Middle English Dictionary Entry
crā̆king ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | crā̆king ger. Also crakeȝingue. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Cracking, creaking; crashing, resounding; (b) clashing, striking together; (c) lamentation.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.605 : What seye we of hem that bileeuen on dyuynailes..by chirkynge of dores or crakkynge [vrr. crakynge, krakynge, crakkeynge] of houses?
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)116 : Þen þe first cors come with crakkyng of trumpes.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)1 Kings 7.10 : The Lord thundryde with greet crakkynge [L fragore] in that day vpon the Philistiens.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)100 : Crakkynge: Crepor.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8720 : Clamur & crie, crakkyng of fyngurs, Of þo ledis þat hym louyt, no lettur might tell!
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)865/17 : They harde crakynge and cryynge of thundir.
b
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)248 : Ther was grete noise and crakkynge [F froseis] of speres.
c
- a1500(a1475) Ashby Dicta (Cmb Mm.4.42)803 : Vice shalbe abhorred & hatyng, And euer be in trouble & crakyng.
2.
Boasting.
Associated quotations
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)100 : Crakynge, or [Win: off] boste: Jactancia, arrogancia.
- (1462) Paston (Gairdner)4.44 : Cety of Norwic and Yermothe have knowlage of hys gret crakyng and bost.
3.
Breaking, splitting, cracking.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)452/114 : Þoruȝ noyse of þe crakeȝingue, þe guode man i-heorde Þat þut treo fel touward him.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13419 : There lengit he a litill..His cogges & his cables of crakkyng to ricche.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)80 : A Crakkynge: nucliacio, enucliacio.
4.
~ cable, some kind of rope on a ship.
Associated quotations
- (1357) *Pipe Roll (PRO) 32 Edw.III m.34/2 [OD col.] : j Windingpoliue. iiij grossis cabulis, j Crakyngcable, ij wales pro j toppecastelle.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy [OD col.] (Glo 19)No.1, Bk.1, ch.3, fol.5b : The ers hole by egestion, i. schityng, Crakynge, & Whispynge by nethe, is purgynge propirly of the guttys.
Note: New sense
Note: Gloss: The act of expelling gas from the anus noisily, farting.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (BodeMus 187:Harvey)f.4r (1.3) : The first digestioun haþe purgacioun to hys superfluytes þe ouer hole & þe neþer hole, s. þe mouþ & þe tail ende..be egestion, i. schytyng, crakkyng, & fysting beneþe is purgeyng propurly of þe guttes & of þe ropis.
Note: New sense. Editor's gloss: 'farting, breaking wind'.