Middle English Dictionary Entry
dẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dẹ̄ n. Also dīce, dis, dyȝs. Pl. des, deis, dez, dice, dies, dis, dices, dises. |
| Etymology | OF dé, dei; pl. dés, déz, deiz, dis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A die; pl. dice; (b) a game with dice; pleien at (the) des; (c) a cube of meat or bread; (d) something small or trivial; never a ~, nought a ~, not a bit, not at all.
Associated quotations
a
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)p.95 : Nym eyren wyth al the wyte and myse bred and schepys talwe as gret as dyses.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.75 : He..sigh..knyȝtes of golde pleyenge wiþ dees [L tesseris] of gold.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Co.(Manly-Rickert)A.4386 : For in the toune nas ther no prentys That fairer koude caste a paire of dys.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.623 : The kyng of Parthes..Sente hym a paire of dees [vrr. deis, dys] of gold in scorn.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2437 : Betwen fortune and covoitise, The chance is cast upon a Dee [rime: se].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)197a/b : Andromaya..is foure-cornered in schap as þe corner of a dys.
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.69 : Do þerto a lytull of lard carnon [?read: caruen] lyche a dee.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1347 : And after that thise dees torned on chaunces, So was he outher glad or seyde, 'allas.'
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)666/31 : Hic talus, Anglice dyse. Hec alea, idem.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.129 : Lik hasardours my dees I iuparte.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)120-1 : Dyce:..tessera, taxillus..Dycyn, or pley wythe dycys: Aleo.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11392 : Somme pleide wyþ des & [vr. deez at] tables.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)56 : For al the world ther inne mired is, nouht as greet as aas in a dee.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2953 : I bare thre dise, in myne owne purs.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.28 : Square as dises þou shalt hit make.
- c1475 Dice(2) (Brm)45 : Ȝe that sysse and caterys haue in ye deysse, Let be ȝour thowtes for they be nysse.
- c1475 Dice(2) (Brm)89 : Synke, cater, synke, ȝe haue on the dysse, I cownsell ȝow be war and wysse.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)289/303 : Heder haue I broght thre dyse vs emang.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)738/6 : Hic talus: a dyse. Hec decies, idem est.
b
- [ (1388) Statutes Realm2.57 : Les jeues..appellez Coytes, dyces, gettre de pere. ]
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)45/16 : Þe tende boȝ of auarice byeþ kueade gemenes, ase byeþ þe gemenes of des and of tables.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)51/15 : He playþ ate des.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1238 : Wel hath fortune yturned thee the dys [rime: paradys].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.297 : He was..pleyere at þe dees [vr. dyces; Higd.(2): dise].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Co.(Manly-Rickert)A.4420 : A compeer of his owene sort..loued dys [vr. dees] and reuel and disport.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1494 : He neither pleyeth at the dees [vrr. att þe dyes, at deis, atte dys] ne daunceth.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.54 : Fulofte he takth aweye his fees, As he that pleieth ate Dees.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.690 : To pleye at dees [vrr. dys, dyse, dies] and to despende And lese al that he hath is his vsage.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3293 : Þe ribaude plaieþ at þe dys [vr. deys]; Swiþe selde þe fole is wys.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.825 : In Troye..þe pleye was first founde of dees & tables.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1098 : In the dees right as ther fallen chaunces, Right so in love ther come and gon plesaunces.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)120 : Dyce: Alea.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)627 : I..pleyde at dees while þe nyghte wolde endure.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)808 : Þi part is pleyed al at þe dys [rime: gees, lys, prys].
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11193 : I wyl nat spare To hunte..And affter pleyn at the merellys, Now at the dees, in my yong age, Bothe at hassard & passage.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)228 : Ne waiour non with hym þou lay, Ne at þe dyces with hym to play.
- a1500 Aboue all thing (Roy 17.B.47)p.262 : At cardes and dyce yt bereth the pryce.
c
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.16 : Take noumbles of Deer..kerf hem to dyce.
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)466 : Take fresshe braune..and cut hit in grete dices.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)72/35 : Stop þer-in iij dices of whete brede.
d
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)804 : Josophus..sette on þe walle side sakkes myd chaf..þer þe stones hytte, Þat alle dered noȝt a dyȝs [vrr. dyce, dys].
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)808 : Þai clappe shall full clene..Ne neuer dere hym a dyse with no dede efte.
2.
Cpds. (a) des-plei, ~ pleiinge, playing or gambling with dice; (b) ~ pleiere, one who plays or gambles at dice.
Associated quotations
a
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)120 : Dyce play [vr. dicepleyinge]: Aleatura.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1268 : I woll nat leve my feleshippe, ne..my dise-pleying for all yeur hostagis!
- (1472-5) RParl.6.156a : The said Yomen..nowe usen unlawfull occupations, as pleiyng at the Cardes, Dise plaiyng, and other unlawfull games.
- a1475 Form Excom.(2) (Rwl B.408)3/4 : Ȝif a bisshop or a preste vse such haserdyng or dyseplayng..certenly he is dampned.
b
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.73 : Danyel þe dys-playere [vr. dees-pleyere].
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)22 : Ȝe wyn & ale sitteris & ȝe dijspleers & hasardurus, þat spenden þe halyday in gloteny & in waaste.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Diet.(Sln 3534)56 : Of all vnthrifty exile þe maystres: Galauntes, disepleyers, and hasardours.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)47/35 : He bigynneþ to be a tauerne-goer and an aale-goere, and after he is a dees-pleiere.
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)165 : Displayers with out vylonye, Chapmen with out othys and gyle.
- c1460 Alas my childe (Dub 432)21 : Disepleyers: 'Play on þi cast.'
- a1475 Form Excom.(2) (Rwl B.408)3/1 : Al maner of haserdowres and comyn dyes players.