Middle English Dictionary Entry
crike n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | crike n.(1) Also crẹ̄ke, creake, ? cruke. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI kriki nook, bend; cp. also MDu. creke inlet, cove; Fris. kreke, krike winding brook. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An inlet of the sea, cove, small estuary; also, a small stream, creek; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.6]; (c) in personal names.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1220-30) Reg.Lin.in Lin.RS 34188 : Ex occidentali parte dicti Sedyc quod est versus orientem usque ad magnum kryk.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)708 : He dede it tere, an ful wel pike, Þat it ne doutede sond ne krike.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2947 : In euerilc welle, in euerilc trike [read: crike], men funden blod al witterlike.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.409 : He knew alle the hauenes..And euery cryke in Britaigne and in Spayne.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.8.11 : Men knowen wel the krikes and the cavernes of the see.
- (1435) RParl.4.490a : Suche persones..shippen Wolles in Crikes, and oyer suspecious places.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)103 : Cryke [Win: Cryk] of watyr: Scatera.
- (1448) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3196 : Thomas Gate and Stephene of Gate..ledde fro the sayd Munkynton six sakkys ful of wulle to a kryc of the merssh be the havyn of Sarre.
- (1449) RParl.5.155b, 156a : Merchauntes aliens..in divers Portes, Havens, and Krekis..brynghth Whete, Corn, and other Marchaundise..eny Haven, Porte, or Kreke..the Poort, Creke, or other place.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.160 : [Ȝe witen] wel also where þat þe crykes and þe caues bene.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57206 : My mastyr gaffe to the mastyr of the Margett, for helpenge owt of the kervell owt of the creke xx d.
b
- (1160-80) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)7 : Novum Hullum..ab antiquo Sayercrik.
- (1198) in Ekwall Dict.EPN124 : Krekeset.
- (1199) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)255 : Caput del Cricke.
- (1200) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)212 : Crikesee.
- (1239) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)212 : Krikesheth.
- (1248) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)212 : Crekeseye.
- (c1250) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)255 : Le Krike.
- (1284) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)255 : Le Crike.
- (1288) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)213 : Crukesheth.
- (1379) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)220 : Atkrik.
- (1403) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)254 : Creake frythe.
- (1438) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)254 : Creke hire.
- (1464) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)213 : Crykeshethe.
c
- (1230) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.469 : Cristiana que fuit uxor Peki Crikeman.
- (1298) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)117 : [John de] Creke.
2.
The cleft between the buttocks [cp. Icel. handarkriki armpit].
Associated quotations
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2450 : He..keste him on a scabbed mere, Hise nese went un-to þe crice [rime: swike].
3.
?A turn, trick, stratagem.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4051 : The moore queynte crekes that they make, The moore wol I stele whan I take.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Quot. a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex. 2947 ("In euerilc welle, in euerilc trike, men funden blod al witterlike") removed from this entry to its own trī̆ke n., q.v.