Middle English Dictionary Entry
duches(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | duches(se n. Also duchasse, deuches(se, dochesse, douches & ducesse, dukes. |
| Etymology | OF duchoise, duchesse, ducesse. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The female sovereign of a duchy, a reigning duchess; also, the wife of a sovereign duke; also fig. sovereign lady, mistress (of a domain); ~ of heven; (b) after the creation of dukes who did not rule a duchy: a peeress of ducal rank either in her own right or as the wife of a duke, a duchess.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390(?a1300) Stations Rome(1) (Vrn)7 : Þe Duchesse of troye..To Rome com.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)3.33 : Ich am hus dure douheter, duchesse of heuene.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2465 : Ho is euen þyn aunt, Arþurez half-suster, Þe duches doȝter of Tyntagelle.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2122 : My dere herte, of Athenes duchesse [Tan: ducesse].
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)75 : The duke of Gloucestre with his wyff the duchesse off Holand went ouer the see..ffor to take possession off his wyffis heritage, where he was worshippfully..takyn ffor chieff lorde off the londe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2913 : The gret duchesse Of Calabre.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)852 : The duchez of Bretayne to daye has he takyn..as scho rade with hire ryche knyghttes.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1236 : Leuer..þen to haue ben duchasse, quene or Emperas.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)353/4,20 : 'Pray the lorde and the lady of this castell to gyff me herborow'..'Latte hym in,' seyde the douches..'Sir, my lordys name is the deuke de la Rouse'..seyde the deuches.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)24 : The said Alienor, the duches of Gascoigne and Guien, went to Burdeux.
- a1500 Lydg.RHorn (Hrl 172)p.173 : Take hede Howe vertue is of vices a duchesse [Hnt: lady & maistresse].
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)691/34 : Hec ducissa: a duches; Hec regula, idem.
b
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4413 : They come doun..Worthy queenys and with hem ek duchessys And..contessys And alle the ladyes and wymmen of degre.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3740 : Ther is no lady so hawteyn, Duchesse ne countesse ne chasteleyn.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)406 : The bok that highte..the Deth of Blaunche the Duchesse.
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)75 : Dame Joan, the duchesse douhter of Clarence.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)5009 : Þe dochesse of york.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)26.116 : To this dwchesse [Flegentyne] sche [Queen Sarracynte] spak ful gentelly.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)45.586 : The Wepyng that the dewchesse [F duchoise] Made.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)355/1 : The King at þis parlement made v Dukis, a Duchasse, & a Markez, & iiij Erlez.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)97 : That day there were made v dukys and a duches..the Countesse of Northefolke i-made Duches of Northefolke.
- c1475-a1600(a1473) Fortescue Declaration (Clermont)536 : As heires to the forsaid duke [Lionel, Duke of Clarence] and also as heires to the dochesse his wyfe.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)792/4 : Hec duxissa: a dukes; Hec cometissa: a cometas; Hec baronissa: a baronys.