Middle English Dictionary Entry
flok n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | flok n.(2) Pl. flokkes. |
| Etymology | OF floc, L floccus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
A lock or tuft of wool; also, a tuft of cotton, etc.; pl. scraps trimmed from the fleece, refuse wool.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)427 : Ne roȝte he þeȝ flockes were Imeind bi toppes & bi here.
- (1298-9) Acc.Wellingborough in North.RS 875 : Item, in flockes emptis, ij d. q.
- (1303) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.279 : De eodem Euerardo pro flokkis val. ls.
- (1417) J.Dernell in Nrf.Archaeol.15126 : Item, ij li. flokkes, j d.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)69b/a : Villus: a flokke.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)118a/a : If þai be moued in puttyng a floc [L flosculum] of wolle or cotoun y-tesed in þe mouth & þe noseþrillez.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)167 : Flokkys of wulle or oþer lyke: Floccus.
1b.
As used for: (a) stuffing cushions, mattresses, etc.; (b) caulking; (c) adulterating woolen cloth.
Associated quotations
a
- (1335-6) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100527 : Reparacione quissinorum ueter camere d'ni Prioris, cum flokkes et coreo empt. pro eisdem.
- (c1343) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100543 : In flokes emp. pro sellis implend., 16 d.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)58b/b : Pilowes and þinges stopped wiþ flokkes ben made to þe..þristinge to gedre of þe loosede parties.
- (1449) Will York in Sur.Soc.45108 : De j magno materesse, impleto cum flokes, iij s. iiij d.
- (1464-5) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99154 : Pro le flokkys emp. pro le bolsteres.
- (1474) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)121 : Fetherbeddes and bolsters stuffed with Fedders and Flokkes..Materas stuffed with here and Flokkes and sold for Flokkes..Quysshens stuffed with here and sold for Flokkes..been deceivably made to the hurt of the Kynges liege people.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)227/77 : Cadace, wolle, or flokkys..to stuffe withal þi dobbelet, and make þe..two smale legges and a gret body.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)376/288 : To tell will I not blyn Of prankyd gownes & shulders vp set, mos & flokkys sewyd wyth in.
b
- (1296-7) Acc.Cornw.in RHS ser.3.68196 : Bithumine et flockis ad idem..et aliis necessariis in eodem molendino faciendis.
- (1470-1) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103643 : Et sol. pro 21 lb. del flokkes empt. pro le Bay molendini Abbathie.
c
- (1277) Doc.Gildh.Lond.in RS 12.3433 : Et xv capella nigra, de supradictis capellis, fuerunt falsi operis et mixti de lana et flokkes.
- (1463-4) RParl.5.501b : And that noo persone that shall make..eny manere Wollen Cloth..medell, or put in or uppon the same Cloth, nor into the Wolle wherof the seid Cloth shal be made, eny Lambes Wolle, Flokkes, Chalke..or Cork.
2.
(a) The cocoon of a silk worm; (b) med. [see quots.].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)180a/b : R[ecipe]..rawe silke propreli of þe flok or huske [L folliculo; *Ch.(2): flokke or slogh] of þe worme smal kutted.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)131a/a : Albucasis calleþ [a type of spot or blemish of the cornea] vngulam adiposam, And Beneuentus flosculum niuis .i. floc of snowe.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)136b/a : Beneuentus clepeþ it flosculum .i. a flokke or flage of synowe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400 Harv.lat.235 Artist.Recipes (Harv lat.235) 294/5 : Forto dissolve flowke. Take .j. part of hennys dunge brente, and two partes of wod askes..and þus may þow dissolue all maner f. [read: flowke] or clothe.
- a1500 Htrn.110 Artist.Recipes (Htrn 110) 326/20 : Set þe water on þe fire and skyme it wel and late it seþ; and þan stren in a pond of flockyn, and stere hem wele togedir.
- a1525 BodEMus.52 Artist.Recipes (BodEMus 52) 192/31 : Þu schallt karve þe golde or syluer with a scharpe knyffe, upon a cowche made of a calffes skyne raysyde and stoppede with flokes or els unstoppede.
Note: Additional quotes, sense 1a. (first and second quotes) and 1b. (third quote), need dates.
Note: New spellings (flowke, flockyn).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Dc.45 Artist.Recipes (Dc 45) 149/16 : Lokkys of here biith ycallyd 'floskys'.
Note: Editor's note: "floskys. Locks of hair; cf. Anglo-Norman French flocsoun."
Note: ?This word; ?instrusive s result of metathesis.
Note: Cf. AND flocun, flocon; floccoun; flocsoun, flocsun. Also, cf. AND flocke, floc, flock, floke, flokke.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. flock.