Middle English Dictionary Entry
alciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | alciǒun n. Also alici-, alchi-. |
| Etymology | L alcyōn, from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The fabulous bird halcyon.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3123 : Alceoun the trewe queene, Hire briddes yit..Of Alceoun the name bere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)322a/b : In þe clif of a ponde of occean, alicioun in wynter makeþ hire nest and leiþ eyren..and while he sitteþ..þe wedur [is] stille..þe see is esy and mylde.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)89 : Þe same birdes flee opon the see syde, the which be called Alchions and there fedres be whyte.