Middle English Dictionary Entry
dūcā̆t, ducat n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dūcā̆t, ducat n. Also duket, dokat, doket. |
| Etymology | ML ducātus & OF ducat (from It. ducato). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Any of various gold and silver coins issued in different European countries, ducat; ~ of Venise; ~ of Florense; ~ of Rome; ~ of Almaine; pound of ducates, ducats to the value of a pound; (b) money to the value of a ducat.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.259 : Elevene grotes turoneys for a duket [Tbr: ducate], þat is worþy half an Englisshe noble.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2155 : Þe change is nat so redy for to make In Lombard Strete of crowne nor doket.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1727 : Bartholome..ȝaue hem..ful many a pound Of frankis and ducatis þat ever ful round.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1348 : Al Was plated..Of gold..As fyn as ducat in Venyse.
- c1470(?1458) Wey Money (Bod 565)1 : At Calyse ye schal haue for a dim. nowbyl Englysche, or for a doket, xxiiij plackys.
- c1470(?1458) Wey Money (Bod 565)3 : For a doket of Venyse xv grotys..For a doket of Rome or of Florense a grote lasse.
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)236 : A C li..Of dokettis good.
- c1500 Money Coins MSS Hast.in HMC (Hnt HU 1051)1.419 : The dokat of Almayne, vij s. v d. The dokat of Florens, vij s. v d..A dokat of Florens havyng on the on syd a gret flour de lys and on the odir syd a postill..fyne of ij d. quad. weight, iiij s. v d..A dokat of Rome, on the on syd the pope's armys and on the odir sid saynt Peter in a botte fyshyng, of the sam weight, iiij s. v d.
b
- c1470(?1458) Wey Prevision (Bod 565)6 : When ye com to Venyse ye schal by a bedde..and when ye com ayen bryng the same bedde to the man that ye bowt hit of and ye schal haue a doket and halfe ayen..Also make yowre chavnge at Venyse, and take wyth yow at the leste xxx doketis of grotys..And..iiij doketis of soldys.
- a1500 Travel Instruc.(CotApp 8)279 : Atte Alexandre men moste paie the gret(e) tribute, for euery man so moche, that is to sey vii or viii ducates.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1479) Papers Cely in Camd.ser.3.120 : An gylden rydar: iij s vjd.; Item ij docates: xxxiij s.
Note: New spelling: pl. docates.