Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒurt adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒurt adj. Also curt, kyrt. |
| Etymology | OF court, cort, curt. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Short (lot); ~ lof, ?short loaf; ~ singel, short girth or belt [cp. singel n.]: (b) in names; Court(e)-hose [cp. hose], surname of Robert, son of William the Conquerer; Court-mantel [cp. mantel], surname of Henry II; (c) of short duration, short (penance); (d) in ~, in short [cp. OF cortement & a cort].
Associated quotations
a
- c1425 Chaucer CT.Pard.(Petw 7)C.795 : Lat loke among vs alle To drawe, and lat see where þe Cut wil falle; he þat haþ þe curt [vrr. cut, cutte] wiþ herte blith Shal renne to toune..To bringe vs brede.
- (1434-5) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99232 : In emendacione..frenorum et i novi panell cum 3 courtsyngyls.
- (1460-1) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.491b : In smaller court lovys 16 d.
b
- (1366) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)3.793 : Wytasse Courtehose.
- c1367 Eulogium (Trin-C R.7.2)3.40 : Robertus Courthoese.
- c1367 Eulogium (Trin-C R.7.2)3.64 : Tres filios, scilicet, Gaufridum..Henricum Curtmauntel cognominatum..et Willielmum.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)130 : To Robert, clepid Curthose, the duchi of Normandie.
c
- ?c1450 in Aungier Syon Mon.251 : Who schal take the longe veyne, he must knele first upon hys lefte kne..But he that schal take the curte veyne must fyrst knele down upon bothe hys knees.
d
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)836 : I counsell þe, in kyrt [?read: kurt], kaire to þi londe, And put of þis purpos.