Middle English Dictionary Entry
fīr-brō̆nd n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fīr-brō̆nd n. Also fur-, fer-, -brand, -brend. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. brond.
1.
(a) A brand (such as embers or sparks of a fire, or a torch, for starting a fire); also fig.; (b) a torch for illumination; (c) fig. something that kindles the emotions or the spirit.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)25608 : Floȝen of hire eȝene ase furbrondes.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)136 : He..kypte anon in his hond A gret muche fir brond.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.7.4 : See that thou holde thi pes; wile thou not dreden..the two tailes of these smokende fyr brondis.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2740 : A gret fyre brand at hym he kest.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)57/24 : A wikked man..kest a brynnand fyrebrand at oure Lord.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6388 : He took her tailes, knet hem..tweyne, And amyd euerich he sette a feer-brond.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)76/16 : Þe wynde tuk fire-brandes oute of fyres..and smate dyuerse men & brynte þam.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)794 : Wyth glowyng ferbrondys faste you hye, This wycchys sydys to brenne & sere.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.1310 : She was as hoote as the fire brande And cursed hir full hertely.
b
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6833 : Þe kyng seiȝ a leem so fire bronde [LinI: a fuyrbrond] ffrom þe trow jn to heuene stonde.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.63 : Than come there armyd men..To seke crist..with Lanternes and with fire brandes.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1727 : Venus..with hir firbrond in hir hand aboute Daunceth bifore the bryde and al the route.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)114 : Cytherea..That with thy fyrbrond dauntest whom the lest.
2.
(a) Resinous wood used as kindling; (b) fig. fuel (for hell).
Associated quotations
a
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.299 : A firbrond pyn..Dryue in the bored roote.
b
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)7421 : Or he us made..to be fyre-brandes in helle.
- a1425 Hayle bote (Wht)131 : A, wrecched hert, fyre bronde, How longe on rote wenist thow to stonde? To the fyre thow moost goo to brenne.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 52/1,2-3 : Ȝif..hit wole nought falle so on a leye by hit silf alone, take þe a fayre brond and helde hit to þe smoke þerof, and anoon as hit haþ eny manere touchyng of þe fire bronde hit schal falle on a leye.
Note: Additional quot., sense 1.(a).
Note: New spellings (faire-, -bronde)