Middle English Dictionary Entry
fēce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fēce n. Also fex. |
| Etymology | OF *fece & L faex, pl. faeces. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A sedimentary deposit; sediment, dregs, lees; (b) pl. excrement.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)43/15 : Þe fecis of a litil wex..ben gode to a senewe þat is prickid.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)49b/b : Salt water stamped and incorperate with fece of wyne.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)135a/a : Be þai medled & puluerized in a viole of glasse at þe sonne by 3 moneþez; be þe fex ycaste away & be it kept.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)166a/b : Cause forsoþ whi þat symple medicynez bene mundified is..þat þe feces & filth be caste away fro þam.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)179a/b : Tartarum is þe fecez of wine dried.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)57/9 : Malencolious blode..is þe fece of clene blode aboundand in our body.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)4/7 : Rotun fecis of wiyn.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)48b : By thy sight thow shalt well witt ffro feculent fecis when it is qwitte.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)169/16 : Þe vttere wombe in whiche ben lacertis, for to helpe putte out þe fecis & wijnd & vrine.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)78a/a : Som men..putteþ in a canule of sambuc with in þe intestinez to kepe þat þe fecez putrefie not þe suture.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)72/6 : If it be for fecez, it is knowen forþi þat þe pacient long tyme afore went noȝt to sege.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 9/9 : Forto make secunde synoper of þy feces þat leueth, take þy feces þat leueth of þy pounde lake byfore soþen and brese hem in a morter, [etc.].
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 28/25 : Poure out as slely as þu myȝt þe clerest watre þerof into a clene glas in suche manere þat þe feces þerof flowe nouht aftre.
Note: Additional quotes, sense (a).