Middle English Dictionary Entry
forein n.
Entry Info
| Forms | forein n. Also foren, forin. |
| Etymology | From adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
One who is not a citizen or freeman of a town; one who is not a member of a guild; one who does not belong to a manor or parish; an outsider, a non-member.
Associated quotations
- (1377-99) Oath Bk.Colchester11 : Ȝyf a foreyn come with sweche certeyne vitaylles, he schal havyn a mesure of the toun to metyn by.
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)86 : Whanne þe teþynge [OF dedenzain] empledeþ a foreyn, þe foreyn haþ his delay of eyȝte dayȝes.
- (1405) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.35 : Al maner of strangers and foreyns.
- (1415) Rec.Norwich 194 : Ye doores of ye Halle to all Citezeinis..shulle ben oopen..ne none from thens forbarred ne avoyded but foreyns.
- (1415) Rec.Norwich 1107 : No alien fro now forth comynge into ye Cite shal not be herberwed wit non alien ne wit no foreyn..ne none alienne ne none foreyn shall selle no marchaundise be retaille.
- (1424-5) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.185 : An Foreyn, dwellynge atte latis ageyns þe joynour yn hosier lane..hath j kilderkyn of Foreyn ale Forfeted.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)103 : Ȝif the foreynes wil laden her fyssh, they shulden laden in pleyn market.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)117 : Ȝif a foreyn be duellyng in the toun that delayeth merchauntes of her payment..thanne be that foreyn be the ballyves and the goode men of the toun forbarred of every maner merchaundise.
- (1439) LRed Bk.Bristol2.162 : Defautes that schal be don by eny man of the same crafte, aswelle deniseyns as foreyns or alyene, within the seide towne and suburbe.
- (1449) Rec.Norwich 2287 : To be presented to þe Maire as for foreynes.
- (1450) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.324 : No barbour..shall enfourme eny foreyn nor him teche..unto the tyme that the same foreyn be bounden apprentice.
- (1451) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)342 : Brocors makyng bargayns betwene forein and forein in this Cite.
- (1453-4) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1279 : Al maner of viteiloures, as wel deynsynes as foreynes.
- (c1458) Let.Oxf.in OHS 36345 : Yf þe pese happe to be brok by twene to laymen of þe towne of Oxenforde or þe suburbes of þe same, or ellys by twene eny forens, or eny foreyne and a layman of þe towne.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.50/20 : Þey shall charge at such contribucion with none oþere foreynys.
- -?-(1435) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.311 : No freemen of the craft of Cirurgie resseuie no Cirurgian that is a foreyn ouer a monethe, to occupie him in the craft of Cirurgie.
2.
One born in another country or belonging to a different nation; also, a stranger, a traveler.
Associated quotations
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.322 : Þe foreyns alle aboute To þe kyng felle on knes.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.199 : Some hadde foreynes [vr. forynus] to frendes, þat hem fode sente.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5198 : Kyng Priam..Made assemble alle his Citezeyns, Secrely deuoidyng alle forereyns [read: foreyns].
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1079 : They stod in such disioynte, how as they hadde of berth be foreyns.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)140/25 : Ther may wynne ryche and pouere, Citeseyns and foreyns.
- a1456(1429) Lydg.Hen.VI Coron.Ballade (Trin-C R.3.20)88 : Foreyns þat came frome Babylon.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.3305 : Edippus..was nat sone onto the kyng As be discent, but a ferr foreyn.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)995 : I am but a foreyn in this cuntre.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)1.82 (v.1:p.5) : The gravis of such men shul be her duellyng place withouten ende, and .. they shul leevyn her richesse to straungers and to foreyns.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)57/16 : Þat ys þe cause þat Inde ys so ful of poeple, ffor þedyr Marchauntz trauaille on alle sydes, and faire and wel er resceyued, and þere wynnes ryche & pore, Citezeyns and fforeyns.
3.
An outer room used as a privy, a privy attached to the outer wall of a building.
Associated quotations
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)260/144-6 : And watur to vre foreyn bere; ffor þou hast a Mayde forleyn, þou schalt clansen vre foreyn.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6405 : At hys foreyne, y ne wot what Strangled hym [þeron] as he sat.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7435 : Foul ys þat lust and þat peryl, To loue here þat al men go tyl. Ful foule ys þat forreyne Þat ys comoun for al, certeyne.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1962 : The tour..Was joynynge in the wal to a foreyne.