Middle English Dictionary Entry
alaunt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | alaunt n. Also alo(u)nd. |
| Etymology | AF; cp. CF alan(t. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A highly prized ferocious dog of a breed used in hunting, bull-baiting, etc. [described in quot.: c1410]; (b) a representation of such a dog. [See A. S. Cook, Trans.Conn.Acad. 2.128, 23.30.]
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2148 : Aboute his chaar ther wente white alauntz..as grete as any steer, To hunten at the leoun or the deer.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)64 : Alaunt is a maner..of houndes, and þe good alauntz ben þe which men clepyn alauntz gentil; other þer byn þat men clepyn alauntz ventreres, oþer byn alauntz of þe bocherie. Thei þat ben gentile shuld be made and shape as a greyhounde..sauf of þe heued, þe whiche shuld be greet and short; and þouȝe ther alauntes of alle hewes, þe verrey hue of þe good alauntz þat is moost comon shuld be white, wiþ a blak spott about þe eerys, smale eyne, and white stondyng eres and sharpe aboue.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)65 : Alauntz..byn good for þe batyng of þe bole and huntyng of þe wild boore.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2/56 : He roode tho vppon a fforeste stronde..With Alauntes, Lymmeris and Racches free.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking (Hrl 2340:Haslewood)25 : A hunte hath j cast of a copyll of alonds to an herde of hartes.
- a1475 Heart & Eye(3) (Lngl 258)27 : To fette myn houndes..Whereof Aloundes I brought many oon.
b
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.7 (Hrl 2169)185 : An alaunde [See illustration in Anc.7].
- (1467) Doc.in HMC Rep.8 App.629a : An othre canope of rede cloth of golde of baudekyn, with alauntes.