Middle English Dictionary Entry
fē̆rn n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | fē̆rn n.(1) Also vern, fearn, værn, feren, feron, farn, varn, far(r)en, firn. |
| Etymology | OE fearn. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Any member of the order Filicales, a fern; esp., bracken (Pteris aquilina); (b) ~ ashen, ashes of ~, ashes made by burning ferns; ~ brake, braken ~, brake of ~, a clump or thicket of fern; ~ rote, rote of ~, the root of various members of the order Filicales used medicinally; (c) a place overgrown with fern or bracken; -- often as a name; (d) as an element in place names.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)96.57 : De felice, anglice fearn.
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)544 : Gitsana: fæarn.
- c1225 Wor.Bod.Gloss.(Hat 76)20 : Filix: fearn.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)393 : Feugere: ferrn [vrr. a brake, feryn, vern, ferne].
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8866 : Jonap was so proude & sterne, No ȝaf he þer of nouȝt a ferne.
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)111 : Tak venisoun wan yt ys newe and cuver it hastely wyth Fern that no wynd may come thereto.
- c1390 Evang.(Vrn)366 : Luytel heo hedde..fforte leggen Inne þat Bern, But a luyte hei oþur vern.
- a1400 Mirfeld Sinonoma (Pmb-O 2)22 : Fugerole: ferne yat growes on londe.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)13 : Somtyme þei sitten in þe feerne.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)22b : Filex campestrie. Ferne is an erbe that is comovn to knowe for he growis in all places.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.1.4 : Let hym..kerve asondir with his hook the bussches and the feern, so that the corn may comen hevy of erys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)47 : Brake..or ferne: Filix.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)92 : I..heuede alle into ane hole and hidde it with ferne.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)33 : Take venesone..And cover hit alle with ferne playn.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.254/255 : But natheless somme seyden that it was Wonder to maken of fern asshen glas And yet is glas nat lyk asshen of fern.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)34a/a : Radices filicis .i. ferne rote.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)43a/b : Be it filled of gode liȝe of asshez of ficȝtreez..& of verne [*Ch.(2): feren; L filicum].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)47 : Brakebushe or fernebrake: Filicetum, filicarium.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)72/183 : Take the rote of ferne that growith on an oke.
- c1500(?c1450) Wedding Gawain (Rwl C.86)25 : The hartt was in a braken ferne.
- c1500(?c1450) Wedding Gawain (Rwl C.86)44 : Doun the dere tumblyd so deron, And felle into a greatt brake of fferon.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)36b : All other vesselles be made of glas..of asshis of fearne in this londe euerich one Be made, but ells where they be of stone.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12819 : Heo hudeden heom alse brockes..inne hæðe & inne uærne.
- (1256) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)188 : Ferne.
- (1275) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames62 : Henr. atte Verne.
- (1282) Rec.Crondal in Hamp.RS 3145 : Robertus atte Firne.
- (?1287) Rec.Crondal in Hamp.RS 3107 : Johannes de la Firne.
- (1387) Court R.Hastings in Sus.RS 3737 : John atte Ferne.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)13/71 : [He and] þe king als of Nauerne War faire feld in þe ferene Þaire heuiddes for to hide.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1875 : They fall in þe greues, In the ferynne of þe fyrthe fore ferde of oure pople.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)924 : The dere on þe dale drowe to þaire dennes, Ferkid forth to þe ferne and feulle dovne amyddes.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)158/206 : Kynge fful sterne, be felde and ferne, I goo.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)2471 : To geddyr forthe they rode Bothe þorow frythe & ferne.
- a1500(1442) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)83 : In the lande of weldernesse, wher as ben ferne and fiefes I now and good ale non or litell.
d
- (1195) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)550 : Ferenham.
- (1225) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)197 : Ferncumb.
- (1234) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)588 : Ferendon.
- (1242) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)195 : Fernhall.
- (1249) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)38 : Ferenedich.
- (1269) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)19 : Farnhurst, Farrenhurste.
- (1275) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)113 : Farindon.
- (1275) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)111 : Fernhull.
- (1284) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)423 : Franstrete.
- (1325) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)197 : Francom.
- (1327) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames63 : Will. atte Fernefeld.
- (1332) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10255 : Johe Farnham.
- (1380) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)53 : Fernynghoo.
- (1401) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)423 : Varnstrete.
- 1408(1291) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)259 : Farnhill.
- (1418) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)38 : Faryndish.
- (1428) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)195 : Firnhull.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1300 Names Hare (Dgb 86)350/38 : The light-fot, the fernsittere.
Note: New comb.: ferne-sitter
Note: Needed for date sense (c)--per MJW
Note: !Quot. already used under fern-sitter n. and sitter n.--JL
Note: 'light' spelled 'liȝtt' in all other quots.--JL
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)143/20 : Waterwourt..haȝt lewys lyk to þe veren [vrr. verun, forne, verne].
Note: New spelling