Middle English Dictionary Entry
ermīn n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ermīn n. Also hermin, armin. |
| Etymology | OF ermin, hermin. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The European ermine Mustela erminea.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.520 : Þan seiȝe he an ermine com of his mouþe.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)9085 : Owt of hys mowþe wente a þynge Also whyte as any armyne.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.157 : The chalk-quhite ermyn, tippit as the Iete; The riall hert [etc.].
2.
(a) The white winter fur of this animal, with black-tipped tail, esp. as used for costly garments or trimmings; also, a cloak trimmed with ermine; (b) a pelt of such fur.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1250 PMor.(Eg 613(1):Furn.)33/182 : Ne scal þer beo fou, ne grei, ne cunig, ne ermine [Jes-O: hermyne].
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)17/459 : Sche tar..Here kirtel, here pilche of ermine.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3949 : Noble men ycloþed in ermine echon.
- (1377-1399) Oath Bk.Colchester7 : A Tymber Hermyn, iiijd.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4970 : On þe souþ side, þere ynde makeþ ende..a folk..cloþen hem wiþ grys & Ermyne.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1442 : Tweyn mantels..furred with hermyn [vr. ermyn].
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)529 : Þe forors of ermyne And couercheues of silk.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11308 : Hys cloþyng was god & fyn, & þe pelure of eremyn.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)82/1 : Grete peyns of armyn and of sables.
- (1465) Acc.Howard in RC 57320 : A longe goune of cremysen velvet..furred wyth menever and purfelled wyth ermyn.
- c1475 St.Marg.(3) (Brm)182 : Sylke and goold and purpyll pall..Wyll fyrryd with ryche armynge.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)371 : His mantell was of skarlett fyne, Furryd wyth good armyne.
- 1598(a1475) Flower & L.(Speght)243 : Furred with ermyne Were the trappures of their stedes strong.
- a1600(1472) Rec.Bluemantle (Jul C.6)387 : A bed..the counterpoynt cloth of gold furred with ermyne.
b
- (1345-9) Wardrobe Acc.Edw.III(1) in Archaeol.316 : Supertunicam curtam..fururatam cum ermyns.
- (1394) Wardrobe Acc.Rich.II in Archaeol.62505 : In iij ermyns expensis in perfyle.
- (1437) Invent.Q.Katherine in Sus.AC 37 (Add 32645)173 : A gowne of damaske fourred with ermines.
- (1452) Will York in Sur.Soc.45135 : J capucii..furrati cum ermyns.
- (a1460) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.213 : De qualibet tymber de ermyns.
3.
Her. (a) The fur ermine, consisting of white with black spots; (b) an ermine spot.
Associated quotations
a
- (1442) Invent.Gild in PSAL ser.2.5123 : A couered pece with Armes of Ermyns.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1660 : His scheld was asur fin, Þre bores heddes þer inne..Þe bordure of ermine.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.4 (Hrl 2169)225 : iij labelys of ermyne.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.4 (Hrl 2169)227 : Gold and aseure ceche, a cheveron of ermyne.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)969 : Hys scheld was gold and asur fyn, A lyoun rampant was þer yn, Wyth border of ermyn.
b
- (1400) Will York in Sur.Soc.4510 : De ij chargeours argenteis cum ermyns.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)8714 : An ost..With baneres brode..he hath rose & he has molettis, And he hermyn and he croselettis.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.5 (Hrl 2169)188 : John Molsoo beryth sylvyr iij flourdelys of gold wyth e[r]mynys.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)329 : Of my armes oo pensel, With þre ermyns ypeynted well.