shoulder-bone of a sheep.

But lat us go now to thilke horrible swering of adiuracioun and coniuracioun, as doon thise false enchauntours or nigromanciens in bacins ful of water, or in a bright swerd, in a cercle, or in a fyr, or in a shulder-boon of a sheep.


welfaring

Chaucer


cowardie

English: cowardie (obsolete)

From Old French coardie; equivalent to coward + -ie.


misbileve

for ye ſhal haue no myſbeleue / Ne wronge conceyte of me in your abſence / I wol not ben out of your preſence

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Tale of the Chanons Yeman”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio lxvii, verso, column 2:

And yet, so that you will have no suspicions / Nor think ill of me in my absence / I will never leave your presence


latered

Then cometh the sinne that men clepen Tarditas, as when a man is latered, or taryed or [ere] he wol tourne to God: and certes that is a grete folie.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Parsons Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


oter

English: otter

Scots: otter

From Old English otor, from Proto-West Germanic *otr.


forblowen

enm-verb

forblowen (third-person singular simple present forbloweth, present participle forblowing, first-/third-person singular past indicative forblew, past participle forblowe or forblown)

forbloweth (present singular third-person)
forblowing (participle present)
forblew (first-person indicative past singular third-person)
forblowe (participle past)
forblown (participle past)

From Old English forblāwan (“to blow; blow out; inflate”), equivalent to for- + blow.

der

Tofor the weder forth thei gon,..Forstormed and forblowen sore.

to blow (something) about, to drive or toss (as before the wind)

O, out on richesse with vanyte forblowe.

Where is youre boste, or daren ye appere With youre forblowyng vanyte.

to blow up (something with wind); puff up, inflate


fermerere

From Old French enfermerier, from enfermerie (“infirmary”). See infirmary.

‘So dide our sexteyn and our fermerer,
That han been trewe freres fifty yeer;
They may now, god be thanked of his lone,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Summoner's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1859-1862

‘So did our sacristan and the head of our infirmary,
That have been true friars fifty years;
They may now, God be thanked of his grace,
Make their fiftieth anniversary and walk alone.’

The officer in charge of the infirmary in a religious house.


remuable

where honour is remuable,
It oghte wel to ben avised


caroigne

c. 1380, William Langland, Piers Plowman
The kirke shal haue my caroigne and kepe my bones.


dwild

enm-noun

dwild (plural dwild or dwilde or dwilden)

dwild (plural)
dwilde (plural)
dwilden (plural)

From Old English dwild (“error, heresy”).

Nu wærð swa mycel dwyld on Cristen dom swa it næfre ær ne wæs.

Feole dwild wearen ge seogen and ge heord


clarré

He drinketh ipocras, clarree, and vernage
Of spyces hote, tencresen his corage; [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Merchant's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1807-1808

He drinks mulled wine, claret, and strong white wine
With hot spices to increase his desire; …


rubible

[…] pleyen songes on a smal rubible […]

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Myllers Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


almesse

almesse (plural almesses or (early) almessen)

English: alms
Gullah: aa'ms

Scots: aumous

Yola: alomes

From Old English ælmesse, from Proto-West Germanic *alemōsinā, a borrowing from Vulgar Latin *alemosyna.

Anything given to relieve those in poverty or distress, any charitable gift or offering, alms.


bourder

cowardly and felonsly they slew sir Dynadan, whyche was a grete dammage, for he was a grete bourder and a passynge good knyght

1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “(please specify the chapter)”, in [Le Morte Darthur], (please specify the book number), [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC:


nolde

From Old English nolde, contraction of ne wolde.

Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde; Book I, Lines 76-77

For well knew he by sort that Troy should/Destroyed have been--ye would. Whoso would not?

ffor wel wiste he by sort that Troye sholde/Destroyed ben--ye, wolde who-so nolde


abominacioun

English: abomination

Scots: abhomination

From Middle French abomination, from Late Latin abōminātiōnem, accusative of abōminātiō. Some forms are influenced by a purported but false relationship with Latin hominem.

(biblical) Idols; pagan religious material


saufly

Wommen may go saufly up and doun,
In every bush, or under every tree;
Ther is noon other incubus but he,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 878-881

Women may go safely up and down,
In every bush or under every tree;
There is no other evil spirit but he,
And he will not do them any harm except dishonor.

God woot that worldly Ioye is sone ago;
And if a rethor coude faire endyte,
He in a cronique saufly mighte it wryte,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4396-4399

God knows that worldly joy is soon gone;
And if a rhetorician could fairly compose,
He in a chronicle confidently could write it,
As a supremely important fact.


hoom

a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Love Unfeigned" (as printed in Oxford Book of English Verse, 1900)

(please add an English translation of this quotation)


refut

Thou haven of refut.


trogh

English: trough

Scots: troch, trouch

From Old English troh, trog, from Proto-West Germanic *trog, from Proto-Germanic *trugaz.


noy

English: noy (obsolete)

Scots: noy (obsolete)

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman nui, reinforced through aphesis of anoy. Compare noyen.


riotour

English: rioter, riotor

Borrowed from Old French rioteor; equivalent to rioten + -our.

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Pardoner's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 692-693

‘Is it swich peril with him for to mete?’
‘Yea, God's arms,’ said this rioter,
‘Is it such peril to meet with him?’

A rioter; a person who participates in a riot.

A person who lives profligately or dissolutely.


sweigh

O firste moevyng cruel firmament,
With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ay [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 295-296

O first moving, cruel firmament,
With thy daily motion that pushes ever …


prentishood

This joly prentys with his maister bood, / Til he were ny out of his prentishood


inobedience

for as bi inobedience of o man manye ben maad ſynneris .· ſo bi þe obedience of oon manye ſchulen be iuſt

c. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey [et al.], transl., Bible (Wycliffite Bible (later version), MS Lich 10.), published c. 1410, Romayns 5:19, page 58r, column 2, lines 4–6; republished as Wycliffe's translation of the New Testament, Lichfield: Bill Endres, 2010:


woll

Than ſpake ẜ Gawayne And ſeyde brothir · ẜ Aggravayne I pray you and charge you meve no ſuch · maters no more a fore me fro wyte you well I woll nat be of youre counceyle //

1470–1483 (date produced), Thom̃s Malleorre [i.e., Thomas Malory], “[Morte Arthur]”, in Le Morte Darthur (British Library Additional Manuscript 59678), [England: s.n.], folio 449, verso, lines 15–18:

Then spoke Sir Gawain, and said, “Brother, Sir Agrivain, I pray you and charge you move not such matters any more before me, for be ye assured I will not be of your counsel.”

first-person singular present indicative of wollen


cardiacle

[...] But wel I woot, thou doost my herte to erme,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Words of the Host to the Physician and the Pardoner, The Canterbury Tales, line 312-313

That I almost have caught a cardiacle.
… But well I know thou makes mine heart to grieve so,
That I almost have caught a palpitation of the heart.


spitously

‘They were ful glad whan I spak to hem fayre;

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 222-223

‘They were very glad when I spoke to them pleasantly;
For, God knows it, I cruelly scolded them.’

For god it woot, I chidde hem spitously.’


oul

And al with-oute, the mewe is peynted grene,
In which were peynted alle thise false foules,
As beth thise tidifs, tercelets, and oules, [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Squire's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 646-648

And on all the outside, the pen is painted green,
In which were painted all these false fowls,
Such as are these small birds, falcons, and owls, …


aart

Alternative form of art (“(area of) knowledge”)


aungel

English: angel (see there for further descendants)

Scots: angel, aungel

From Anglo-Norman angle, from Latin angelus, from Ancient Greek ἄγγελος (ángelos).

An angel; a heavenly messenger or deputy (usually Christian)

A fallen angel; an angel turned to the forces of evil.

A depiction or image of an angel or bearing an angel.

A coin made of gold with an image of an angel.

(rare, Late Middle English) The lowest rank of angels.


outher

[...] And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lyf,
Or winnen Emelye un-to his wyf; [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Knight's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1485-1486

… And shortly, he would either lose his life,
Or win Emelye to be his wife; …


textuel

But, for I am a man noght textuel,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Manciple's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 235-237

I wol go to my tale, as I bigan.
But because I am not a learned man,
I will tell nothing of texts, never a bit;
I will go to my tale, as I began.

I wol noght telle of textes never a del;


dreye

head

dreye (plural and weak singular drie, comparative dreyere, superlative *dreyest)

drie (plural)
drie (singular weak)
dreyere (comparative)
*dreyest (superlative)

The brode rẏuer / som tẏme wexeth dreẏe

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Knẏghtes Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 40, recto:


aftercast

Thus evere he pleith an aftercast
Of al that the schal seie or do

c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:


smeart

(Early Middle English) Alternative form of smert


seete

English: seat


gretnesse

English: greatness

Scots: gretnes, gretenes, greitnes

Old English grēatnes; equivalent to greet + -nesse.


provynce

English: province
Tok Pisin: provins

Scots: province

From Old French province, from Latin provincia.

province, district (administrative division)

(ecclesiastical) An ecclesiastical province.


stronge

English: strong

inflection of strong:
strong/weak plural


schewen

enm-verb

schewen (third-person singular simple present scheweth, present participle schewende, schewynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle schewed)

scheweth (present singular third-person)
schewende (participle present)
schewynge (participle present)
schewed (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)
schewen (infinitive)
to schewen (infinitive)
schewe (infinitive)
schewe (first-person present singular)
schewed (first-person past singular)
schewest (present second-person singular)
schewedest (past second-person singular)
scheweth (present singular third-person)
schewed (past singular third-person)
schewe (present singular subjunctive)
schewed (past singular subjunctive)
schewe (imperative present singular)
schewen (plural present)
schewe (plural present)
scheweden (past plural)
schewede (past plural)
scheweth (imperative plural present)
schewe (imperative plural present)
schewynge (participle present)
schewende (participle present)
schewed (participle past)
yschewed (participle past)

desc

archaic <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">shew</i>

English: show (archaic shew)

Scots: shaw, shaa

From Old English scēawian, from Proto-West Germanic *skawwōn, from Proto-Germanic *skawwōną, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewh₁-.

to show (bring to the attention of others)


tigh

Alternative form of teye (“chest, enclosure”)


profulgent

profulgent in preciousness

a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, Nine Ladies Worthie:


thridde

English: third

Scots: thrid

From Old English þridda, from Proto-West Germanic *þriddjō, from Proto-Germanic *þridjô.


frend-rede

From Old English frēondrǣden (“friendship, conjugal love”).


parfay

'Parfay' thought he, 'fantom is in myn heed.'

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


stibborn

‘Stiborn I was as is a leonesse,
And of my tonge a verray Iangleresse,
And walke I wolde, as I had doon biforn,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath's Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 637-640

‘I was as stubborn as is a lioness,
And of my tongue a true chatterbox,
And I would walk, as I had done before,
From house to house, although he had sworn the contrary.’

From hous to hous, al-though he had it sworn.’


ledish

From Old English lēodisċ (“to or of the people, national”) (as in þiderlēodisċ), equivalent to lede + -isch.

inh

Pertaining to the people; popular; national.


gentilly

English: gently

From gentil + -ly; see further at gentle.

15th c., Anonymous, Sir Gowther, in 1995, Anne Laskaya, Eve Salisbury (eds.), "The Middle English Breton lays", Kalamazoo, Michigan: Medieval Institute Publications pp. 263-307, ll. 39-45.
A mangere con thei make;
Knyghtus of honowr tho furst dey
Justyd gently hom to pley
Here shaftes gan thei shake.
On the morow the lordes gente
Made a riall tournement
For that lady sake;

They made a feast. That first day, honorable knights jousted like gentlemen homeward to the contest, and began to shatter their lances. The next day the gentle lords made a royal tournament for the lady's sake.

Like a member of the gentry: in the manner of someone of gentle birth.

And Emelye hym loueth so tenderly
And he her ſerueth ſo gentelly
That neuer was ther no woꝛde hē bytwene
Of ielouſye, oꝛ of any other tene

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio xii, recto, column 1:

And Emily loved him so tenderly
And he served her so nobly and faithfully
That between them, there was never a single word
Of jealousy, or any other trouble.

(by extension) In a manner that reflects the virtues or customs associated with those of gentle birth: generously, courteously, gracefully, nobly, etc.


putour

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, section 76, line 886

What say we also of pimps that live by the horrible sin of prostitution, and constrain women to yield them a certain rent of their bodily prostitution, yea, sometimes of his own wife or his child, as do these bawds?

What seye we eek of putours that liven by the horrible sinne of putrie, and constreyne wommen to yelden to hem a certeyn rente of hir bodily puterie, ye, somtyme of his owene wyf or his child; as doon this baudes?


brotel

desc

English: brottle, bruttle, brattle (dialectal)

[...] On brotel ground they builde, and brotelnesse

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Merchant's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1279-1280

… On brittle ground they build, and insecurity
They find when they expect security.

Changeable, mutable; precarious, uncertain.

Morally weak, fickle, vacillating, untrustworthy.


hyen

enm-verb

hyen (third-person singular simple present hyeth, present participle hyende, hyynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle hyed)

hyeth (present singular third-person)
hyende (participle present)
hyynge (participle present)
hyed (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)
hyen (infinitive)
to hyen (infinitive)
hye (infinitive)
hye (first-person present singular)
hyed (first-person past singular)
hyest (present second-person singular)
hyedest (past second-person singular)
hyeth (present singular third-person)
hyed (past singular third-person)
hye (present singular subjunctive)
hyed (past singular subjunctive)
hye (imperative present singular)
hyen (plural present)
hye (plural present)
hyeden (past plural)
hyede (past plural)
hyeth (imperative plural present)
hye (imperative plural present)
hyynge (participle present)
hyende (participle present)
hyed (participle past)
yhyed (participle past)

English: hie

Scots: hie

From Old English hīgian, from Proto-Germanic *hīgōną.

to hie (travel at great speed or with great haste)

to do with haste or speedily; to do when needed

to do with care or fervour; to make a earnest attempt

to make fast; to hurry or expedite someone (including oneself)


hyen

hyeth (present singular third-person)
hyende (participle present)
hyynge (participle present)
hyed (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

Alternative form of heien (“to lift up”)


secreness

O messager, fulfild of dronkenesse,
Strong is thy breeth, thy limes faltren ay,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 771-773

O messenger, filled with drunkenness,
Strong is thy breath, thy limbs ever tremble,
And thou betray all secrets.


Vther

King Uther, a legendary King of the Britons and father of King Arthur


beringe

English: bearing


avowtrye

Whilom ther was dwellynge in my contree
An erchedeken, a man of heigh degree,
That boldely dide execucioun
In punysshynge of fornicacioun,
Of wicchecraft, and eek of bawderye,
Of diffamacioun, and avowtrye,
Of chirche reves, and of testamentz,
Of contractes and of lakke of sacramentz,

14th c., Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, The Friar’s Tale


Cipre

Southeast Europe
Southeast Europe#English

Cyprus (an island and country in the Mediterranean Sea, normally considered politically part of Southeast Europe but geographically part of Western Asia)


fayr

English: fair

Scots: fair, fare, fayr


myght

English: might

Scots: micht, maucht

From Old English miht, from Proto-Germanic *mahtiz.


in-to

English: into

Scots: intae

From Old English intō, equivalent to in + to.

At nyght was come into that hostelrye
Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye

c. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue, lines 23–24:

There came at nightfall into that hostelry
Some nine and twenty in a company


Wynchester

English: Winchester

Inherited from Old English Wintanceastre, Winteceaster.

Winchester (the county town of Hampshire, England, United Kingdom).


chere

English: cheer

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman chere 'face', from Late Latin cara (“face”), from Ancient Greek κᾰ́ρᾱ (kárā).

state of mind as indicated by facial expression


Merlyn

English: Merlin

From Medieval Latin Merlinus and Old French Merlin. Forms ending in -ion, -yon are hypercorrections due to the change of merlioun to merlyn.


whyle

English: while

Scots: while

Yola: while

From Old English hwīl, from Proto-West Germanic *hwīlu, from Proto-Germanic *hwīlō. The final vowel is generalised from the Old English oblique forms.


tyll

Alternative form of tillen (“to enthrall”)


Caunterbury

English: Canterbury

→ Old French: Canterbiri, Cantorebiri

French: Cantorbéry

From Old English Cantwarbyriġ, late form of Cantwara byriġ, dative and genitive of Cantwara burg.
The pronunciation with /au̯/ could just be analogy with variation between /au̯/ and /a/ in other words, but the influence of the lost /w/ in Old English Cantwara byriġ is also possible. Such a development is also seen in aunswere, variant of answere (“answer”); this is not a mere backspelling, as orthoepists commonly give pronunciations of answer with reflexes of /au̯/ in the Early Modern English period.

late 14th c. Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales. General Prologue: 15-16.
And specially from every shires ende
Of Engelond, to Caunterbury they wende,
And specially from every shire's end

Canterbury (a cathedral city in modern Kent, England)


batayle

English: battle

Scots: battle

Borrowed from Old French bataille, from Late Latin battālia.

An extended fight, war or armed contest; battling or warring.

A battle; a match between two rival armed forces.

Thenne kyng Arthur made redy his hooſt in x batails and Nero was redy in the felde afore the caſtel Tarabil with a grete hooſt / & he had x batails with many mo peple than Arthur had [...]

1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum x”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book II, [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC, leaf 43, verso; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC, page 86, lines 28–31:

Then King Arthur made ready his host in 10 battles and Nero was ready in the field before the castle Tarabil with a great host / and he had 10 battles with many more people than Arthur had …

A company or band of soldiers; a portion of one's fighting force.

A fight or dispute between ideas or religious forces:

(rare) One's striving to eliminate or expunge malicious forces.

(rare) A strike or blow from malicious forces.


erl

English: earl

Scots: yerl, yarl (merged with Old Norse jarl)

Yola: earle

Inherited from Old English eorl, from Proto-West Germanic *erl, from Proto-Germanic *erlaz. Cognate to Old Swedish iærl, Old Danish ierl.

A great noble subordinate to a king or duke; a count or earl:

An early medieval Anglo-Saxon or Anglo-Norse magnate (subordinate to the king).

An earl; the English equivalent to a count under the king or (later) a duke.

(rare) A partner; one who accompanies another.


Arthour

1380s–1390s, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale
In th' olde dayes of the king Arthour, / Of which that Britons speken greet honour, / All was this land fulfild of fayerye.

(please add an English translation of this quotation)


londe

late 14th c. Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales. General Prologue: 13-14.
And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes
To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes;
And palmers to go seeking out strange strands,

To distant shrines well known in distant lands.


Iudas

English: Judas, Jude


smot

first/third-person singular past of smiten


tentifly

From tentif, from Old French tentif, possibly a form of atentif.

And in the chambre whil they were aboute / hir tretys whith as ye shal after heere / The peple cam un to the hous with oute / And wondred hem in how honeste manere / And tentifly she kepte her fader deere

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The [Clerkys] Tale [of Oxenford]”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 178, recto:

And, in the chamber, while they were about / Their business (which you will hear about after) / The people came into the house / And wondered by what honest means / She'd so attentively cared for and protected her father.


poure

The poure of this herbe is to bynde and to coule.

1551, Turner, William I., A New Herball, Wherein are Conteyned the Names of Herbes in Greke, Latin, Englijsh, Duch, Frenche, and in the Potecaries and Herbaries Latin (etc.), United Kingdom: Steven Mierdman:

The purpose of this herb is to bind and to cool.


Breteyn

English: Britain

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman Bretaigne, Bretaine, from Latin Britannia; reinforced by native Old English Breten.


Eestour

English: Easter
→ Chickasaw: Iista'

Scots: Easter

From Old English ēastre, from Proto-West Germanic *austrā, from Proto-Germanic *Austrǭ (name of the Germanic goddess of the dawn), from a suffixed form of Proto-Indo-European *h₂ews- (“dawn”).


worthynesse

English: worthiness

Scots: worthynes, worthines


Warwyk

Old English Wǣringwīċ (literally “dwellings by the weir”), from wer (“weir”) + -ing (“of the”, used with masculine nouns) + wīċ (“dwelling place, village”).


Oxenford

English: Oxford


Frensch

English: French


flockmel

English: flockmeal

that flockmel on a day they to him went


muche

An apocopic form of muchel, from Old English myċel, miċel.


muche

English: much

Yola: mucha, muche, much


grete

head

grete (comparative gretter or greter, superlative grettest or gretest)

gretter (comparative)
greter (comparative)
grettest (superlative)
gretest (superlative)

English: great, (dialectal) gert

→ Welsh: grêt

Scots: great, greet, grete, greit

Yola: graat

From Old English grēat (“big”), from Proto-West Germanic *graut, from Proto-Germanic *grautaz.

And I seide, “Ser, in his tyme maister Ioon Wiclef was holden of ful many men the grettis clerk that thei knewen lyuynge vpon erthe. And therwith he was named, as I gesse worthili, a passing reuli man and an innocent in al his lyuynge. And herfore grete men of kunnynge and other also drowen myche to him, and comownede ofte with him. And thei sauouriden so his loore that thei wroten it bisili and enforsiden hem to rulen hem theraftir […]”

1407, The Testimony of William Thorpe, pages 40–41:


Dauid

English: David

From Old English Dauid, from Latin David, from Koine Greek Δαυίδ (Dauíd), from Biblical Hebrew דּוד (Dāwîḏ).


goom

Kynges & Erles Echon. Þes were; & many anoþer goom


Norwey

From Old English Norþweg; influenced also by Old French Norvege and Medieval Latin Norvegia.


thre

English: three

Scots: three, threi, shrei, hrei

Yola: dhree, dhrie, dree

From Old English þrīe, þrī, þrēo, from Proto-West Germanic *þrīʀ, from Proto-Germanic *þrīz, from Proto-Indo-European *tréyes.

Almihti godd· feader· ſune· hali gaſt· aſ ȝe beoð ϸreo an godd: alſƿa ȝe beoð an mihte· an ƿiſdom· ⁊ an luue[…]

c. 1225, “Introduction”, in Ancrene Ƿiſſe (MS. Corpus Christi 402), Herefordshire, published c. 1235, folios 6, verso – 7, recto; republished at Cambridge: Parker Library on the Web, 2018 January 5:

Almighty God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as both three and one, while being one Might, one Wisdom, and one Love […]


covenably

well and covenably taught


aray

English: array


inwith

This purs hath she inwith her bosom hid

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Marchauntes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


owher

From Old English āhwǣr (“everywhere; somewhere; anywhere”).

inh

And if he foond owher a good felawe,
He wolde techen him to have noon awe
In swich caas of the ercedekenes curs


destinal

the order destinal

c. 1382 (date written), Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “Boetius de consolatione Philosophie”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC:


sowdanesse

This sowdanesse, whom I thus blame and warie,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 372-373

This Sultaness, whom I thus blame and curse,
Privately had her council go their way.


depardieux

Old French, a corruption of de part Dieu, literally "on the part of God".

"Depardieux," quod this yeman, "deere broother,
Thou art a bailly, and I am another."

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Freres Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 131-2:


atwo

From on + two, already a phrase in Old English as on twā.

Fordronke, as he sat on his bench upright.
Ther cam a privee theef men clepeth Deeth,
That in this contree al the peple sleeth,
And with his spere he smoot his herte atwo

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Pardoners Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, lines 388-91:


fremful

From Old English fremful (“useful, profitable, beneficial, generous; effective”); equivalent to freme + -ful.

der

(The herb mandragon is effective.)

Þeos wyrt mandragora hys fremful. — Herbarium and Medicina de Quadrupedibus, circa 1150

useful, profitable, beneficial, effective


fetisely

Ful wel she song the service divyne,
Entuned in hir nose ful semely;
And Frensh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 122-126

She sang the divine service very well,
Intoned in her nose in a very polite manner;
And she spoke French very well and elegantly,
In the manner of Stratford at the Bow,
For French of Paris was to her unknown.


tikilnesse

From tikel + -nesse. Compare English tickle (“changeable, capricious; insecure”).

cog

Flie fro the prese, and dwell with sothfastnesse; / Suffice unto thy Gode, though it be small, / For horde hath hate, and climbyng tikilnesse […]

a. 1401, Geffray Chaucer [i.e., Geoffrey Chaucer], “Gode Counsaile”, in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London: […] Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], published 1542, →OCLC:


gnof

Compare Saterland Frisian Knuf (“lump”).

Whilom ther was dwellyng in Oxenfoꝛd / A riche gnof that geſtes heeld to boꝛd

1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Millerẏs Tale”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 42, recto, lines 3187-3188:

Once there was living in Oxford / A rich churl who took in guests as boarders.


swithen

enm-verb

swithen (third-person singular simple present switheth, present participle swithinge, first-/third-person singular past indicative swoth, past participle swithen)

switheth (present singular third-person)
swithinge (participle present)
swoth (first-person indicative past singular third-person)
swithen (participle past)

swidden

Swiþe min neeres, min hert, with wa.

to burn, scorch, singe; (ppl. swithinge as adjective: parching, scorching)


lodemanage

English: lodemanage


athamaunt

wryten in the table of athamaunt

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knyghtes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


hertely

English: heartily

Yola: hearthilee, hearthillee, hartille

[...] ‘Sin ye so muchel knowen of that art,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Merchant's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1241-1242

… ‘Since you know so much of that art,
Full heartily I pray you tell us part.’


cleve

English: cleve

Inherited from Old English clēofa, from Proto-Germanic *klebô.

(rare) An abode or home; where someone resides.


courtepy

Ful threedbaare was his overeste courtepy

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


legist

1484, William Caxton (translator), Aesop’s Fables, “The Wulf whiche made a fart” in The Fables of Aesop as first printed by William Caxton in 1484, edited by Joseph Jacobs, London: David Nutt, 1889, Volume II, p. 162,
Item my fader was no legist ne never knewe the lawes, ne also man of Justyce, and to gyve sentence of a plee, I wold entremete me, and fayned my self grete Justycer, but I knewe neyther, a, ne, b,


rerebrace

English: rerebrace (historical)


ciclatoun

From Old French siglaton, (chiefly) Anglo-French cyclaton and Anglo-Latin cyclaton, from Arabic سِقِلّاطُون (siqillāṭūn).

His robe was of ciclatoun, / That coste many a Jane.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Ryme of Syr Thopas”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

A costly cloth, of uncertain material, used in the Middle Ages.


forthristen

forthristen (third-person singular simple present forthristeth, present participle forthristende, forthristynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle forthristed)

forthristeth (present singular third-person)
forthristende (participle present)
forthristynge (participle present)
forthristed (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

(transitive) to shatter, smash, or crush


luffer

Alternative form of lovere (“friend, lover”)


reccheles

Inherited from Old English rēċċelēas, rēċelēas, from Proto-West Germanic *rōkulaus; equivalent to recchen (“to care”) + -les.

‘O trouble wit, o ire recchelees,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Manciple's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 279-280

‘O troubled wit, O reckless anger,
That recklessly smites the guiltless!’


costrel

English: costrel

→ Middle Welsh: costrel

Welsh: costrel

Borrowed from Old French costerel, modification of costeret.

Any small container or means of storage for liquids; a costrel.


wastel

English: wastel

Yola: palske, palsk (vulgar)

From Old French wastel, gastel (> French gâteau), from Late Latin wastellum, from Frankish *wastil, perhaps from Proto-Germanic *wistiz (“sustenance, food”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wes- (“to dwell, stay”). Cognate with Middle High German wastel (“a kind of bread”). Compare Old High German wist (“food”) and Old English wist (“food”).

cog

Of smale houndes hadde she, that she fedde / With rosted flesh, and milk, and wastel brede.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Prologues”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

Some small dogs she had, which she fed / With roasted meat, and milk, and wastel bread.


ancille

From Old French ancele, ancelle, from Latin ancilla.

Thee whom God ches to mooder for humblesse!
From his ancille he made the maistresse

14th c. Geoffrey Chaucer, An ABC (The Prayer of Our Lady)

Of hevene and erthe, oure bille up for to beede.


floring

From Middle English floren (“to equip with a floor, to pave”), from Middle English flor (“floor, foundation”), Old English flōr (“floor, pavement, ground”).

Pro le floryng, dalbyng..et le parchettyng.

Extracts from the Account Rolls of the Abbey of Durham, 1457

Noe made a wyndow in his schippe..and housynge and cabans wiþ dyuers florynge. — Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden, 1387

This mapil, ook, & asshe endureth longe In floryng..This flooryng wul be blak & wynter warm. — Palladius, c1440

the floor of a room, building, or other structure


ipocras

He drinketh Ipocras, clarre, and vernage / Of spices hot, to encresen his corage...


biteon

enm-verb

biteon (third-person singular simple present biteoth, present participle biteonde, first-/third-person singular past indicative bitogh, past participle bitowen)

biteoth (present singular third-person)
biteonde (participle present)
bitogh (first-person indicative past singular third-person)
bitowen (participle past)

From Old English betēon (“to cover, surround, enclose, dispose of, bestow, bequeath, impeach, accuse”), equivalent to bi- + ten (“to go, to draw”). Cognate with German beziehen (“to obtain, cover, receive, draw”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐍄𐌹𐌿𐌷𐌰𐌽 (bitiuhan, “to bestow, draw over, betray”).

cog

(transitive) To draw over (as a covering); cover; veil.

(transitive) To employ; spend; bestow (time, pains, etc.)

(transitive) To bring about; manage; arrange.


fremmen

enm-verb

fremmen (third-person singular simple present fremmeth, present participle fremmende, fremmynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle fremmed)

fremmeth (present singular third-person)
fremmende (participle present)
fremmynge (participle present)
fremmed (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

desctree

English: frame
→ Dutch: frame
→ German: framen

Scots: frame

From Old English fremman (“to further, advance, support; frame, make, do, perpetrate, commit, afford; benefit, do good”).

inh

(He should give homage to me with courtesy.)

Heo scullen me monradene mid moscipe fremmen. — Layamon's Brut, c. 1275

To perform or accomplish (something), do


fulmaken

enm-verb

fulmaken (third-person singular simple present fulmaketh, present participle fulmakinge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle fulmade)

fulmaketh (present singular third-person)
fulmakinge (participle present)
fulmade (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

fullmake

fullmade

Fulmake mi steppes in sties þine.

Mone þat schines brighte, Fulmade in euer newe.

complete, perfect; grow full; achieve, execute, carry out, accomplish, perform, dispatch, finish, establish


witewold

wittol

Likely from a blend of witen + cokewold.

Pseudo prophetes, false sodomytes, Quelmers of chyldren, with fornycatours, Wetewoldes that suffre syn in her syghtes, Auouterers, & abhominable auauntours Of syn ... These were the comons came thedyr that day Redy bowne in batayll Vertew to abyde.

A man who is obliging about his wife's infidelity; an acquiescent cuckold


walkirie

From Old English wælcyrġe, from Proto-Germanic *walakuzjǭ.


undersechen

undersēchen (third-person singular simple present undersēcheth, present participle undersēchinge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle undersought)

undersēchen (canonical)
undersēcheth (present singular third-person)
undersēchinge (participle present)
undersought (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

English underseek

From Old English undersēcan (“to examine, investigate, scrutinize”), equivalent to under- + sechen.

inh

Wiþ þat come Sadok prikeing, Þe douke Segyn vnder-secheing.

to examine, investigate, scrutinize, seek out, look for


underloken

enm-verb

underlōken (third-person singular simple present underlōketh, present participle underlōkende, underlōkynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle underlōked)

underlōken (canonical)
underlōketh (present singular third-person)
underlōkende (participle present)
underlōkynge (participle present)
underlōked (first-person indicative participle past singular third-person)

English: underlook

to be suspicious of; look at with mistrust


tretable

by nature debonaire and tretable


forthclepen

forthclepen (infinitive)
to forthclepen (infinitive)
forthclepe (infinitive)
forthclepe (first-person present singular)
forthclepte (first-person past singular)
forthcleped (first-person past singular)
forthclepest (present second-person singular)
forthcleptest (past second-person singular)
forthclepedest (past second-person singular)
forthclepeth (present singular third-person)
forthclepte (past singular third-person)
forthcleped (past singular third-person)
forthclepe (present singular subjunctive)
forthclepte (past singular subjunctive)
forthcleped (past singular subjunctive)
forthclepe (imperative present singular)
forthclepen (plural present)
forthclepe (plural present)
forthclepten (past plural)
forthclepte (past plural)
forthclepeden (past plural)
forthclepede (past plural)
forthclepeth (imperative plural present)
forthclepe (imperative plural present)
forthclepynge (participle present)
forthclepende (participle present)
forthclept (participle past)
forthcleped (participle past)
yforthclept (participle past)
yforthcleped (participle past)

From Old English forþclipian (“to call forth; summon, invite, summon, invoke, implore”), equivalent to forth- + clepen.

inh

As an egle forthclepynge his bryddis to flee

c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe [et al.], edited by Josiah Forshall and Frederic Madden, The Holy Bible, […], volume I, Oxford: At the University Press, published 1850, →OCLC, Deuteronomy 32:11, page 546:


thurghfare

Chaucer

This world is but a thurghfare full of woe.


twei

Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *twai (“two”), from Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ (“two”). Cognate with German zwei, and others.

“[…] And god made twei grete liytis / the gretter liyt that it schulde be bifore to the dai / and the lesse liyt that it schulde be bifore to the niyt […]”And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night:

ca. 1395, John Wycliffe, John Purvey & others, “Genesis 1:16”, in The Bible:


terremote

Borrowed from Old French terremote, terremoete, from Latin terraemotus (“earthquake”), from terra (“the earth”) + mōtus (“movement”).

he schok[…]As it a terremote were

c. 1386–1390, John Gower, edited by Reinhold Pauli, Confessio Amantis of John Gower: Edited and Collated with the Best Manuscripts, volume (please specify |volume=I, II, or III), London: Bell and Daldy […], published 1857, →OCLC:


compaignable

[...] A wyf he hadde of excellent beautee,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Shipman's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 1193-1194

And compaignable and revelous was she, [...]
… He had a wife of excellent beauty,
And she was sociable and fond of revelry, …


furial

From Old French furial, from Latin furiālis (“furious, frenzied”).

What is the cause, if it be for to telle, that ye been in this furial pyne of helle.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Squyers Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


michery

She said him, that she wolde have
Upon the nightes michery


whame

(Northern) Alternative form of whom (“who, whom”, accusative)


sterre

English: star (see there for further descendants)

Scots: ster

Yola: starr, steor

Inherited from Old English steorra, from Proto-West Germanic *sterrō, from Proto-Germanic *sternǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr. Doublet of sterne.

I dar wel putte thee out of doute −− To make of thee as yet a sterre.

(Can we date this quote?), The Book of the Duchess:

I dare well put thee out of doubt -- To make of thee as yet a star.


poplexy

The goute lette hir no-thing for to daunce,
Napoplexye shente nat hir heed; [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 4030-4031

The gout not at all prevented her from dancing,
And apoplexy harmed not her head; …


clergial

Oure termes been so clergial and so queynte; I blowe the fir till that myn herte feynte

1394, Geoffrey Chaucer, “v. 752”, in The Canon's Yeoman's Tale:


southren

But trusteth wel, I am a Southren man,
I can nat geste—rum, ram, ruf—by lettre,
Ne, god wot, rym holde I but litel bettre;

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Parson's Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 42-45

But trust well, I am a Southern man,
I can not recite ‘rum, ram, ruf,’ letter by letter,
And, God knows, rime I consider but little better;
And therefore, if you wish, I will not deceive you.

And therfor, if yow list, I wol nat glose.


polive

Ther may no man out of the place it dryve

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Squire's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 183-185

And cause why, for they can nat the craft.
No man there can drive it out of the place
Despite any contrivance of windlass or pulley;
And the reason why? Because they do not know the craft.


halwe

English: hallow

Scots: hallow

From Old English hālga (“holy man, saint”).

And palmeres for to seken straunge strondes / To ferne halwes, kowthe in sondry londes.

Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue, 13:14

And palmers to go seeking out strange strands, / To distant shrines well known in distant lands.


attaste

first-person singular present indicative of attasten


teyne

English: tain

a teyne of silver fyn

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Tale of the Chanons Yeman”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


apair

It is a sinne and eek a greet folye
To apairen any man or him defame

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Myllers Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

To impair or become impaired; to injure.


travailous

From Anglo-Norman travaillous, Old French travaillos.

As an hert desireth shadewe, and as an hirid man abideth the ende of his werc; so and I hadde voide monethis, and trauailous nyʒtis I noumbride out to me.

c. 1382–1395, John Wycliffe [et al.], edited by Josiah Forshall and Frederic Madden, The Holy Bible, […], volume II, Oxford: At the University Press, published 1850, →OCLC, Job VII:3–4, page 682, column 1:

Like a servant desireth the shade, and like a hired man waiteth for the end of his work day; so I have had empty months, and I have numbered travailous nights to me.


excusement

For he is one and they be two
And two have more wit than one,
So thilke excusement was none


exametron

Probably borrowed from latin Latin hexameter.

And they ben vercifyed comenly
Of syxe fete, whiche men [clepe] exametron
In prose eke ben endyted many on
And in metre, many a sondry wyse
Lo, this ought ynough to suffyse

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Monkes Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio lxxxix, verso, column 2:

And they have been vercified beautifully in metres of six feet, which men call hexameter. In prose also many have been written, and in meter, many ways. Lo! this ought to be enough to suffice.


sorwe

[…] ech of yow see others sorwes smerte.

Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde Book III, ll.950


sicer

This Sampson never sicer drank ne wyn,
Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne shere,

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Monk's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 3245-3248

For alle his strengthes in his heres were; [...]
This Sampson never drank alcoholic drinks nor wine,
Nor on his head came any razor or scissors,
By command of the divine messenger,
For all his powers were in his hair; …


nik

English: nick

Yola: lownnick


receit

What shal this receit cost? Telleth me now.
Of this receit, farewel, it n'old not be.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “(please specify the story)”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


reve

English: reeve

From Old English rēfa, ġerēfa, from Proto-West Germanic *garāfijō. Doublet of greyve.

14thC, Geoffrey Chaucer, Prologue to the Reves Tale, 1915, The College Chaucer, page 94,
Ne at this tale I saugh no man hym greve, / But it were oonly Osewold the Reve;

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

A reeve or bailiff (a local official); an administrator.

An administrator of an estate or manor; a manager or steward.

(Christianity) A subordinate or deputy of God.


sluggardie

Withoute Slep of sluggardie

Ydelnesse is roten slogardye.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Seconde Nonnes Prologue”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

the state of being a sluggard; sluggishness; sloth


routhe

Example in sentence: "If that he deyde, it were harm and routhe."


anfald

English: onefold

desc

Scots: aefauld, aefald, aefaul (noun), ae-fald, ae-faul (adj)

From Old English ānfeald, ānfald (“single, simple”), from Proto-Germanic *ainafalþaz; equivalent to an + -fald.

Godes wei is streinðe þe anfalde monne..Iob wes anfald rihtwis Mon.

Anfald godd i cal in thre, / Lauerd loued in trinite. — Cursor Mundi, 1400


mountance

And from thence go men to the city of Hebron, that is the mountance of twelve good mile.

1357, John Mandeville, The Travels of Sir John Mandeville:

[...] ‘In al this world ther nis no creature,
That ete or dronke hath of this confiture
Noght but the mountance of a corn of whete,
That he ne shal his lyf anon forlete;’ [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Pardoner's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 861-864

… ‘In all this world there is no creature,
That has eaten or drunk of this concoction
Only so much as the amount of a seed of wheat,
That he shall not immediately lose his life;’ …

[...] ‘For al thy waiting, blered is thyn yë
With oon of litel reputacioun,
Noght worth to thee, as in comparisoun,
The mountance of a gnat; so mote I thryve!

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Manciple's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 252-256

… For all thy watching, thou hast been tricked
By one of little reputation,
Not worth, compared to thee,
The value of a gnat; as I may thrive!
For on thy bed I saw him copulate with thy wife.

For on thy bed thy wyf I saugh him swyve.’


lussheburgh

God wot, no Lussheburghes payen ye.

A spurious coin of light weight imported into England from Luxembourg (then called Lussheburgh).


pament

And in here faders blode þe[i] made hem daunce / Vppon þe pament god ȝeue hem meschaunce

c. 1410, Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Franklin's Tale" in The Canterbury Tales, copied in MS Landsdowne 851. Republished in 1808-1879, Frederick James Furnivall (ed.), The Landsdowne MS of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, London: The Chaucer Society. p. 518, l. 1371-1372

And they made them dance in their father's blood / on the pavement--God give them mischance!

Pavement: the hardened surface laid on top of the ground as in a street or the ground floor of a building.


slo

English: sloe

Scots: slae

From Old English slā, slāh, from Proto-West Germanic *slaihā, from Proto-Germanic *slaihǭ.


testif

Testif they were and lusty for to play.

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Reues Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:


savement

English: savement (obsolete)

From Old French sauvement. Equivalent to sauf + -ment.

salvation, saving (either worldly or spiritual)


wraw

From Old English *wrāh, from Proto-Germanic *wraihaz (“crooked”). Compare Swedish dialect vrå (“wilful, disobedient”), from Proto-Germanic *wranhō.

[…]And that is whan men pleyen with a ſtraw / And with this ſpeche the Cook wax wrooth and wraw[…]

a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Manciple's Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, lines 43–44:

And that's when men play with a straw." / And after that speech the Cook became furious and angry, […]


acustumaunce

English: accustomance


chaped

Ful fresh and newe hir gere apyked was;
Hir knyves were y-chaped noght with bras, [...]

late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, General Prologue, The Canterbury Tales, line 365-366

Their equipment was adorned all freshly and new;
Their knives were not mounted with brass, …


costlewe

Allas, may man nat seen, as in oure dayes, the synful costlewe array of clothynge

1394, Chaucer, “v. 415”, in The Parson's Tale:


thrittene

q

dialectal <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">throtteen</i>

English: thirteen (dialectal throtteen)

desc

Middle Scots: thertene, therttene, threttein, thretteine, thretten, threttene

Scots: thirteen

Yola: dhurteen

From Anglian Old English þreotēne (compare West Saxon þreotīene), from Proto-Germanic *þritehun; equivalent to thre + -tene.

'My lord,' quod he, 'whan that the weder is fair,
With-outen wind or perturbinge of air,
Lat bringe a cartwheel here in-to this halle,
But loke that it have his spokes alle.
Twelf spokes hath a cartwheel comunly.
And bring me than twelf freres, woot ye why?
For thrittene is a covent, as I gesse.[']

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Somnour's Tale", in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; Rev. Walter W. Skeat, editor, The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, Vol. 4, Second Edition, Oxford at the Clarendon Press: Humphrey Milford, 1900, →OCLC, lines 2253–2261 (547–553)

"My lord," he said, "When the weather is good, and there is no wind or perturbations in the air, let a cart-wheel be brought into this hall, but ensure that it has all its spokes: a cart-wheel has twelve spokes, commonly. And bring me then twelve friars, do you know why? Because a thirteen's a convent, as I estimate.


tolsey

English: tolsey


ercedeken

From Old English erce = archi- + deken (“a deacon”).


sanguisuge

English: sanguisuge (obsolete)


trevet

English: trivet

From Old English trefet and Old Northern French trevet, both ultimately from Latin tripēs, tripedis (“tripod”).


agrief

14th c. Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales. The Nun's Priest's Tale: 126-8.
And he answerde and seyde thus, 'Madame,
I pray yow that ye take it nat agrief.
By God, me thoughte I was in swich meschief [...]'


gaytre

A day or two, ye ſhul haue digeſtyues / Of wormes, or ye take your laxatyues, / [...] Of catapuce, or of gaytres beris

1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Tale of the Nonnes Preest”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC, folio xcv, recto, lines 195–196, 199:

For a day or two you shall have digestive medicine / made up of worms, before you take your laxatives / … Of catapuce, or of gaiter's berries

Some kind of berried tree whose berries have a laxative effect; probably the dogwood or honeysuckle; possibly the buckthorn.


alength

Þen gone forthe the grekes, graithet engynes,
Batold hom all abrode vmbe the bare walles;
Layn ladders alenght & oloft wonnen.

13th c., Guido delle Colonne, Historia destructionis Troiae, Page 154

For lost she had bothe myght and strengthe,

14th c., John Lydgate, Troy Book: Book 3, 5115-6

And plat she fil to the grounde alengthe

1550, Thomas Nicolls (Translator), Thucydides, The hystory writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warre, whiche was betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans, Book 4, pg. Cxviii
[They] fa∣stened yt wyth yrone at bothe endes. And also alengthe [...] and to one of the endes they fastened wyth chaynes of yronne a greate cawdrone of brasse

Ne be he ner so stout,
ȝet he bith y-soht out

c. September 1306, Unknown composer, Song on the Execution of Sir Simon Fraser, (as given in 1885, Thomas Wright, The Political Songs of England: From the Reign of John to that of Edward II, pg. 65) 46-8

Be he never so stout
Yet he is sought out
Wide and far

1884, Richard Rolle, Rev. H. R. Baramley (Editor), The Paslter or Psalms of David and Certain Canticles With a Translation and Exposition in English, pg. 140, 12.
And thai that ware biside me stode olenght: and fors thai made that sought my sale