Middle English Dictionary Entry
Frē̆nsh adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | Frē̆nsh adj. Also frens(s, frence, french, freinsh, freinch, vreinch, freins, vreins, friensh, vrinsh; (early) frencisc, frenkish, frenkis(s; (rare) frenish, frainish. |
| Etymology | OE frencisc (cp. OE francan the Franks, franc-lond land of the Franks, franc-rīce kingdom of the Franks). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. fransh, frankish.
1.
(a) Pertaining to France [as constituted at various times], or to Frenchmen; consisting of Frenchmen; associated with France or Frenchmen; ~ fare, courtly behavior; ~ flour, the fleur-de-lis; ~ parti, the French faction; (b) cook. ~ baker, a maker of French bread; ~ bred, one of the finer varieties of bread; ~ lof, a loaf of 'French' bread; ~ outes, a kind of vegetable stew; (c) ~ flod, ~ occean, ~ se, the English Channel; ~ lege (mile), a 'French mile,' i.e., a league; (d) med. & surg. ~ poudre, ~ sope, medicinal preparations used for treating wounds and sores; (e) ~ note, French nut [prob. the European walnut].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3138 : Feor haueden liðende men ispeken of þan mæidene..at-foren þan Frensce [Otho: Frence] kinge.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)27775 : Forð heo gunnen fusen..and breken þere Freinsce trumen.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)100/2203 : Þe burgeis hadde a pie in his halle, Þat couþe telle tales alle Apertlich in freinch langage.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)185b/b : Noble Ryuers among þe whiche þe frenshe rone is moost plenteuous.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1116 : Syþen with frenkysch fare & fele fayre lotez, Þay stoden & stemed & stylly speken, Kysten ful comlyly & kaȝten her leue.
- (1444) RParl.5.74a : Certayn Ambassitours shall come frome the Frenche partie into this Roialme in goodly hast, for to trete of pees betwene the said Roialmes and Lordshippis.
- (1447) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 11117 : Itm. ij. towayles of frensh werk.
- a1450(c1405) Purvey Determ.(Trin-C B.14.50)173/114 : It [the Bible] was translatid in-to Spaynesche tunge, Frensche tunge, & Almayne.
- (1450) RParl.5.180b : The seid Duke of Suff', hath caused the Frenssh Quene to have of the revenuez of this your Reame [etc.].
- (1450) Arrest Cade (Cnt)208 : John Cade..forswore the realm of England..and also yeres afore this, was sworn to the Frenssh partie and dwellid with hem.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)110/56 : Olde cokwold, þi bow is bent newly now after þe frensche gyse.
- c1475(c1420) Page SRouen (Eg 1995)p.34 : Kyngys, herrowdys, and pursefauntys In cotys of armys suauntys: The Englysche beste, the Fraynysche floure, Of Portynggale castelle and toure.
b
- (1314) Feet Fines Kent in Archaeol.Cant.12292 : William le ffrenkisshebakere.
- (c1350) Doc.Oxf.in OHS 73134 : Þe ferþyng frensh lof shal weye as moche as þe symnel.
- (1383-4) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)2.239 : [William Estby] Frensshebakere.
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)5 : Frenche owtes. [Recipe on p.40.]
- (1420-1) Rec.Norwich 263 : [To Beatrice Baxter, for] frenssh bread.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4916 : Eche monk in the place to haue xijd..eche man a french loof and a quart wyn.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)45 : Put the floure in an ovone to bak, that it ryse as frenche bred.
- a1500 Feast Tott.(Cmb Ff.5.48)96/302 : Then come in a horse hed In the stid of French brede.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)179b/b : Flaundres..hath germania in þe Eeste syde and þe Ilonde of bretayne in þe north syde and þe frensshe see in þe Weste syde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)185b/b : Normandye..hath þat name of þe spere Norweyes þat..hadde þe clieffe of þe frenshe occean and woned in þe prouynce aboute.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)13 : And fer ouer þe French flod, Felix Brutus On mony bonkkes ful brode Bretayn he settez.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)35/30 : Þat Ile [Cycile] holt in compas aboute ccc & 1 frensche myles [F cccl lieues Franceois; Eg: cccl leeges].
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)113.77 (v.2:p.193) : Aftir the space of an houre .. or aftir his estimacion by the tyme that a man with a mevable paas myght haue riden tweyn or thre french lenkis [read: leukis], they commen ageyn to the place where the childe felle oute.
d
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f.24vb : Basilica maior domestica: dragans .. Diascorid' seith his rote take & dried & mad to pouder, þat & euerose togidre .. with Frenche sope it mundefieth & dreyeth & heleth þe festre.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)223a/a : Heliþ þe festre wiþ frainsshe sope [L sapone gallico] and clenseþ and druyeþ it.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)86/23 : [P]uluis sine pari, or french poudre sanz pere, is made þus.
e
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)35/29 : Do þanne ele to, þe beo of frencissen hnutu, and drince þæt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)236b/a : Grete frensche notes, in þe whiche generallich þe schap of þe croys is yprented wiþinne..Avellana is a feld note and a wode note in comparisoun to þ' frensshe note [L nucis gallicane].
2.
(a) Of French birth or descent; (b) Frensh man, pl. Frenshe men (late also Frensh-man, -men), a native of France, a person of French or Norman descent; a Frenchman; also, an inhabitant of Roman Gaul.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1070 : Se cyng heafde gifen þet abbot rice an Frencisce abbot.
- (1155) Chart.Hen.II in Hall EME (Hrl Charter 3.B.49)11 : Ænglelandes king gret..ealle mine þeinas, frencisce & englisce.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)39 : Boc he nom þe þridde..þa makede a Frenchis clerc, Wace wes ihoten.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1655 : Goffar king com..mid vnimete ferde of Frenchisce folke.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)267 : Þine freinsche kniȝtes kune ȝelpe wel.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)99 : Both of Frensch and of Germayn kynde Was this man born, be swech dyuersite Of matrimony.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6535 : Frensche wymen wolde þey non take.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)23/17 : Both the Frensh knyght and the Englysh knyght lay so longe that all men wente they had bene dede.
- (1471) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)11.710 : Margarete..which is a Frenshwoman borne.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1070 : Abbot Turolde..wæs cumen þa into Stanforde mid ealle hise Frencisce menn.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7663 : Ælc Frensc mon þe wes aht hæfð hine seolfne bi-þoht.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)11885 : Þa iherden þa Frence men þat at Rome wes Maximien.
- (a1272) Doc.in HMC Rep.14 App.8156 : Frenkysemanestrete.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)81 : Ðes frenkis men o france moal it nemnen 'un iru natural'.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7890 : Freinsse [vrr. Frensse, Frensche] men in engelond þer were þere monion.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.297 : He up wiþ a staf..and smoot þe Frensche man of þe heed.
- c1390(1377) Death Edw.III (Vrn)101 : Þe ffrensche men cunne boþe boste & blowe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)184a/b : Þe men ben medled of fraynshe men & germayns.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5929 : Þoo had kyng alisaunder yment..werren vpon Fraynsshe men.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)239 : Þat mast ys worþ for frenche man.
- ?c1450 Brut-1419 (Hrl 24)19 : And kyng Arthur had at tabel Britanis, ffrensshemen, Normans, flemmynges.
- (1431) in Ewen Surnames Brit.145 : Rob. Frenssheman.
- (1436) RParl.4.511a : Thay reset and herber alle maner alienes and strangers, as wel Frensshmen and Picardes as Flemmynges.
- (1445) ?Bokenham Claudian CS (Add 11814)275/205 : The frensh man thankith.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)122 : They [frogs] ben not venemous, for the ffrensschemene etene heme.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)241/32 : For as þe Frensche man seiþ, 'Ou rendre ou pendre.'
- (1473) Paston (Gairdner)5.178 : We have no tydynges to send, but that our Frenshemen, whyche kepte our costs her, ar home into France for lake of vytayll.
- -?-(a1461) Doc.in HMC Rep.3 App.279a : His seid seale lay in the Frenschemens handes.
- (1474) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3276 : The Frensshemen..be the grettest and auncien adversaries of this ream.
- a1500(?c1400) Song Roland (Lnsd 388)557 : Shall he neuer frenchmen out of frauns led.
3.
Composed or written in the French language.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.248 : Wel may that man..synge thilke newe frenche song: Iay tout perdu mon temps et mon labour.
- (1395) EEWills5/14 : I bequethe..alle the bokes that I haue of latyn, englisch, and frensch.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)24 : Mony songes of dyuerse ryme, As englisshe, frensshe, & latyne.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)237 : Frenkis [Frf: frenche] rimes here i rede.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)21 : In Frenssche bookys þis rym is wrouȝt.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)12/27 : Whether it were Powlis or not, the Frensshe booke maketh no mencyon.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)362/24 : As the Freynsh boke seyth.
4.
As a noun, and in names: a person of French birth or descent; the French people or nation; also, a Gaul, the Gaulish people.
Associated quotations
- a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1127 : Hit of þuhte naþema ealle Frencisc & Englisc.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7680 : Þis ihærden segge Julius, þat þa Frenscen [Otho: Frence] speken þus.
- (1289) Chester R.in Chet.n.s.84150 : John le Frenkisse.
- (1296-7) Acc.Cornw.in RHS ser.3.6641 : Agnete le French.
- (1313) Sub.R.Bristol(1) in BGAS 19242 : Everardus le Vrynsh.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 386 : Walterus le Frensshe.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3230 : Johannes le Vreynch.
- (1332) Sub.R.Lan.in LCRS 31.264 : Johannes le Frenkissh.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)21081 : To þe frenshe [Frf: frenche] preched he, Wonynge biside þe mekel see In herpolie & frigie.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)22247 : Þouȝe hit be struyed..whil frenshe [Frf: frenche] kyngis is.
- 1402(1347) Assess.Edw.III in Archaeol.Cant.10117 : Willelmo le Frienshe.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1652 : Þo twelue batailles þe Troiens brak, & dide þe ffrensche arere hem bak.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)526 : Englysshe and Frensh, Lumbardes, Januayes, Cathalones, theder they take here ways.
5.
As noun: (a) the French language; (b) something spoken or written in French; the French version of a story or poem; a French saying, a French word.
Associated quotations
a
- (1294) Select Pleas Manor.in Seld.Soc.2167 : Johannes Parlefrens.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7542 : Vor bote a man conne frenss [vrr. frenysch, frenchs, frenshe], me telþ of him lute.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)167 : He of frensche þis fayre tale ferst dede translate.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.161 : Þere is as many dyuers manere Frensche in þe reem of Fraunce as is dyuers manere Englische in þe reem of Engelond.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.124/126 : And Frenssh she spak ful faire and fetisly After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe, For Frenssh of Parys was to hire vnknowe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)17b/a : Angelis in grewe..is to menynge a messanger in Englissch & in frensche.
- (1415) Will in Bdf.HRS 232 : A bible in Frenssh of ij voloms.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.115 : He wolde that..The noble story openly wer knowe..in oure langage As in latyn and in frensche it is.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.239 : I can no frenche, in feith, but of þe ferthest ende of norfolke.
- c1430 In May whan euery (Cmb Gg.4.27)p.108 : I can no french, soþ for to seyne, Ne oþer langage with outyn oth.
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2188 : We dede theym to be translated in to Frenish.
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)48 : Spele Frenssh and construe art, And þou schalt selde com to thy part.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)429 : Also þe worþy reume of fraunse, not-wiþ-stondinge alle lettingis, haþ translatid þe bible & þe gospels wiþ oþere trewe sentensis of doctours out of lateyn in-to freynsch.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)11a : Ich am wel ipaiet, euchan segge ase best bereð hire on heorte..redunge of englisc oðer of frensch [Nero: Freinchs].
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)231 : Þe Freyns of 'þe asche' is a freyn after þe language of Breteyn.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2195 : Þis bataile distructed is in þe freinsshe wel jwys; þerfore hij habbeþ to coloure Borwed of latyn a nature.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)14.204 : So witnesseþ þe wyse and wysseþ þe frenshe; Bele uertue est suffraunce.
- c1475 Þe tyme approcheþe (Hrl 2251)308 : Myn auctor and I both bien named John, Lyke as the frenge [vr. frenshe] sayde it expresse.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)1013 : When he French and Latyn herde, He hade mervell how it ferde.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)147/14 : Caulus gallica is an herbe men clepe caboches or frenchwourtis.
Note: New sense: 'cabbage'