Middle English Dictionary Entry
crā̆k n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | crā̆k n.(2) Also crak(k)e. |
| Etymology | Cp. crā̆ken v.; ?OE, cp. OHG krach, MDu. crac. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A bursting or splitting sound, a crash; (b) a fart; (c) the sound of a trumpet.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)140a/a : Whanne þat fuyre is I queynt in wattry cloudes, þe bobelynge & crackes of þat quenchinge is I clepid þondir.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18953 : Þai runnen..carpand o þat grisli crak [Göt: crack; rime: spak].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)642 : Þe þonder made many crak [rime: blak].
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)246 : Þre ribbes tobrak, And þerto his oon arm, þat ȝaf a gret crak.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1019 : Giffrounis regge tobrak, Þat men herde þe crak.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)100 : Crakke, or dyn [Win: Crake]: Crepitus, fragor.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2182 : Grete blowen bladdyrs he brake, And thay gave a gret crake.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)466 : The rode braste & gaffe a crake.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)287 : Full grete crakke and noyse ther was of brekynge of speres and stif strokes of swerdes vpon helmes.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.409 : Þey beeþ so hende And hateþ a crak of þe neþer ende [L Ani pudendum sonitum].
- -?-(?a1500) Hunt.Hare (Adv 19.3.1)210 : Bot his arse lette a cracke [rime: lake].
c
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1210 : Cler claryoun crak cryed on lofte.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1403 : Sturnen trumpen strake steven in halle, Aywhere by þe wowes wrasten krakkes.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)143/2198 : Claryouns, cryith up at a krake [rime: blake, wrake].
2.
A cleft, an opening.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)428/13 : After a grete rayn, he went down in-to a law crak in þe erde, and þer he fande a man dead.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. crack.