Middle English Dictionary Entry
etīte(s n.
Entry Info
| Forms | etīte(s n. Also echites, ethyke, etraite. |
| Etymology | L aetītēs & echītis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. achates.
1.
A stone of magical properties, believed to be found in the eagle's nest. Cp. echites.
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)199b/a : Echites is a stoon of ynde and of pers..with reede colour..It is double..male and female..Alway tweyne ben yfounde in þe Egles nest and þe egle may nought breede wiþoute þese stones..Þese stoones ybounde to a womman þat trauaileþ of childe makeþ hire soone bere childe..Þis stoon conteyneþ anoþer stoon wiþinne as a womman wiþ childe.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)983 : The good ethyke, that ys the womans leche In byrthe of chylde.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)87 : Etite, de egle, is a ston & haþe many vertues..Also he is gode for wymmen þat trauelyng with child.
- a1500 BodAdd.A.106 Lapid.(BodAdd A.106)53 : Etrayte is a precyuos ston yt is named ye[r]for fowlles to bryng furth byrdes; ye Egle beres hym of ye end of ye warld for to kep & defend of his nest, yt no harm com to hym of his birdes.