Middle English Dictionary Entry
dai-werk, -work, daies werk n. & phr.
Entry Info
| Forms | dai-werk, -work, daies werk n. & phr. |
| Etymology | OE dæg-weorc |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A normal day's work; a day's customary service; also, a day's fighting; (b) as a land measure: a plot of land that can be plowed by one team in one day [appar. from 3 to 5 poles].
Associated quotations
a
- (1307) Doc.in Boldon Bk.p.xxx : Et de 6 s. de operibus drengorum..per annum, quae vocantur daywerkes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)126a/a : Þe more þe day drawiþ towarde ende, þe more þe wise werkman fondiþ to make ende of his day work.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5870 : Fra þat tide ned-wais suld þai Do tua dais werkes [Frf: dayes werk; Trin-C: iourneyes] on a dai.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)7.18 : Oon daywerk [L opera] of a good ripman [L messoris] may gete v strik.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4305 : Than knelis the crownede kynge and kryes..Of þis dere day-werke [i.e. battle] þe Dryghtten be louede.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)69/1 : Þis wose is so depe in oure pytt..þat vs muste makyn manye dayes werkys for to castyn it owt clene; for þere ben vij dedly synnes, and yche of þe seuen schal be a day werk or more.
b
- (c1230) Deed Swainestrey in Archaeol.Cant.3467 : [3 1/2 acres and 7] daiwerce [of land].
- (1258) Doc.in HMC Rep.9 App.139a : [Two] daywerkes [of land].
- a1400(1324) Court R.Ambree in Archaeol.Cant.29107 : Johannes Bere vadit relevium suum de una deywerke terre.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1325) Extent in Lambert Hist.Banstead (Add Charter 16532)321 : Si non habeat carucam…debet fodere iiii daywerkis et habebit unum repastum.
Note: Needed for date in sense (b).
- (1396) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.210 : [John Pak was…seised of an acre of land and 2] deywerkes [..held by fealty and yearly rent of 2 1/8 d.]
Note: Supplemental material for sense (b).
Note: Might the compound dai-werk in sense (b) be partly influenced by the Latin virgata (rod) found in the compound dai-wercate (see dai n., sense 13.(d) where it is glossed as "a land measure")?--per MLL