Middle English Dictionary Entry
god-sib(be n.
Entry Info
| Forms | god-sib(be n. Also godesibbe, godzib(be; godsip, godsep; gossib(be, gosseb; gossip(pe, gossep(pe, gossheppe, gossop; gosip, goseppe, gosop; cossip. |
| Etymology | OE |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One's sponsor at baptism or confirmation, a godparent; (b) the godparent of one's child; the parent of one's godchild; ?also, one's co-sponsor at baptism or confirmation; (c) a child of one's godparent; a godchild of one's parent.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)48/34-5 : Þe zeuende is..of godsone to þe children of his godzyb oþer of his godzybbe [F as enfanz son partein ou sa marraine].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.529 : He..hadde laft scole and wente at hom to bord With my gossyb dwellyng in oure toun; God haue hir soule! hir name was Alisoun.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)204 : Gossyp, mann: Compater.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)162/6 : Þe vij fote depthe of þis wose is betwen a man & his gossybe or betwen godfadyr & goddouȝter or be[twen] þe chyldryn of godfadyr & godmodyr.
- c1460 Chaucer CT.Pars.(SeldArch B.14)I.909 : Gossebe [Heng: Riht so is god-fadir his spirituall fader].
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)196 : Gossyp, woman: Commater.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)134/559 : Bot who was his gossyppys so sone rede?
- a1500 Becket (RwlPoet 225)134 : He bad Richard to leden hir forth & to his godsyp hir brouȝt.
b
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)116 : Hit wes his neiȝebore, And his gossip, of children bore.
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)42 : Pray him þat he come to me, & say he schal mi gossibbe be.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)67/1904 : And in þat cas þou myȝt weddy To þyne wyfes gossibbe.
- c1400 *Trev.Higd.(Tbr D.7)32b : Hy bycomeþ hys godsybbes þat a wolleþ falslych bytraye.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)73/11 : Þat þei be nouȝt gossippes [vrr. godsybbes, gossibbes] to men noþer to wymmen leste sclaundre arise.
- (1475) Paston (Gairdner)5.243 : He was fayn to sue to the said Duc..by the meanes of his godsip, the Bisshop of Wynchestre.
- (?1475) Stonor1.156 : I shulde be sende fore to be your gossheppe.
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)74 : Nor they [friars] may not be god fadres or gossips of men or wymen, lest..slaundre shold ryse.
c
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.908,909 : Parentele is in two maneres..goostly, as for to delen with hise godsibbes [vrr. gossebes, gosseppis, gossipes]..a womman may in no lasse synne assemblen with hire godsib [vrr. gosseb, gossep, gossib, gossipe] than with hire owene flesshly brother.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.1758 : Thy godfadirs wyff thow shalt not take; Neither a woman hir godmodir housband; Neither thy gossep to haue to thy make.
2.
(a) A close friend, companion, pal; patron, benefactor; (b) as item of direct address.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 Trin-C.Prov.(Trin-C O.2.45)8 : Nim hund to godsep and anne staf in þire hond; Quisquis fungetur cane compatre, uirga paretur.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.243 : And if I haue a gossib [vrr. gode sybbe, godsibbe, gossipe] or a freend..ye chiden as a feend If that I walke or pleye vnto his hous.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.47 : And what ich gaf for godes loue, to god-sybbes [vrr. gossibbes, gossipes] ich tolde.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)83/5,17 : ij frendis at wer gossops satt togedur..þe sauce light vppon bathe thies gosseps.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)79/24 : The wiff..tolde the bauude, her godsib, al how it happed.
- (1481-82) Let.Cely (PRO S.C.1 53/100)p.132 (145/13) : I beseche you to be my gode frende ande gossep now in this matter and in all oder, ande I schall owe you my sarves my liffe devreng.
- a1500 I shall you tell a full (BodPoet e.1)p.91 : I wyll yow tell..How gossyps gather them on a sort.
b
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)209,220 : 'Gossip,' quod þe wolf, 'forȝef hit me..Gode gossip, ne be þou nohut wroþ.'
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.152 : 'I haue good ale, gossib [vrr. Cossip, goseppe, gosop, gosseb; C: godsyb; vr. gode gossip],' quaþ heo.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)83/9 : Gossop, þou hase broken þis cokk.
- (1479) Let.Cely (PRO S.C.1 59/13)p.67 (76/2) : Reuerent ande worschepfful syr ande my speceall ffrende ande gossep, I recomaunde me wnto yow.
- a1500 Go ye before (Tit A.26)p.283 : And I shall go home and com agayne, To witte what dothe owre syre, Gode gosyp.
- a1500 I shall you tell a full (BodPoet e.1)p.91 : How, gossip myn, gossipe myn, When wyll ye go to the wyn.
3.
As surname.
Associated quotations
- (1265) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.248 : John Godsib.
- (1287) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.513 : Angnes Gossibe.
- (1302) Feudal Aids 3398 : Walterus Godsib.
- (1320) Plea R.Edw.II in WSAS 1032 : John Gossip.
- (1357) Reg.Edw.Blk.Pr.pt.4.p.211 : Jordan Gossib.