Middle English Dictionary Entry
dǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dǒun n. Also doun(i)e, doume, dowin, dawne. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI dūnn. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The soft feathers of birds, down [used for stuffing pillows and featherbeds]; ~ pilwe; Cuthbert ~, down of the Cuthbert duck.
Associated quotations
- (1345-9) Wardrobe Acc.Edw.III(1) in Archaeol.3132 : vj lb. de dounie.
- (1345-9) Wardrobe Acc.Edw.III(1) in Archaeol.3153 : iiij auricular..stuffata de doune..vj lb. de doune.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.3021 : Upon a fethrebed alofte He lith with many a pilwe of doun.
- (1397) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100445 : ij parva pulvinaria quorum j est de Cuthbert doun.
- (1418) EEWills36/11 : j pylow of Doun.
- ?c1425(c1380) Chaucer Form.A.(Benson-Robinson)45 : No doun of fetheres, ne no bleched shete Was kid to hem.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)128 : Downe [Win: Dowme], federys: Pluma, plumula, plumella.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)250 : Of down of pure dowves white I wil yive hym a fether-bed.
- (1454) Will York in Sur.Soc.30177 : Unum lectum de plumis..cum suo pylw et dawne et x marcas.
- (1458) Will York in Sur.Soc.30226 : Doune pelose.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.201 : v pylowys of dowyn.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)33a : Dawne uel downe: lanugo.
- a1600(1472) Rec.Bluemantle (Jul C.6)387 : There was ordeined a bed for hym selff of as good downe as coulde be thought.
2.
(a) Wool; (b) the silky tufts on seeds; thistel ~, thistledown; (c) a downy substance on tree trunks.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)559 : Sheep..gresen with mekenesse, Yit of ther wollis be woven riche weedis, Of smothe doun maad pilwis.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Wisd.5.15 : A wlle loke, or thistil-doun [L lanugo].
- (1474) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)121 : Pelewes of down stuffed with thistill downe and Cattes Tailles..which been deceivably made to the hurt of the Kynges liege people.
c
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.219 : In trunke whos wol hem do Most pike away the downe [L lanuginem] of al the tre, For many a graffe..hit hath fordo.