Middle English Dictionary Entry
erve n.
Entry Info
| Forms | erve n. Also irve, erf. |
| Etymology | OE erfe, ierfe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Cattle, farm stock; (b) a domesticated quadruped; (c) erve blod, blood of a sacrificial animal; (d) erve kin, cattle.
Associated quotations
a
- a1126 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1125 : Hunger & cwealm on men & on erue.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)132/6 : Hwær comen þa men þe ȝeornlucost eahte tyloden, & oþrum eft yrfe læfden?
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1068 : Off þatt errfe þatt tær wass.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)39 : Þat erf þe þe herdes ouer wuakeden.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)169 : So made god..Al erue, and wrim, and wilde der.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)195 : Erf helpeð him ðurg godes með.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2750 : Moyses..wattrede here erue euerilc on.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2991 : And ðo dede men and herf wo.
b
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)148.10 : Bestes, and alle erfes ma.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1788 : Þatt allterr þatt tatt errfeblod Wass eȝȝwhær strennkedd onne.
d
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)3177 : Al erf-kin hauen he ut-led.