Middle English Dictionary Entry
fīcus n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fīcus n. |
| Etymology | L fīcus |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. fike.
1.
Med. (a) Piles or hemorrhoids, involving fig-shaped growths or swellings in the anus or on the reproductive organs; (b) a hemorrhoid or cankerous growth.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.357 : Þe evel þat hatte ficus..is a schrewed evel.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)289/14 : If þe blood is gret & fleumatik, þan it wole engendre ficus [in þe ers].
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.110rb (3.18) : Þat is callede 'ficus,' 'þe fikes', be cause þat when one hath this euel, his tail end is ful of smale knarles like kirnelles of a fike.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.109va (3.18) : 'Ficus' is þe 4 spice of þe emorais. Þai ar collecciouns of the buttokes, nesshe, here & ȝonde ful, þe fleish lik greyns in a fike.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)19/17 : Ficus, þat is superfluyte þat growen vp on þe skyn of þe pintils hede wiþoute.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)94a/a : Þo [ulcers of the mouth] þat be made of eked flesche ben cleped fycus [*Ch.(1): ficz] and emoroydes.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)95b/b : Of ficuz in ano: Ficz, attricez, & condolomatez þat ar made in þe towel & þe ȝerde & þe matrice.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. ficus.