Middle English Dictionary Entry
firre n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | firre n.(1) Also fir, vir(re, fer(re, ver(re. |
| Etymology | OE fyrh. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An evergreen coniferous tree of the genus abies; a fir tree; also, any of several other tall conifers; fir frith; ~ tre; (b) the wood of the fir tree; fir(re bord, ~ dele, fir board, fir plank; ~ sparre, ~ sperre, fir pole or yard.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)653 : Arable, sape, et glasier: Mapul, fyr, and mulberetre.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.60.13 : The glorie of Liban to thee shal come, the fyrr tree, and box, and pyne tree togidere.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Joel 1.12 : Maal tree, or fir [L malum], of whom mastis ben maad.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2921 : As ook, fir [vr. firre], birch.
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)86 : Þus schene briddus in schawe schewen heore schroude, On Firres [Hnt: ferrers] and fygers þei fongen heore seetes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)175b/b : Plente of treen, of pynes and of firre [L abietes].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)213b/a : Ver is a tree and hatte Abyes..Aristotil seiþ þat a veer is a tre þat streccheþ in lengþe vpwarde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11501 : [Recles] es a gun [read: gum] þat cums o firr [vr. firre].
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1680 : Fer into a fyr fryth þere frekes never comen.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5839 : Þe cedris grene Of paradys wer nat so fair to sene; Planys nor fir in heiȝte..To his hiȝnesse myȝt nat atteyne.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)1395 : Fagotes of fyr-tree Fett þou vs ȝare.
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)27 : Cedres were of lyban and of Inde, With virres clymbyng vp yn to hevene.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2623 : Fir and cipresse..Therfore is good.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.61 : Pengwern, whiche sowndethe as the hedde of a firre tre.
- a1500(c1445) Lydg.Mir.Edmund (Ashm 46)325 : Toward the martir attoonys they hem dresse, Affor the ffertre knelyng with meknesse.
b
- (?c1300) Sub.R.Lynn in Nrf.Archaeol.1347 : In bordis de Fir.
- (1338) Doc.in Nicolas Navy 2476 : Firr de pruce.
- (1392) Will York in Sur.Soc.4172 : Cistam de fir.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)241a/a : Þe ver..rotyeþ anon vnder erthe and dureþ best with Inne house and kept druye.
- 1402 *Acc.Exch.K.R.43/6.m.2 [OD col.] : viij peciis de Ferre.
- (c1403) Fabric R.Yk.Min.in Sur.Soc.3523 : Et in v firsperres emptis.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)3 Kings 6.15 : He couerde the pawment of the hows with firre bordis.
- a1425 Siege Troy(1) (LinI 150)642 : Þeo mastes of fir [vr. verre] gode and lange.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)98a/b : Splentez playne & softe of beche or fir.
- a1450 *Rature (in Hull Trin.House Records) [OD col.] : Item for euerie hundreth of firre deales, xij d.
- (1454) Invent.Jarrow in Sur.Soc.29114 : In xx planchowr de fyrr..in xij fyrr sparrez empt.