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ceint (n.) Also seint, sain(t, sent.

[OF (from L cinctum).]

(a) A girdle, sash; fig., ~ of virginite; (b) a band or stripe.

(a)    (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)   A.329:  He rood..in a medlee coote, Girt with a ceynt [vrr. seint, sent] of silk.

(c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)   A.3235:  A ceynt she wered, barred al of silk.

(a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)   4.857:  A Ceinte of Selk..Sche knette.

c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)   589:  Wyth ryche cotearmure..Gurde wyth a bront ful sure, With silk sayn vmbe his syde.

a1425(c1300) Assump.Virg.(1) (Add 10036)   133/793:  A-bowte hure myddel a seynt sche sou3t..He toke þer þe gurdel in his honde.

a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)   473:  A saynt of silk þan toke scho sone, Þat was obut hir medel done.

(1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)   451:  Seynt or cors of a gyrdylle: Textum.

c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)   616/18:  Textum, i. semicinctorium: a seynt.

a1475 Asneth (Hnt EL 26.A.13)   438:  Do on..Þi lynnen robe..& gird the with þe double ceynt of þi virginite.

a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)   5.9.93a:  Thre spirites..were clothed..with reed blody purpill, girt with saintes of gold.

(b)    a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)   p.86:  Elitropia is a ston..& he is cebled with red seyinctes.


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