Middle English Dictionary Entry
fert n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fert n. Also fart. |
| Etymology | Cp. OHG farz. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Wind or gas expelled through the anus, a fart; (b) leten (maken) a ~, leten flien a ~, to break wind; (c) not a ~, nothing at all; not worth a ~, completely worthless.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2233 : The rumblyng of a fart and euery soun Nys but of eyr reuerberacioun.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2284 : He hadde the firste smel of fartes three.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)150 : Fart: Trulla, bombus.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)27/355 : With a ffart my brech I breke, my sorwe comyth ful sone.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)44b : A ffarte: hoc bumbum, bumba, pidicio, trulla.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)679 : Hoc bumbum: a ferte.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3806 : This Nicholas anoon leet fle a fart As greet as it hadde been a thonder dent.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2151 : Ther nys no capul drawyng in a cart That myghte han late a fart of swich a soun.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2270 : Sette hym on the wheel right of this cart, Vpon the naue, and make hym lete a fart [c1415 vr.: late him maake a farte].
- a1500 Feast Tott.(Cmb Ff.5.48)97/326 : As sche dawnsid she late a fart.
- a1500 Be God (Bod 851)260 : I am an hare, I am non hert; Onys I fley and let a fert.
c
- a1400 Þo oure lord god (Mrg M 957)320 : Y schape it is owr thuart on a newe wyse, Elles it nere nauȝt worþ a fart.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)19/369 : Bi all men set I not a fart.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)95/234 : Thy speach is not worth a fart.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1500 He þat stelys (Roy 18.A.17)7 : He þat stelys this booke Shulbe hanged on a crooke..Qui scripsit carmen, Pookefart est sibi nomen.
Note: For sense - "also in name"--per MLL
Note: !Quot. already used under pǒuk(e n. 1.(d) ~ fert, a derogatory epithet--JL
- a1500 MSerm.Mol.(Adv 19.3.1)83 : He saw wonus a nolde wyfe gwo vij yer be the sey-syde, and..sche had no more for to do but for to take a fart in a schowepette [?read: schouenette].
Note: ?Prov. taken a ~ in a shovenet
Note: Quot. also used under scọ̄pet(te n.--JL