Middle English Dictionary Entry
gō̆ter n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | gō̆ter n.(1) Also gotour, gotter, goder, godard & guter, gutter, gutur, guttour, gutture. |
| Etymology | OF gotier(e, gutere & ML gutter(i)a. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Any device for leading water down from a roof; an eaves trough; a channel where two slanting roofs (or parts of a roof) meet; a rain pipe; a gutter; (b) ?a ready-made gutter, ?material used in making gutters.
Associated quotations
a
- (1333) *Acc.de Weston (PRO)Bundle 469 No.15 m.8 : Roberto de Thorneye pro D. de rofnail..pro ii li. stangni empt' pro dictis guttur.
- (1354) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.8192 : In mercede j hominis mundantis guteres circa ecclesiam.
- (1371) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99131 : Pro factura unius guter super ostium Aule, 10 d.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)203b/a : A stoon..is..þurled wiþ dropes..of water þat falleþ doun of spoutes and of goteres.
- (1420) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8515 : That..the assignes of William Pountfreyt make the gutter of lede fra the newe house of William of Alne..endelang downe un to a newe house of William of Alne..and that William of Alne..sall fynde the brygges, the scaches, nayles, and all the tymbre that sall ga un to the gutter; and the..assignes of William Pountfreyt sall pay for the werkemanshippe of the gutter makyng.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.156/487-93 : These been percelles of an goter aboven þe kechon of þe Tenauntrie now Cleped þe Almasse hous. First, for ij quarters to þe tramsons yn þe seide Goter, viij d. Item, for j longe borde to þe bottom of þe same goter, x d..of newe lede, þe c viij s., for þe same goter.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)2 Kings 5.8 : He purposide..mede to hym that..touchide the goters of the hows eues [WB(2): goteris of roouys; L domatum fistulas].
- (1426-7) Rec.St.Mary at Hill66 : Also payd for a goter betwene þe chirche & þe chambre weyeng a c & xxvj lb, x s. vj d..Also for a planke to þe goter aboue seyd, xvj d.
- (1431) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)206/17 : Payed To þe plommer For schetyng off all þis lede and leyeing þer off dyvers Gotters.
- (a1440) Let.Coventry in EHR 55645 : Because the Goter is not made, the tymbur of his hous is roten be the rayn that falleth theron.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)101a : Þe reyn water þat fallith of rofes of houses & of goteres.
- (1465-66) Acc.Howard in RC 57324 : Item, to the plomer for a gotter.
- (a1467) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.lxxviii : Gutters and condytez of ledde, as well upon the howsez as under the erthe, they brake and ber away.
- (1474-5) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum19 : In the reparacion of the hongynge guttors of led a boughte the Churche.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)402/22 : He and his heires sholde resceive the water vpon the grounde fro the goter of the forsaid seld.
b
- (1455) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1284 : Al maner of tymbyr that cum from Wykelowe..and sclatys, bordes, gottorys shall ly upon the key be the spase of xx dayes..no man withyn that spase..schall nott by to retayll no maner of sclatys, spyrys, gutteris, ne no maner of tymbyr.
2.
(a) A channel or ditch for carrying off surface water and/or waste; a sewer; a drain under a building; a drain in or beside a street or lane, gutter; also, a place where water and waste collect; (b) a channel or conduit for conveying fresh water, an aquaduct; fig. a blood vessel.
Associated quotations
a
- (1280) Cart.Oseney in OHS 89415 : Quedam gutter..que..ducet aquam usque ad stratam regiam.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)34b/b : Þis blood is bred in wymmennes bodyes of superfluite of moisture and feblenes of hete and, for it schulde not greue kinde, it is I-gedred in to þe modir as filþe in to a goter [L in sentina].
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)70 : A kenel shuld have a gootere or ii, wherby al þe pisse of þe houndes and alle of [?read: oþer] waters may renne out.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.752 : It made a ful purgacioun Of al ordure & fylþes in þe toun, Waschyng þe stretys..And þe goteris in þe erþe lowe, Þat in þe cite was no filþe sene.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.175/1101 : Item, for amendement of j pece of yron to þe hede of þe goter þat renneth vnder þe halle.
- (1423) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.134/134 : In primis, the Erthen walle that was sumtyme henry Sadeler and a goter goynge vnder the same walle ben noyouse to all the comune peple.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)206 : Gotere:..guttatorium, guttera..Gotere, ad purgandum feces coquine.
- (1447-8) Shillingford89 : Yn the saide lane was a grete comyn guttour lyyng deepe underneth a long thurgh the lane..the saide guttour hath be broke..and the stonys therof..bore away so that the reyne water..may noo have his course.
- (1449-50) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99276 : Pro emendacione et le pavyng j gutter juxta capellam.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1607 : The water..went vnder houses, Gosshet through Godardys & other grete vautes And clensit by course all þe clene Cite.
- (1459-60) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.9988 : Pro posicione et emendacione unius Gutter lapidee in orto Abbathie et 2 fothre del flaggez empt. pro eadem, 4 s. 4 d.
- (1461) RParl.5.493a : Dyches, Gutters, Causees, and Brygges.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)58b : A Gutter:..Golluuio, Colluuies, Colluuium.
- (1485-86) Acc.Ashburton in D&CRS n.s.157 : [For mending] le locke [of] le vice dore [and for] reeding of ye gooterys, 7d.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)38 : 'How shall we haue this water a-wey?' Quod Merlyn: 'Lete make goteres in to the diches.'
- a1525(?1472) Cov.Leet Bk.382 : These persons folowyng be ordeyned..to determyn variances betwixt parties within þis Cite as touchyng metes & bondes & Gutters.
- a1525(?1475) Cov.Leet Bk.418 : That non of the seid inhabitant..swepe no filth out of the [s]tretes into the gutters of the seid stretes.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.181 : Also þe ryuer Danubius..is i-lete and i-ladde in to dyuerse places of þe cite by goteres [L canalibus; Higd.(2): condettes] vnder erþe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)156a/a : To renewe and refresshe pondes, fresshe watir is ladde..by goters [Tol: goderes] conduytz, and pipes.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)6a/a : Aquagium: a goter.
- (?a1450) Lond.Charterhouse in Archaeol.58300 : Þe v spring..rennyþ in a goter of ston fro þe souþ in to þe norþ..& fro þens it retornyþ..in to þe principal goter þat comiþ fro þe first spring to þe hous.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8791 : The lycour belyue launchit doun evyn, Thurgh the goters of his gorge & the grete pype To the brest.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)564/48 : Aquagium, anglice, a gutur or a condyt.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)58b : A Gutter:..Aquagium..Aquaductile, Aqueductus.
3.
(a) A watercourse, river, stream, torrent, flood; a waterfall; (b) a rain, a shower; (c) a floodgate; --used fig.; (d) ?a pool made by diverting water from a stream; (e) a place for watering cattle, sheep, etc.; a trough; also, a pan or pot.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.41.9 : The depnesse depnesse inwardli clepeth in the vois of thi gooteris [L cataractarum].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Hab.3.10 : The guter [WB(2): goter; L gurges] of waters passide.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.3.2 : Al weere it so that a riche coveytous man hadde a ryver or a goter [L gurgite] fletynge al of gold, yit sholde it nevere staunchen his covetise.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)206 : Gotere:..aquagium. Gotere vndyr þe grownde: Cataduppa, Cataracta.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)560 : Baches woxen ablode..as goteres þey runne.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)58b : A Gutter: Cattaracta..catadupta.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)41.9 : Depnes incalles depnes in voice of thi gutters [L cataractarum].
b
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)64.11 : Fylland hys ryuers, multiplie þou his buryon; he shal delyten in hys guters [L stillicidiis] ekand.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)136b/b : The Reynebowe is Impressioun I-gendred in an holowe cloude and dewy, disposid to rayne in endeles many goteris.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)64.11 : In his goters night and dai Faine sal he sproutand ai.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.71.6 : He schal come doun as reyn in to a flees and as goteris [WB(1): drope; L stillicidia] droppinge on the erthe.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)62b/a : Stillicidium: a gutter or a droppe.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.24.18 : The gooteres fro heȝe thyngus ben opened [L cataractæ de excelsis apertæ sunt].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.7.11 : Þe guters [WB(2): wyndowis; L cataractæ] of heuen ben y-opnyd, & reyn is made vpon þe erþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.8.2 : Þe guters of heuen ben closid.
d
- c1460 Oseney Reg.31/1 : Þe lok or goter þat Hildewyn helde.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.64/5 : My goter or locke [L gurgitem] by themse, with þe course of water þe which rennyth to þe myllis of þe Same chanons.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.67/7 : My locke or goter þe which is i-callid Aldewere.
e
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.2.16 : Seuen douȝters..comen to drawe water, & þe water goters [WB(2): trouȝis; L canalibus] fyllid, þey coueytiden to water þe flocke of here fader.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)33b/b : Imbricium: a gutere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)206 : Gotere: Aquarium, imbricium.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.938 : Or rosmaryn in meth dococt congele And yef hit hem [bees] in gutters [L imbrice; glossed: imbricibus], hem to hele.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)101a : Gete þe..the salt water of þe see & sette hit in gutters or oþer opoun vesseles in þe sonne, and þe hete of sonne schal harde þe water in to salt.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)565/1 : Aquarium, anglice, a gutur.
4.
A window leading into a gutter of a roof [cp. ~ windoue].
Associated quotations
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.787 : This Troilus..Is thorugh a goter, by a pryve wente, Into my chaumbre come in al this reyn.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2705 : He shal awake, and ryse, and gon his way, Out at this goter, or that it be day.
5.
(a) Hunt. A groove in the horns of a hart or the tusks of a boar; (b) anat. 'a tubular bodily channel or cavity' [Norri].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)80 : Al alonge þe bemes [of the antlers of a deer] þer ben smale vales þat men clepyn goters.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)82 : Whan þe tusshes of a boor ben..of ii fyngres or more, and þere byn smale goters along boþ aboue and bynethe.
b
- a1425 *Chauliac(4) in Norri Dict.Med.(Jes-C Q.G.23)53ra (p.486) : His [womb's] fourme is round..on þe forme partie hauyng forsoþe a large pipe or a wide goter [L canalem amplum].
6.
(a) In cpds.: ~ hed, ?the upper end of a gutter; ~ ston (tile), stone (tile) for building a gutter; ~ windoue, a window opening on a gutter; hous ~, rain dropping from the eaves; (b) in surnames [cp. 2 & 3].
Associated quotations
a
- (1399) Acc.R.Lane in Archaeol.58351 : Hepetiell..gotertiell..ryggetiell.
- (1427-8) Rec.St.Mary at Hill68 : For beyenge of a gate of stone..xxxv s..Also for a goter ston for þe same gate, xiiij d.
- (1433) Doc.Merchant York in Sur.Soc.12940 : For mending of a goter hede, iiij d.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Vit.(1) (Vit A.16)267 : A thef..come in by a gotour wyndowe.
- (1454) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)355 : In the Stoor Hovs..Item, ij gutter stoonis and j gret roope.
- (a1472) Acc.Bodmin in Camd.n.s.1425 : For stonys for the gras tabell and goter stonys.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)800/20 : Stellocidum, a howsegoter.
b
- (1269) Pat.R.Hen.III363 : Thomas de la Gutere.
- (1327) Sub.R.Stf.in WSAS 7237 : Adam atte Goter.
- (c1348) Rec.Oriel in OHS 85381 : Iohanna Atteguters.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1400-1) *Acc.R.Abbotsbury : [Repairs to] gutur subtus le Storehous.
Note: Additional quot., sense 2.(a). Spelling added to form section.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)156a/b : A swolowe..is a depe place in a ryuer, and hath þat name of gutture, 'a throte', as ysider seith.
Note: New sense
Note: DM suggests 'whirlpool'; could be 'a drain'. Spelling added to form section.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. gutter, in which, however, he places quots. (based on a spelling in -er) taken by MED under guttur n. Some confusion between the two words is likely.