Middle English Dictionary Entry
ǧē̆s n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ǧē̆s n. Also iese, jese. Pl. ǧē̆s, ǧesse(s, iesse(s, jaces, jesses, ieshes, ches(ses. |
| Etymology | OF ges, pl. of jet, get. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A short strap fastened to the leg of a hawk (one for each leg, both attached to a leash); paire gesses; also fig.; (b) a pair of jesses; fig. spiritual fetters or restraint; (c) ?some kind of ornamental ribbon or fringe.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 *Trev.Barth.(Mrg M 875)150a : Hire feet beþ fastenid with gesses.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)258 : Iessys [Win: ieshys] to bynde hawkys wythe: Jactacula.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)107 : I am..noon oother faucowners brid..to be bownde with gessis [F giez; vr. ges].
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)148 : Yif me..a peyre gessis.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)993 : The golden Eagle and his briddys iii, Her bellys ha they broke and jessys lorne.
- a1475 *Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)24a : Put on hyr Iessis And bellys, And loke þat þe nerrer iese be A nynch lenger than þe farþer, for batyng.
- a1475 *Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)27b : And lat on do þe lyne from þe chessys.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking (Hrl 2340:Halliwell)299 : Then ordeyn his gesses redy and his bell..then tech him to light from thi fiste to the grounde and fro the grounde to thi fist.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking (Hrl 2340:Halliwell)303 : If thu wilt that thyn hawke take an hare or a connyng, bynde gesses in the both leggs, for then he schal take withoute hertyng.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)254/16,19 : Alsuo ase me ofhalt þane uoȝel be þe ges [Vices & V.(2): iesse] þat he ne vly to his wylle..Þe herte is ase þe uoȝel þet wolde vly to his wylle, and bote hy by ofhealde be þe ges of beleaue and of loue, hy ulyȝþ perilousliche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)143a/b : Hire fete beþ I-fastned wiþ gesse and þey may not flee freliche to eueriche bridde.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)199 : I wole sette thee as a faucoun in gesse [F gies; vr. gez].
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13739 : I am no Gerfawk nor fawcoun..Ches nor bellys..I wyl nat bere.
- a1500 Who carpys (Trin-C O.9.38)p.27 : My sperhawke bellys [weren] of Meleyn, Limes and gees of sylke and twyne.
- c1500(a1449) Lydg.Aesop (Trin-C R.3.19)192 : The gentyll faucon, with gesse & ryche belles.
- c1500 Befor my deth (SeldArch B.24)77 : Bot brok is now bell and ges, And Is flowin vnto vildirnese ȝoure loue.
c
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.131 : With gyuleris, joyffull for here gery jaces.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: A quot. from Hundred R.Tower ("Robertus le Chesemaker..Robertus le Jesemaker"), duplicated under chese n., has been removed to the latter, more likely, entry.