Middle English Dictionary Entry
Flē̆ming n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Flē̆ming n. Also Flæming (early), Flemming, Flameng (surname). |
| Etymology | OFris. (or coastal Dutch), corresp. to MDu. Vlāming; cp. OI Flǣmingr (from OFris.) |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A native of Flanders; a person of Flemish birth or ancestry; ?a peddler [Competition in trade colored the Englishman's view of the Flemmings from the 14. cent. on; see esp. quots. 1390, a1450, a1500.]; (b) as a surname; (c) in a placename [cp. Du. Vlamincdam, the name of both a street and a tavern in Bruges).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1150 Chron.Tbr.B.1 (Tbr B.1)an.1066 : Harold..michil wel geslogon, ge Norweis ge Flæming.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.159 : Þe Flemmynges þat woneþ in þe weste side of Wales haueþ ileft her straunge speche and spekeþ Saxonliche inow.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Co.(Manly-Rickert)A.4357 : Thow seist ful sooth, quod Roger, by my fey; But 'sooth pley, quade pley', as the Flemyng seith.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4586 : Certes, he Iaake Straw and his meynee ne made neuere shoutes half so shrille, Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille, As thilke day was maad vp on the fox.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)78/21 : Kyng Arthure hade at þat table Britons..Normannes, Flemynges [vr. flemmynges].
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)15 : And many fflemmynges loste here heedes at that tyme.
- (1436) RParl.4.511a : Alle maner alienes and strangers, as wel Frensshmen and Picardes as Flemmynges.
- (c1440) Paston2.49 : There come up xi hundyr Flemyns.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)77 : But ye Flemmyngis, yf ye be not wrothe, The grete substaunce of youre cloothe..ye make hit of oure Englissh wolle.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)120 : What hath thenne Flaundres, be Flemmynges leffe or lothe, But a lytell madere and Flemmyshe cloothe?
- (1460) *Doc.Maldon1/2 f.5 : He was a Flemynge born in Flaundrys.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)39/1 : Þys lond was full of Flemyngys and so ouersette wyth hom, þat a man myght not goo bytwyx townes for hom vnrobbet.
- a1500 SMChron.(Cmb Ff.5.48)82/748 : Þe Brut vs tellis, jwis, Off him come þe Flemmyngus. Þese traitors þat ne myȝten hym queme, Alle he did hem of londe to fleme: Forþi Flemmyngus ben jcalled ai, And so thei shalle to domesdai.
- a1605(?a1500) Lond.Lickpenny (Hrl 542)51 : Wtout þe dores, were flemings grete woon, vpon me fast they gan to cry..'what will ye copen or by? fine felt hatts, spectacles for to rede?'
b
- (1161) in Pipe R.Soc.414 : Willielmus Flameng.
- (1170) in Pipe R.Soc.1551 : Rohelin Flamenc.
- (a1185) Chart.Cumbwell in Archaeol.Cant.5203 : Thoma Flemeng.
- (1254) Inquis.PM Hen.III77 : John le Flemmeng.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 2304 : Johannes le Flamang'.
- (1361) Doc.Cust.Sea in NRS 4986 : Et Jakemart Flemyng, mercatorum.
c
- (?1480) Let.Cely (PRO 53/128)p.86 (97/2,7) : I pray yow let yowr man do so myche ffor me as to go to the syne off the Ster next onto Flemyngys Dame wheras daggers be maid and .. to the cap-maker next beyond William Kenettys on the same synd to Flemyngys Dame warde and let hym resceyue off hym vj sengell bonotys.