Middle English Dictionary Entry
farwen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | farwen v. Also farewen, farowen. Ppl. farowed, ivarȝed, ifareȝet, iferhet, ifarwed, ivarwed, iveruwed. |
| Etymology | Verb not attested in OE; cp. OE fearh pig. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a sow: to give birth to (pigs); to farrow; -- with or without obj.; (b) of other animals: to have young.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)55a : Þe Suhe of Ȝiuernesse haueð gris..beoð þeos gris iferhet [Nero: iueruwed; Cleo: ifareȝet].
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)61 : Hy byeþ anlicned to þe zoȝe huanne hi heþ yuarȝed.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)265b/a : Þe femeles and wyues of boores, whanne þay beeþ y farewed, beeþ ful scharpe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)299a/b : Þe ȝonge sowe..fareweþ som tyme twenty pigges at oones.
- c1400 *Trev.Higd.(Tbr D.7)197b : A sowe with here pygges þat hadde late y varwed [vr. i-farwed].
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)27 : They pharowyn in Marche.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)28 : A yonge boor..countyng from þe monyth of Marche that he is farowed inne..may wel gendre at þe ȝeeres ende.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.213 : A sowe that hade farowede newly.
b
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)38 : Onys in þe ȝeer þai [badgers] farowe as þe fox.