Middle English Dictionary Entry
frogge n.
Entry Info
| Forms | frogge n. Also vrogge, frugge. Pl. froggen, -es. |
| Etymology | OE frogga, -an. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. frosk.
1.
(a) Any kind of frog; also, toad; (b) used disparagingly of human beings.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)12/104 : Þe laðe helle wurmes, tadden & froggen, þe freoteð ham ut te ehnen.
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)256 : To colde gistninge he wes I-bede, Wroggen haueþ his dou I-knede.
- a1300 Owl & N.(Jes-O 29)85 : Þe were icundere to one frogge Þat sit at mulne vnder cogge.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)739 : Crapoude, rayne et serpent: Tode, frogge and nedder.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)297a/b : Some frogges beþ watry froges and some ben of mores & of marreys and some ben ycleped Rubete..And some..Calamite for þey wonen..in reedy places and ben ful litel and grene and dombe..and some ben ycleped agredule and ben smal frogges and dwellen boþe in lond and in water..Alle frogges [L rane] outake tadde [L bufonem] and Rubeta moeuen more & passen by lepynge þan by goynge.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)257/34 : Grene froggis þat lyuen among trees.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.8.3 : The floode shal boyl up froggis [WB(2): paddokis].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)55a/a : Rana: a vrogge.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)180 : Frogge, or frugge..: Bufo.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)229/16 : Take a frogge in maye and karue þe rugge..and take þe mawe with-yn.
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)53 : Nu leofemen..witeð eow þet ȝe ne beo noht þe foaȝe neddre, ne þe blake tadde, ne þe ȝolewe frogge.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1782 : Formest was sire Gogmagog, He was most, þat foule froge.
2.
(a) A disease of the tongue; (b) a toadstool [cp. MnE dial. frogstool]; (c) apium of frogge, a kind of smallage; (d) frog-lokke, a contrivance of some kind [see quot.].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)47a/b : Anoþir maner of apostume of þe tonge hatte rana, a frogge, for he is I brad as a frogge vndir þe tonge & benemeþ þe vse of þe tonge.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)236a/a : If it is y do among frogges [L fungos] and venemous metes, it..quencheþ al þe venym þat is þer Inne.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)215b/a : Of merche and apium is oþer maner kynde, as apium of frogge [L apium ranarum]..Apium of frogges haþ þat name ffor it is ofte yfounde in watry places wher frogges beþ Inne.
d
- (1463) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2559 : Pro j Froglokke empto pro fonte.
3.
In place names and surnames: frogge brok; ~ mere; ~ pit; ~ rithe; ~ wel; etc.
Associated quotations
- (1261) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)413 : Froggemere.
- (1270) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)545 : Froggewell.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1027 : Sim. de Frogebroke.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1047 : Willmo de Froggerythe.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3259 : Johannes Froggeput.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. frog.