Middle English Dictionary Entry
gnat n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gnat n. Also gnatte, gnait, gnet, gneat & knat(te. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. WS gnæt, Merc. *gnet, gneat. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Any of various small, flying insects; esp. the European gnat (Culex pipiens); (b) as a symbol of something small or inconsequential; clensen (sen) the ~ and swolwen the flie (camel), to strain at a gnat and swallow a fly (camel); (c) ~ net, a net to keep out gnats; (d) as surname; (e) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.204].
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2988 : Aaron..smot wið ðat gerde..And gnattes hird ðor ðicke up-wond, smale to sen, and sarp on bite.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)773 : Ne mouches ne wibes [glossed:] fleiez..gnaites.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9162 : Gauelokes also þicke flowe So gnattes, ichil avowe.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)818 : Puce wybet et muche; Fle gnatte and flie.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)104.29 : Houndefleȝes and gnattes [L scinifes] comeþ in alle her londes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.8.16 : Þer ben styngynge gnattis in all the londe of Egipte.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.159 : Þe snowtes of olyfauntes and his hors eren were so ful of gnattes [L culicibus] and stoutes and of greet flyes þat þey þrew adoun al þat was uppon hem.
- c1390 I wolde witen (Vrn)39 : Of Erþe & Eyr groweþ vp a gnat, And so doþ Mon whon al his souht.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)147a/a : The gnatte is a litil fflye, and hatte culex..he soukeþ blood and haþ in his mouþ a pipe, as hit were a pricke..And is a-countid a-mong volatiles..and greueþ slepinge men wiþ noyse & wiþ bytinge and wakeþ hem of here reste.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)4/19 : Þe gnatte foloweþ þe flesche, þat is to saye, Many maken mychel strengþe þere leste is seint.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.595 : Rather be in blame a lite ifounde Than sterve here as a gnat [vr. knatte] withouten wounde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)278 : Knatte: Culex.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.905 : Eek brymstoon and galbane out chasith gnattis.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1825 : Ȝef any flye, gnat, or coppe Doun in-to þe chalys droppe..Take vp the fulþe wyþ þyn honde.
- (1471) Paston (Gairdner)5.108 : I wold fayne my gray horse wer kept in mewe for gnattys.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)707/5 : Hic culex: a gnaytt.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)767/25 : Hic culex: a knat.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)3b : Moni siheð þe gneat [Nero: gnet] ant swolheð þe flehe, þet is, makeð muche strengðe þer as is þe leaste.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.23.24 : Blynde leders, clensynge a gnatte [L culicem], but swolowynge a camel.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mcp.(Manly-Rickert)H.255 : Blered is thyn eye With oon of litel reputacioun Nat worth to thee as in comparisoun The montaunce of a gnat [vrr. gnate, gnatte].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.347 : I wol nat werke as muchel as a gnat.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.76 : Þus freris, as Pharisees, clensen þe gnatte and swolewen þe camel.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)45 : Blind foolis, clensing forþ þe knatt, but swelowyng þe camely.
c
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)11b/b : Canopeum: a gnat net.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)56a : A Gnat nett: Canopeum, zintalicium.
d
- (1199) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.10177 : Nicholaus Gnet.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2505 : Margareta Gnatte.
- (1319) Feet Fines Kent in Archaeol.Cant.14262 : Roger le Gnat.
- (1327) Sub.R.Wor.in Wor.HS (1895)32 : Ricardus Gnat.
- (1333) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)429 : [Surname] Gnatte [in Wiltshire].
e
- (1101-19) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)429 : Gnatinctone. Gnatingtona.
- (1188) in Ekwall Dict.EPN269 : Gnatteshale.
- (1240) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)197 : Gnatteshulle. Gnatesburghe.
- (1301) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)197 : Gnattham.
- (1330) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)429 : Gnattesdon.