Middle English Dictionary Entry
Frankish adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | Frankish adj. Also frankis, fraunkais. |
| Etymology | Appar. a blend of Frenkish (see Frensh) and Fra(u)nceis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. Frensh.
1.
Pertaining to France or the French people, characteristic of Frenchmen; of French birth or descent; consisting of Frenchmen; ~ fare, courtly behavior; also [ironically], arrogant behavior; ~ langage, ~ speche, the French language; ~ man, a native of France, a Frenchman; ~ womman.
Associated quotations
- (1379) in Ewen Surnames Brit.145 : Ric. Frankissheman.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)239 : Mast es it wroght for frankis man.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22247 : Þe frankis [so Göt; Frf: frenche] kinges.
- ?a1400 Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)6535 : Frankis women.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)18/20 : Ful few find ȝe ȝowre frende For all ȝowre frankis fare.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)24/86 : With bent bowes þai war ful bolde For to fell of þe Frankisch men.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)2419 : Þe burias in his hal had a py Þat cowth tel tales ful properly And ful faire in Frankis langwage.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)1294 : He es made of manhede for all his frankis [vr. frankishe] fare.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1701 : He had slayn..Six hundred..Fraunceys; Siþen com alle þe frankische route, & closed hym yn al aboute.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)16701 : Frankysche [vr. frankis] speche ys cald Romaunce, So sey þis clerkes & men of ffraunce.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)51/100 : For all thy frankish fare I will not doe after thy red.
2.
As noun: a person of French birth or descent; the French people or nation; also, the Gaulish colony in Asia Minor [quot.: a1400].
Associated quotations
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2115 : Ada Fraunkays.
- (1310) Pat.R.Edw.II289 : William Frankyshe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21081 : To þe franckis [Göt: franchis; Frf: frenche; Trin-C: frenshe] prechid he [Philip the Apostle]..In herpoli and in frigi.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)4101 : Þenne come þe Normaunz & þe Frankisch.
3.
As noun: the French language.
Associated quotations
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)78 : In þat tyme turnede y þys On englyssh tunge out of frankys.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)237,240 : Frankis [Frf: frenche; Göt: Frenkis] rimes here I redd..Quat is for him na frankis can?
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)8 : Robert Mannyng..on Inglysch has it schewed..For þo þat in þis land wone Þat þe Latyn no Frankys cone.