Middle English Dictionary Entry
ǧesīn(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ǧesīn(e n. Also iesin(e, iezine, gisin(e & gesen, geisene, iesaine, jeseine, geseme, gisma & gesian, geisian. |
| Etymology | OF jesine, gesine. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Childbed; lien in ~, to lie in childbed, give birth; (b) the period after childbirth before the mother might appear in church or the temple; -- also used humorously; (c) the name of a chapel.
Associated quotations
a
- (1369) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)2.121 : [The altar of S. Mary] in gysma.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3906 : Beniamin..was þe chesun of hir fine; Of him sco deid in gesine [Göt: gesin].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8594 : At ans bath in gesen [Frf: gisin] lay.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)66 : To helpe in cas here neyȝbore, Whanne she shal lygge in gesyne.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.PPeace (Hrl 2255)74 : Briht was the sterre ovir the dongoun..Wher the Heuenly Queen lay poorly in iesyne.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)6241 : His wyf jn gesyne doth lye of a knave child.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)109/12 : So she was moder vnto the said Ioseph, of whom she deyed in gesyne.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)113/33 : He wolle haue mercy upon hem that visite..sike folke, and poure women that lye in Iesyne.
- a1470 Ordin.War Hen.V in RS 55.1 (Lnsd 285)468 : That nomaner man be so hardy to go in to no chambre..where that eny woman lythe in geseme her to robbe..ne for to make none affray.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)141/171 : All heyl, maydon and wyff..the for to comforte in gesyne þis day, tweyn gode mydwyuis I haue brought here.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)4391 : The noble helmas..there moder..lying in gesian, wilfully had sain.
- 1534(?a1500) Cov.Pl.ST (Croo:Craig)765 : He thatt made vs to..offur to Mare in hir jeseyne, He geve vs grace in heyvin agayne All to-geyder to mete!
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)185/246 : To Mary in her Iesaine [rime: playne].
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11298 : Womman þat had a knaue child..suld sco It offer þe hali temple to Efter þat sco suld ha lin Fourti daies in hir gisin [Göt: gesin; Ld: geysene]; For maiden child eft als lang Ar sco suld to þe temple gang.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)137/30 : Þe Kyng of Fraunce..saide þat Kyng William hade longe leyen a childe bed..þe Kyng of Engeland..swore þo by God þat, when he were arise of his gisyne, he wolde liȝt a þousand candelles to þe Kyng of Fraunce.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.236 : The kyng of Fraunce thus scorned hym..That kyng Wyllyam in Gesine [vr. Geysian] had lyen long, And tyme hym were been kyrked.
c
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)155/11 : Hyr confessowr cam to hir in-to a chapel of owr Lady, clepyd þe Iezyne.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)169/10 : A chapel of owr Lady, clepyd þe Iesyn.