Middle English Dictionary Entry
filth n.
Entry Info
| Forms | filth n. Also filde, fulth, fuylth, fulte, folth, feolth, veolth, felth, velth. Forms: usu. coll.; pl. filthes, early W also fulthen. |
| Etymology | OE fȳlþ (from fūl). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Anything material that is considered foul, unclean, impure, or defiling; filth, dirt, mud, rubbish, trash, refuse; putrid or decomposed matter, ordure; squalor, vermin; -- also pl.; (b) a deposit or film on metal due to oxidation; rust, etc.; (c) impurities, foreign matter, a foreign object; ~ of bees, honeycomb or other matter in a bee hive as distinct from honey; (d) ?a spot or blemish due to disease; ?intercourse; (e) anything that is offensive or harmful.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Mon may longe (Mdst A.13)33 : Of felthe [Clg, Jes-O: fulþe] þu ert isowe, weirmes mete þu selt ben.
- ?a1300 Body & S.(4) (Dgb 86)st.18 : Þe þridde dai flod shal flouen..þe fulþe auei shal spillen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)271b/b : Among hem [bees] is wonder gret clennesse, ffor þay suffreþ no filþe among here werk.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)193/9 : Þis oynement doiþ awey filþe [L sordes] of þe skyn and clensiþ myche.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.750 : [The river] made a ful purgacioun Of al ordure & fylþes in þe toun..Þat in þe cite was no filþe sene.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8099 : Whiles some wer besy for to take Þe drie lond, with mvd and filþe y-lade.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.381 : Now stokked in prisoun..in filthe and in vermyne.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6561 : Þe thred [pain of Hell] alswa es filthe and stynk.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)2281 : Thyn hondis wassh, thy teeth make white, And let no filthe upon thee bee.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)40/25 : Ne todes, ne ewtes..ne lyzs, ne flees..many suche manere of filthes.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)49 : Ne drede not þe temporal kyng þat..to-morwe schal be fylthe and wormes.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)253/2 : Þis robe [Virginity] scholde be wel y-kepte from þre spottes: of filþe of erþe, of blod, and of fier.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1830 : Ȝef any flye, gnat, or coppe Doun in-to þe chalys droppe..Take vp the fulþe wyþ þyn honde.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)30/12 : The potter makith of a lumpe of erthe diuerse pottis, som to serue for clennesse and som for filthe.
- a1525(?1472) Cov.Leet Bk.372 : Muk, strawe, or other filthe.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)178a/b : Litargirum is filth [L merda] of lede.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)178a/b : Merda ferri [marg. gloss:] Filth of iren.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)229b/a : Þe pure galbanum schal flete aboue and filþe, as ryndes and grauel, schal synke to þe bottom.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)43/16 : Þe fecis of a litil wex, & þe filþe [Add: fylthes] of þe vessels of been [L sordes vasorum apum].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)242/14 : Take þe white of an ey..& loke þat þere falle no filþe þeron.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)54a/a : Fermenti mellis or filth of hyuez [L sordicie alueorum].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)166a/b : Exemple of wasshing, þat þe fece & filthe [L sordities] be caste away, is oile & wex.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)68/18 : Afterwarde coyle þam thorow & saue wele þe coylett fra filthe.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)140 : Make a plastre..hit wol..drawe out þe felþe, be hit yren, or tre, or þorne, or what felþe so hit be.
d
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)110b/a : Causez primitif [of leprosy] beþ corrupcion of þe aier..maclere .i. filth of gendryng [*Ch.(2): filyng; L macula generationis].
e
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.196 : They [in hell] shullen be naked in body as of clothyng, saue the fyr in which they brenne and othere filthes.
2a.
Natural discharges of the body of man or beast: (a) excrement; don ~, to void excrement; put of ~, a privy; (b) other discharges: menstruum, mucus, spittle, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)50/537 : Hwet þe cader fulðen & bearmes umbe stunde?
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)513 : Se þet eadi wummon..weorp him forð from hire awei in to a put of fulðe [L loco stercoris].
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)35a : Saul wende þider in forte don his fulðe þrin.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.422 : Where he [an insect] seth of eny beste The felthe, ther he makth his feste.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22394 : All þe filthes [Frf: filþ, Trin-C: fulþe] of his maugh Sal brist vte at his hindwin.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)58/33 : Hardnez of filþez [L faecum].
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)16/37 : Tak brokes filth and do it in þe hole of þe tothe.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)12/111 : Þet bestelich gederunge [copulation]..þet ful of fulðe stinkinde & untohe dede.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)191/52 : Þare feol out of eiþer eiȝe Fuylþe ase þei it were slym.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)82b/b : It fariþ in stoppinge of þe nose by fulþe.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Lev.18.19 : Thou schalt not neiȝe to a womman that suffrith rennyng of blood of monethe, nethir thou schalt schewe hir filthe [L feoditatem].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)58b/b : Screa: spattynge..fulþe.
- a1450 Thenke hertely (Dgb 102)5 : Foulere fylþe knowe y nouȝt Þan þou were fed þy moder wiþ-ynne.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)44a/a : Þe pacient sputeþ oute no filþe [L putredinem].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)113b/b : Melancoliouse filþes [L superfluitatum]..as þe filþes of þe emeroydes, of þe menstrues, of varioles [etc.].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)119b/a : It maketh..þe filthes [L superfluitates] to goo oute by the mowþe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)161 : Fylthe of mannys nose, snotte: Polipus.
2b.
Morbid discharges of the body: purulent matter, pus.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)82/7 : An hory wounde shal be heelid in remeuynge awey þe crust eiþere filþe [L sordem] þat is in him.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)84b/a : So þat first þe sordez [of the ulcer] .i. filth be wasshen wiþ ydromelle.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)114a/a : [Symptoms of leprosy:] foule coloure, morphe scabbe & stinkynge filþes [L superfluitates].
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)65 : Þat þe feolþe may renne out.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)136/24 : It drawith þe fylthe ouȝt of þe wounde.
3a.
(a) Anything that, in accordance with Christian doctrine, corrupts morally, gives offence, or furnishes occasion for sinful thoughts or actions (especially the World, the Flesh, and the Devil); frequently with reference to parts of the body regarded as arousing sexual desire; (b) sexual desire, lust; intercourse, sodomy; don ~, to have intercourse.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)31/863 : Þeȝ sorȝe hele man a-non Of velþ of sennes slyme.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)61 : Hi wreþ þe uelþes of zenne of riche men.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10105 : Þis werld, my fleche, þe warlau als..To do me fal in filthes [Trin-C: fulþes] fele.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)31 : He þat flemus uch fylþe fer fro his hert.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.28.42 : Thou schalt make lynnun brechis, that thei hile the fleisch of her filthe fro the reynes til to the hipis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Jer.4.4 : Be ȝe circumcidid to the Lord, and do ȝe awey the filthis [Cld: prepucies, ether filthis; WB(1): vtmost ȝerde felles] of ȝoure hertis.
- a1450 That ilke man (Dgb 102)68 : In heuene were foul felþe to se.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)52/28 : Fylth forsoth he consauyd, þat is to say, wykkyd desire.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1032 : Siche foure scholde be fay..Are his fylth ware fillede that his flesch ȝernes.
- c1440 Ihesu cryste saynte (Thrn)4 : I pray þe come..And of all filthes clense my thoghte.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)77/22 : The prince that..suffered suche felthe to be done.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)371/441 : I..forsake my mavmentryes fals in here felthe.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)47 : Dwelling in þe filliþ of synne.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)11.7 : Nathynge hafand of erthly filth.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 2250)10147 : Of wordly fulte myȝt þai noȝt fall, ne blyndet be wit deuels boost.
b
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)34/346 : Forte keli þi lust wið fulðe of þi licome.
- c1225(?c1200) HMaid.(Bod 34)34/363 : Mon..foheð þet fulðe in eauereuch time.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)32/1 : Ham ich folhi neodelukest, þe cunnið to beon cleane wið-uten monnes man & fleoð flesches fulden [Roy: fulðen].
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)35a : To befule þet stude & don dearnluker þrin fleschliche fulðen.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Eph.5.4 : Filthe [L turpitudo] or foly speche, or harlotrie.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)25/13 : Þere ben summe wymmen þat nolde for noþing do filþe wiþ man.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)Rom.1.27 : Also forsoþe þe males þe kyndely use forsaken..þe males in to males þe filthe [L turpitudinem] werkende.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)6370 : Anothir folk byside is..Veolthe loveth al heore lynage.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1071 : This faire ladye, þat þow has..forcede one foulde for fylth of þi selfen.
3b.
Sinfulness, wickedness, corruption; also, instances thereof.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)75b : I þe licome is fulðe & unstrengðe.
- a1250 Cristes milde moder (Nero A.14)94 : Þene loðe deouel & alle kunnes dweoluhðe..mid hore fule fulðe.
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)165 : Wat shuldich ine þe worlde go..And liuie in fulþe and in sunne?
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)160 : Sei ðu in scrifte to ðe prest sinnes tine; feg ðe ðus of ði brest filde.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)56 : Alle uelþe he tekþ þer.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2908 : Als dos man oft in filthes [Frf: syn] fal.
- c1450(c1370) Chaucer ABC (Benson-Robinson)157 : How I may have thi grace and thi socour, All have I ben in filthe and in errour.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)50 : Be blode Iesus made our redempcioun, With water of baptem from felthe wesshe vs clene.
3c.
A sinful or worthless person; a base fellow; a wanton woman, strumpet.
Associated quotations
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2542 : Lest þat foule felþe schold haue hem founde þere.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1721 : Þat froþande fylþe [Belshazzar].
- (1402) Hoccl.Cupid (Hnt HM 744)262 : Filthes þat wern vertulees.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)67/9 : A wrecche & a filþe.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.18 : Go, ye filthes, out of my presence.
4.
Vilification; vile or offensive speech; disparagement (of reputation); disgrace.
Associated quotations
- ?c1350 Why werre (Peterh 104)st.51 : To speke al maner of fylth.
- ?a1425 Dial.Bern.& V.(1) (RwlPoet 175)308 : With fylthes foully was he [Christ] smytt.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.258 : The wo and the shame and the filthe that men seyden to hym [Christ].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1393 : He dorste nat for verray filthe and shame Seye that he was a somnour for the name.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3679 : Kepyþ ȝoure tunges on al wyse, And spekeþ no fylþe oute of skore.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.1578 : Thynketh on myn honeste..how foule I sholde it shende, And with what filthe it spotted sholde be.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7530 : Fayr-Welcomyng..hath played with you..The fayrest games that he coude, Withoute fylthe, stylle or loude.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1325 Add.46919 Cook.Recipes (Add 46919)45.1/4 : Blanc desir: Milke of alemaundes, flour of rys, braun of chapoun, gyngere itried, sucre, hwit wyn; vchon of þoes schulen boillen in a clene possenet, & soþþen idon in þe vessel hwaryn hit schal beon imad, in a stude wyþouten vulþe; & poume gernet to streyȝen abouen.
Note: New spelling
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. filth.