Middle English Dictionary Entry
Dū̆ch adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Dū̆ch adj. & n. Also duche, deuch(e, dusche. |
| Etymology | MDu. Duutsch |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
German; also, Dutch; ~ tonge, the German language; also, any of the non-Scandinavian continental Germanic languages.
Associated quotations
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)7/20 : Þe kayser Lowis of Bauere..And..Princes and pople [of Brabant]..Al þat spac with Duche tung.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)97/24 : Þe Duche preste..satt al stille.
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)225/21 : Than leuyd stille..sche þat was hys wife, a Dewche woman.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1234 : Ther saugh I..Pipers of the Duche tonge.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)147 : That euery houshold of duche pepill schall pay to the kyng be yere xvj d.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.193 : Wolde þey..dryue out þe dagges and all þe Duche cotis.
- (1485) in Salzman Building in Engl.185 : xij pannys of dusche glasse.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)374/242 : A horne and a duch ax, his slefe must be flekyt.
2.
As noun: (a) the German language; also, Dutch, Low German, etc.; heigher ~, High German; louer ~, Low German; (b) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.109 : Edward..gat..Edgar Adelynge..Þis word Adelyng is compownede in Duche and in Saxon [Higd.(2): after the langage of Saxons; L Saxonice] of Adel..and lyng.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)4/16 : Þe booke..was neiþyr good Englysch ne Dewch.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)6/14 : A man whech cowd neiþyr wel wryten Englysch ne Duch.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)59 : In Duche, a rudder is a knyght.
- a1500(a1451) Commodities Eng.(LdMisc 593)553 : The Northe est Contrey..whiche lond spekyn all maner Duche tonge, hyer Dowche and lower Duche.
b
- (1383) in Ewen Surnames Brit.144 : J. Duche, cook.
- (1430) Close R.Hen.VI18 : Thomas Duche.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)123/3657 : I prayse no thing these cossis dowche [rime: towche] Whiche geue are for a countenaunce…y cherisshe moche the prive cossis of plesaunce.
Note: New spelling: in form section, change duche to d(o)uche.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.
Note: [F Je ne prise point telz baisiers…savez vous lesquelz sont chiers? Les privez, venans par plaisance.]
Note: This word may belong to dǒuce adj. & n., although it is better placed here morphologically and semantically. In the passage the author compares ceremonial kisses (given for appearance, or "countenaunce") with kisses of pleasure. The Germans (or Dutch) were known for their excessive ceremonial kissing.--all notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Caxton's 1480 edition of the St Albans Chronicle appears to use 'duche tonge' to refer to any of the languages of the Germanic Empire: 'in this same yere come the Quene Anne in to englond for to be spoused to kyng Richard And hir fadre wos Emprour of Almayne And kyng of Beme [i.e. Bohemia]. And with hir come the Duke of Tassi hir vncle and mony other worthy lordis and knyghtis of hir cuntre of beme and of other duche tonges to do hir reuerraunce & worship.'