Middle English Dictionary Entry
fisken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | fisken v. Also fishen. |
| Etymology | Cp. Swed. fjäska. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Scamper; ~ aboute, wander about idly; of the tongue: wag.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.153 : And what frek of þys folde fiskeþ [vrr. fiscuþ, fisschith] þus a-boute, With a bagge at hus bak a begeneldes wyse.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1704 : [The dogs] Runnen forth in a rabel in his [the fox's] ryȝt fare, & he fyskez hem byfore.
- ?c1425(c1412) Hoccl.RP (Roy 17.D.6:Furn.)2442 : Silence of tunge is wardein of good fame; And after repreef fissheth, clappeth, fouleth.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)162 : Fiskin a-bowte yn ydilnesse: Vagor, giro, girovago.