Middle English Dictionary Entry
croppen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | croppen v. Also crope. Ipv. crop. |
| Etymology | From crop n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To prune, trim, or crop (a plant); trim (roots); cut branches from (a tree); (b) to cut (sth.) off; (c) croppedwode, a place name.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)22b : Þe wiðin [Nero: wiði]..spruteð ut þe betere þet me hine croppeð.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)229a/a : Herbes..multiplieþ hemself swiþe faste, if þey ben nouȝt y pared, y croppid, and y holde lowe.
- c1400(1399) Þer is a busch (Bagot)p.363 : Ther is a busch that is forgrowe; Crop hit welle..or elles hit wolle be wilde.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.369 : The rootis forto croppe..summen rede.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)5.83-4 : With yron hym to croppe is his encrece; So cropped, forto springe he wol not cece.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)26/5 : Alle paryschenys þat hewyn doun..or croppyn ony treen in chercheȝerde.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.415 : He seyd..y most..croppe a plaunte of peche.
c
- (c1310) Deed Norris in LCRS 93171 : Le Croppuddewode.
- (1334) Deed Norris in LCRS 93171 : Le Croppitwode.
2.
To pluck or gather (grain, cabbage); reap, harvest.
Associated quotations
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.35 : Þei comen in-to my croft And Croppen my Whete.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)895 : I..sawe many swete sightz..The flours on feeldes flavryng swete, The corne on þe croftes y-croppid ful faire.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1390 : Hast þou I-come in any sty And cropped ȝerus of corner [read: corne] þe by?
3.
(a) Of birds: to pick up (seeds), eat [?cp. crop sense 1]; of a hare: nibble (cabbage); (b) croppe-col, a nickname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.33 : Wilde foules..cometh to my croft and croppeth my whete.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.394 : Þis Makometh..Daunted a dowue, and day and nyȝte hir fedde; Þe corne þat she cropped [etc.].
- a1475 Mourn.Hare (Brog 2.1)37 : Yf I syt and crope [Cmb: croppe] þe kovle..þe wyfe..wyll swere..'There is an haare in my haye.'
b
- (1332) Sub.R.War.in Dugd.Soc.621 : Geoffrey Croppecol.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)62/20 : We denouncyn…acursed…alle þo personys or paryschenys þat hewyn doun, or do hewyn, stubbyn, pullyn, schredyn, or schroppyn, ony tre in cherche-ȝerd or chapell-ȝerd.
Note: New form: Also..(?error)schroppyn.
Note: Cp. scrobben, var. of shrubben v.--per REL
Note: Belongs to sense 1.(a).--per MLL