Middle English Dictionary Entry
grei n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | grei n.(1) Also (in place names only) gre-. |
| Etymology | OE grǣg, grēg adj., occurring in OE as noun meaning badger; cp. grǣgsole burnan in Ekwall Dict.EPN 194. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A badger; ?also, a beaver; cete (saut, sighte) of greies, a bevy of badgers; (b) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.207].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)38 : The grey is a comon beest inowe..a grey ne fleeþ not but a litel way þat he ne is ouercome with houndes anoon.
- c1425 Twiti Venery(1) Prol.(Vsp B.12)150 : And iij othur bestis ben of gret disport..The grey is one þerof with hyse slepy pace.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)209 : Grey, beest: Taxus, melota.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603 : A cete of greys.
- c1450 *Dogs in MS.Arms 58 (ArmsAr 58)f.1 : Terrowrs vnder the growne sesen the ffoxe and the grey.
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)232 : A sawte of greyes & a farewyng.
- a1475 in Hodgkin Proper Terms53 : A Cete of grayis.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6/205 : Beverlay..is at the este from Yorke..as the place or lake of bevers or of grayes [Trev.: brokkes; L castorum], namede soe by those bestes.
- c1475 in Hodgkin Proper Terms52 : A Syght of Grayys.
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(4) (Dgb 196)232 : A sawte of grayes.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.156 : There sawe I..The fery tiger..The herknere bore, the holsum grey for hortis.
b
- (1198) in Ekwall Dict.EPN194 : Greshull.
- (1200) Fine R.King John47 : Simon Wistelgray.
- (c1240) *in Pilkington Surn.59 : John Chacegrei.
- (c1273) Hundred R.Tower 2615b : Johannes Copegray.
- (1312) in Ekwall Dict.EPN195 : Greysty.
- (1395) in Ekwall Dict.EPN195 : Graysty.