Middle English Dictionary Entry
envoisen v.(1)
Entry Info
Forms | envoisen v.(1) Also envoisen, envaissen. |
Etymology | OF envahir, envahiss- attack; cp. Caxton Faytes of A.1.2/30: To enuahisshe leping vpon his enemys (OD). ME oi for ai prob. a hypercorrect CF oi for AF ai. Sense (b) orig. belonged to e-voisen (L ēvādere as against in-vādere), which is attested in the second quot. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. envai attack.
1.
Hunt. Of hounds: (a) to follow a scent; (b) to follow the wrong scent.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)96 : If it so be þat þei [hounds] haue envoised ii deer of aunteler.
b
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)6 : He [the hunter] haþ ynowe to doon to..redresse and brynge his houndys in to þe ryght whan þei han evoised [vr. envayssed] and fallen Rascaile.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)19 : He [the deer] shal go about his haunt wililiche and seche þe chaunge of oþere deer, for to make the houndes envoise.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)59 : Whan þe hert commeth in daunger þei [hounds] shal enchace hym but þei shall not opne neiþer questey while þat he is among þe chaunge for drede to envoise and do amys.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)96 : If it be so þat þe houndes haue envoisid or be ouershette or þat þei be on a stynt by any oþer wayes.