Middle English Dictionary Entry
ēgre fū n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ēgre fū n. |
| Etymology | F phrase aigre feu (AF egre fu, etc.), 'intense fire' 'hellfire' etc., parallel to L acer ignis. Cp. ME ēgre adj., especially sense 2.(a). This medical sense does not seem to be attested for the phrase in French sources, though such a sense is attested for the similar phrase 'f(e)u d'enferne' (see AND s.v. feu n.1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: For other terms that Daniel regards as synonymous, see erisipela n., sharp fir (s.v. sharp adj., sense 4.(b)), cursed fir (s.v. cursed ppl., sense 4.(b)), and fir of helle and fir of Perse (both s.v. fīr n., 11.(b)).
1.
Med. Erysipelas, or similar eruption on the skin; also, a case of erysipelas.
Associated quotations
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.7v : For brennyng soris: If it [acedula] be stamped & leyd to, it sleþ þe egre fu þat þe [i.e., "þey"] callen 'þe fur of helle,'
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.50r : For egre fu &c.: [Use wood-rove] with acet & ceresuse [read: ceruse] for þe erisiple, i. þe egre fu.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.66r : With þat manere oynement she cured euery egre fu, fur of helle, if it were no3t long abydyn, & she cured a man þerof was set on his grete too & hadde takyn þe two nexte toon withyn 20 days, me present.
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f.127rb : Medle it [rue] with ceruse, oile, & acet & þat is a migthy oynement to .. hele þe egre fu & scabbe & þe derte.