Middle English Dictionary Entry
dǒusse-pẹ̄r n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dǒusse-pẹ̄r n. Also dus(s)e-, duz(z)e-, duzsi-, dous-, dus- & dos(s)e-, doz(z)e-, dosi- & duche-, duge- & doþþe-. Pl. -pẹ̄r(e)s, -pẹ̄r, -pẹ̄ren & -piers, -pier. |
| Etymology | OF doze per(s, duz(z)e- twelve peers. Early ME has the phrase, later ME the compound, as shown by the sg. forms from c1375 on. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One of the twelve peers or paladins of Charlemagne; also, one of the twelve great peers, temporal or ecclesiastic, of France at later times; (b) any famous knight or noble.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1622 : Inne Franse weren italde twelfe iferan; þa Freinsce heo cleopeden dusze pers [Otho: dosseperes].
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)3 : One lutele tale..Nis hit nouht of karlemeyne ne of þe Duzeper, Ac of cristes þruwinge.
- a1350 Flem.Insur.(Hrl 2253)50 : Þe kyng of fraunce..anon assemblede he is dousse pers.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3909 : Þe dosse pers Of france..þat so noble were & fers.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4103 : Þe dosse pers of france.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)59 : King charles..Hise duzze peres wit him he nam.
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)280 : Noþing win he it miȝt, For al his dusse-pers.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)259 : Charlys..stondyng among his feren..counsailede with þe grete of fraunce & with ys doþþeperen.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)650 : Olyuer ys my name riȝt; a doþþeper y am of fraunce.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)234/8 : Þe Duzsipiers of Fraunce.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)1870 : Þare come in a daunce Alle þe Dugepers of France.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Sudden FPD (Trin-C R.3.20)37 : Þis Eorlle and Duc of Burgoyne..Oon of þe douspiers and deen of Fraunce.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.MRose (Hrl 2255)89 : Wher been of Fraunce al the dozepeers [vr. dozepiere] Which in Gawle hadde the governaunce?
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1601 : Þe twelue dosze-peres of pris departed þe lond in twelf partys.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11142 : Alle þe dusze pers.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)12 : Men rede romaunce..Off Rowelond and off Olyuer, And off euery Doseper [vr. dusse per].
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)40 : With his lordes and his Duspers.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)808 : Erles, Dukes, & þe xij duchepers.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)241 : The kinge of Fraunce I shal the bringe, And the xij dosipers alle in fere.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)131 : All the remenant off the reaume, as Burgonye, Normandye, Guyne, Champayne, Langdoke, and Fflaunders..were than in the handes off the Dussepers.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1132 : Off my dusseperes haue pyte.
b
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)926 : Þo cam a soudan, stout & firs, On of garsies duzze peers.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)4 : In Kyng Arthure tyme ane awntir by-tyde..Als he to Carelele was commene..Withe dukes and with ducheperes [vr. dussiperes], þat with þat dere duellys.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)66 : At Carlelele a Cristynmese he haldes..Wyth dukez & dusperes of dyuers rewmes.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)219/8 : My dingnite may noȝt be done downe, Nowdir with duke nor dugeperes.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)949 : Ferst þey sent out a doseper, In blake armes vpon a destrer.
- a1500 Alex.-Cassamus (Cmb Ff.1.6)518 : Off Massedone The ryght kyng ys come..hys dosȝe perys echone.
- 1598(a1475) Flower & L.(Speght)516 : Noble knightes of the Round Table, And eek the Douseperes honourable.