Middle English Dictionary Entry
grẹ̄-bicche n.
Entry Info
| Forms | grẹ̄-bicche n. Also grai-, grei-. Pl. -bicches, -bicchen. |
| Etymology | Modeled on grẹ̄-hǒund. Also cp. OI grey-baka bitch. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The female greyhound.
Associated quotations
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)1665 : A grai bichche þi louer ginnez louie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)277b/b : And some grebicches goþ with whelpis..þre score dayes & þrittene.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)278a/a : Also in bicches mylk is founde many dayes tofore þe whelpynge and sonnere in greybycches þan in oþere.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5385 : After that wonder, Comen tigres many hundre, Graye bicchen als it waren.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)890 : Hym thouȝt þat his brebyche lay hym besyde.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1431) *Acc.R.Abbotsbury : Un' canem vocat' gribiche.
Note: New spelling