Middle English Dictionary Entry
flō̆ren, -ein, -in, -an n.
Entry Info
| Forms | flō̆ren, -ein, -in, -an n. Also florence, florent. |
| Etymology | OF florin. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A gold coin minted at Florence and stamped with the figure of a lily, a florin; any foreign gold coin; an English gold coin worth 6s. 8d., i.e., a noble; (b) ~ of Florence, a Florentine florin; four florens weight, a weight equal to that of four florins; mark of florens, a mark in florins, florins to the value of one mark; pound of florens, florins to the value of one pound. [See R. Källner, Die Bezeichnungen für Geldwert im ME (1934).]
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 Degare (Auch)295 : He tok him his florines and his gloues.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5481 : He..schel ȝelde..Four floryns of gold of god coygnage.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2088 : With many a floryn he the hewes boghte.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)2.113,116 : Þen fet fauel forth floreynes Inowe & bad gyle..feffe false witnesse with florens.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.335 : Er gold was smite In Coign, that men the florin knewe; Ther was welnyh noman untrewe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6199 : Þey fonde þe cofre ful..Of florens and of goldrynges.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)4 Kings 5.5 : Ten talentis of siluer, and sixe thousynde goldun platis, ether floreyns.
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)294/21 : In þe same tyme [14th year of Edward III], þe King..commaunnded forþwiþ his coigne of gold, vnder descripcioun of the name of Engelond and of Fraunce to be made..þat ys for to seyn, þe floreyn þat was clept þe noble, of value of vj s. & viij d.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1122 : Ne coupe of gold, with floreyns newe ybete.
- c1440(a1350) Isumb.(Thrn)555 : Ilkone hade a florence [vrr. floreyne, flory], noghte to layne.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)1104 : Thritty florence [Cmb: florens] forthe keste he.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1367 : Maydons..ffongit no florence, ne no fyn pesys.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3820 : With his florantis, olifants him folowed.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4074 : He..fillis þam florentis a fyftene hundreth.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)100/23 : Men clepe in þis contrey gold of biȝende þe see Scutys, Motouns or Floryns.
- c1450 Siege Jerus.(1) (Add 31042)1308 : Thoghe ilke a ferthynge had bene ful florence an hundrethe.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)220 : So was the Kyng of Frauns delyvered and his raunson set at III milliones of florenes, of whech too schuld weye a nobil.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)12 : Þou schalt ȝeue me foure floreynis, and I schal ordeyn þe a bischop aftir noon.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)1910 : Chepede me þat chyld to sale For syxty florencys all be tale.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)389 : xl floranse that ben bryght Anone brynge thou mee.
b
- (c1331) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.444 : [The florens are distinguished as, 1,] florens de Florentia, [each worth 3s. 4d.; 2, florens de la mas.., each 5s. 10d.; and, 3, florens de agno].
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1046 : An hundred pound honest Of florins wiþ þe best, He sente to Cardevile toun.
- c1440(a1350) Isumb.(Thrn)295 : I salle the gyffe tene thowsand pownde Of florence that bene rede and rownde.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)281 : The emperoure gafe hir fowrty pownde Of florence [Cmb: florens] þat were riche and rownde.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)57/3 : Tak cassia fastula, iiij florence weghte, & stamp it.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)2854-7 : A quarter off whete men vs solde For syxty pound off ffloryns tolde..A swyn ffor an hundryd ffloryn.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)6392 : An hundryd þousand pounde Off ffloryns [vr. florans], boþe rede and sounde.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)6/25 : Ȝe schal preie a riche man..to leene ȝou a good floreyn of florence.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)788 : Ten pound of florens wer forþ leyd.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)158 : Þou woldest yeve me an c marke of florens.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)159 : An c marke of floreynse.