Middle English Dictionary Entry
glas n.
Entry Info
| Forms | glas n. Also glās(e, glasse, glace, glasce & gles(e, gleas & glæs. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. WS glæs & Merc. *gles. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Glass as substance, material, or a manufactured commodity; bright (brotel, clene, cler, grei, pur, slider) as ~, etc.; also, glemen (shinen) as ~; (b) a piece or splinter of glass.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)83 : Þet gles ne brekeð ne chineð.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1661 : Istenet euch strete mid deorewurðe stanes..isliket ant ismaket as eni gles smeðest.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2003 : Hit bigon to claterin al..tobursten & tobreken, as þah hit were bruchel gles [vr. gleas].
- c1230 *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)44b : Þis bruchele uetles, bruchel as is eani gles.. gles ne tobrekeð nawt bute sum þing hit rine.
- a1275 Stod ho (Tan 169*)34 : So gleam glidis þurt þe glas, of þi bodi born he was.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)14 : He was briȝt so þe glas.
- ?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)114 : Whan þe monkes geeþ to masse, Al þe fenestres þat beþ of glasse Turneþ in to cristal briȝt.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.454 : Þe halle schon þerof as sonne of glas.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)76/34 : Þe smale stones of gles ssynynde.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.4.6 : In the siȝt of the seete, as a se of glas, lijk to cristal.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.152 : Ful semely hir wympel pynched was, Hir nose tretys, hir eyen greye as glas.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.198 : His heed was balled that shoon as any glas.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5258/22 : Pro xl verrez de glas.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.82 : Ther cam a knyght vpon a steed of bras, And in his hand a brood mirour of glas.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)207a/b : Glas is y-made of axen of trees and of herbes wiþ ful strong blast of fuyre.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)207b/a : Isider seiþ..þat þe stoon ocianus is y-rekened among kynde of glas.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5260 : Þe plank..was as sledyr as any glas.
- 1419 Liber Albus Lond.in RS 12.1224 : Kark de vermiloun, Kark de glasce, Kark de figes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.854 : Riȝt so Vlixes..Brotel as glas, pretendinge outward stel.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)943 : Her iȝen gray as glas.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.7.7 : The wawes..weren clere as glas.
- (1445-6) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1395 : Pro vjc xxxviij pedibus vitri operati vocati powdred glasse.
- (1446-7) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1395 : Pro xxiiij pedibus vitri operati picti vocati florisshed glasse.
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)78 : The grauel golde, the water pure as glas.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)257/8 : Ley yt vnder a pese of glasse sete in a ryng.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)724 : A cristall shelde, as clere as glass glyterand.
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)607 : The wallys glemyd as any glasse.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.751 : His consciens was clensed as clene as glas.
- c1475 St.Patr.Purg.(2) (Brm)414 : Ouer the water a bryge was, Yt wos glyddyr [vr. kener] as ony glass.
- a1500(a1451) Commodities Eng.(LdMisc 593)553 : What merchandyse and rychese come thydyr..owte of the Northe est Contrey..all maner of..Glas.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)132 : Feyre he was and bryght of face; He schone as bryȝt as ane glace.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)82/12 : Þet þe wordle louyeþ..weneþ of gles þet hit be a safir.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)54a/a : Of medecenez drawing out þingez infixed..þornez & aristez, i. awnez, & stonez & glassez.
2.
An article made of glass: (a) a glass vessel or container; a glass drinking-vessel; also, collect., vessels of glass, glassware; also, a container made of ivory [quot.Paston]; (b) an hourglass; also, the time taken for sand to run through an hourglass; (c) a glass mirror, looking glass; (d) a pane of glass.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)44b : Þe bere a deore licur..healewi i bruchel gles [Nero: in one bruchele glese], nalde ha gan ut of þrung bute ha fol were?
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.700 : In a glas he hadde pigges bones.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52235/31 : Pro glases et verres.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.766 : And of the pot and glasses enlutyng.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)44a/b : Whyte wyn takeþ þe liknes & colour of þe rede glas ȝif it is þerinne.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1156 : He dude seruen Olympias Jn golde, in siluer, in brus, in glas.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)166a/b : Wex is wasshen & whited in meltyng it with watre And in liftyng it vp with a stone or with a rounde glasse ydipped in.
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)433 : Take a grete glasse, and do thi beef therin.
- (?c1425) Hoccl.Jonathas (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)463 : He had a lytil glas, Which with þat watir anoon filled he.
- (1446) Will York in Sur.Soc.45102 : De vj glassez, iiij d.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)804 : Sho gafe hym a glasse with a good lycour.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)30/8 : Kepe þat watir in glas.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)32/1 : Gadir þat watyr, and kepe it in a glas.
- (1465) Paston4.202 : A close glasse of yvery, a grete combe of yvere.
- (a1475) Recipe Painting(2) in Archaeol.J.1 (Sln 73)153 : Ordeyne thee anothir glas that the mouth be almoost as the jordans mouth of largenes.
- a1486 Arms Chivalry (Mrg M 775)44 : Also a cuppe to drynke of, Also a glas with a drynke made.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)63b : In one glas & with one gouernaunce foure natures turne in one.
b
- (1420-21) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.499 : Pro ii barellis cum compac[es] et glasis.
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)12 : Than must ye go south a glas or two by cause of the Rokke.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1921 : It scheweth in the glas Thing which therinne nevere was.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)300b/a : He þat wil bere away the [tigress'] whelpes leueþ in þe way grete merours and þe moder..fyndeþ þe merour in þe way and lokeþ on hem and seeþ hire owne schadewe..þer Inne and weneþ þat sche seeþ hir children þer Inne and is longe occupied..to delyuere hire children out of þe glas.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4103 : Maidens loken in þe glas Forto atyffen her faas.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.170 : To seen eche thing trewly as it was, More bryȝt and clere þan in any glas.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3844 : A Tigre..is ful oft disceyued with merours By fraud of huntys and fals apparence Shewyd in glas with-outen existence.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)690 : Now is pouert þe glas and þe merour In whiche I se my god.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1289 : These walles of berile..shoone ful lyghter than a glas And made wel more than hit was To semen every thing.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)61/22 : Her may þei loke as in a glasse.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)5991 : Tak hed also off A merour, Or ellys off a lytel glas..Wher thow mayst ek thy face se.
- a1500 Clerk & H.(Add 38666)28 : Hyt ys nat all tru þat perythe in glasse!
d
- (1439) EEWills117/15 : I woll the tabelet with the Image of oure lady with a glasse to-fore hit be offred to our lady of Walsyngham.
3.
Powdered or calcined glass used in alchemical or medicinal preparations; brent ~, poudre of ~.
Associated quotations
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1149 : This chanoun in to the crosselet caste A poudre..Ymaad outher of chalk outher of glas, Or som what elles was nat worth a flye.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)207b/a : Glas..pouder þer of clenseþ þe teeþ and doþ awey webbes of yen and helpeþ greteliche aȝein þe stoon of þe bladdre and of þe reynes if it is ydronke wiþ wyne.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)44b/a : Of sulphre and of glasse.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)157a/a : A noble medecyne to breke þe stone..of pastenepe, of brynt glas.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)80/32 : Do þe plaster & þe poudir of white glas & hony & anoynte it with al.
4.
A crystalline substance resembling glass; alum (de) ~, ~ alum, potash alum; ?also, alunite.
Associated quotations
- a1300 in Singer Cat.Alchem.1.133 : Accipe..libram unam alluminis glasse.
- (a1381) LRed Bk.Bristol2.6 : Qe nul alym soit vsee nule part en la ville en overaigne forsqe Spyralym, Glasalym, et Bokkan.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.813 : Cley maad with hors or mannes heer, and oyle Of tartre, alum glas, berm, wort, argoyle.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)81 : Alum plume..haþe þe same vertuez as alum glasse.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1124 : This roche was..lyk alum de glas, But that hyt shoon ful more clere.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)11 : Alum glas: Alumen.
5.
Combs.: (a) ~ fat [OE glæsfæt], a glass vessel; ~ hous, the building or works where glass is made; ~ window, a window of glass, windowpane; (b) ~ man, a dealer in glassware; ~ werker, ~ wright, one who makes or works with glass; also as surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)11/17 : Nim hit þanne and do in an glæsfat.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)11/27 : W[r]yng þanne þur linne clæþ and do hyt on glæsfæt [L in dolio vitreo].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17724 : He nom his glæs-fæt [Otho: vrinal] anan; & þe king mæh þer on.
- 1385 *Grant by R.Suzonne, Bailiff of Atheringlow [OD col.] : Feare en le boys auauntdit vn Glashous et le despendre come office de Glasiere apent.
- (1391-2) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.81107 : In sal. Will. Sklater cooperientis quandam domum vocatam le Glasehows, pro opere dicti Johannis Glasier.
- (1399-1400) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.81129 : Et in clavi empto pro ostio domus quæ vocatur Glashows.
- (1422) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8516 : Thay awarde and deme that..the trelys wyndowe at the somer hall, the glasse wyndows..and the falle wyndow to ye streteward abyde still wyth the place, als byggyngs and purtenance of the same place.
- (1447-8) Shillingford101 : The walles of the saide Cloistre have be defowled and the glas wyndowes all to brost.
- (1455) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 9118 : For mendyng ye glasse wyndowes iij s. viii d.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)89.33 (v.2:p.108) : A beem of the sunne came in at an hole of a glasse wyndowe.
- (1460-65) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31395 : Payd to Petyr Glacyer for makyng Clene and mendyng of Glas wyndowys & for glas; Item, payd..for the Tymbyr on the glaswyndowse.
- c1475 Symon Lesson (Bod 832)44 : Chyld..cast no stonys at no glas wyndowys.
b
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 21118 : Johannes le Glasewrith'.
- (1310) Pat.R.Edw.II297 : John le Glaswrighte.
- (1311) Court R.Colchester 131 : Ralph fil. Mariota la Glaswrithe.
- (1313) Sub.R.Glo.(1) in BGAS 19233 : Johannes le Glasswrouȝte.
- (1313) Sub.R.Glo.(1) in BGAS 19236 : Radulfus le Glasworchere.
- (1313) Sub.R.Glo.(1) in BGAS 19245 : Radulphus le Glasworth.
- (1319) in Fransson Surn.186 : Steph. Glaswrighte.
- (1319) Pat.R.Edw.II464 : Thomas Glasmon.
- (1332) in Fransson Surn.186 : Sim. le Glasemon.
- (1342) in Fransson Surn.186 : Rich. le Glasemon.
- (1355) R.Arms Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.14297 : Adam Glaswrighte cum gladio baculo & cutell'.
- a1385(c1275) Cust.Chichester in Sus.RS 3187 : John le Glaswerghe.
- (1419) Fabric R.Yk.Min.in Sur.Soc.3537 : In iij pais' albi vitri emptis de Johanne Glasman de Ruglay.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)198 : Glasse wryte [vrr: glaswrygh, glas-wryȝthe]: Vitrarius.
- (1457) Acc.All Sts.Tilney22 : Item uni Glaswryte emendand fenestras ecclesie et pro vitreo et sowder.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Sln.122 Artist.Recipes (Sln 122) 116/12 : Honge the vyole ouer þe fyer..þe mountaunce of 2 howres, tyl þu se no breeth come oute of þe glasse.
Note: Need date for 2.(a).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. glass.