Middle English Dictionary Entry
grei n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | grei n.(2) Also grai, græi & gra, gro, groi. |
| Etymology | OE (cp. grǣg, grēg adj.) & ON (cp. OI grār & LOE grā-scinnen). For ~ werk, cp. MLG grā-werk. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A gray fur, prob. the fur from the back of the Eurasian red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris in winter; red (ruskin) ~, the fur of the Eurasian red squirrel in winter; tristi (tresti) ~, ?error for cristi ~, q.v.; ~ cristi [= cristi ~]; combs., connoting expensive clothing: fou and ~, mixed and pure gray fur [cp. OF vair et gris]; gris and ~; ~ and grene, grene and ~; (b) in cpds.: ~ werk, ~ ware, gray furs; goods made from gray fur, prob. squirrel skins.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)365 : Ne sal þar ben foh ne grai [Eg(2): græi] ne cunin ne ermine.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)179 : Þe riche..habbeð..hors and wepnes and fogh and grei.
- a1250 HMaid.(Tit D.18)39/648 : Ase wel vnder grei as under Grene & gra, ha [pride] luteð i þe heorte.
- a1275 Doomsday (Trin-C B.14.39)14 : Monie of þe riche men þat werden fou & gray..Ha sculen atte dome singen weilawey.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)28 : Nis non so riche, ne non so freo, þat he ne schal heonne sone away. Ne may hit neuer his waraunt beo, gold, ne seoluer, vouh ne gray.
- ?a1300 Maximian (Dgb 86)110 : Þo ich wes ȝoung and wis, And werede grei and gris, Ich heuede frendes þo.
- ?c1335 Earth(1) (Hrl 913)3/51 : Þat weriþ grouer and groy and schrud so schene, Whan erþ makiþ is liuerei, he grauiþ vs in grene.
- a1350 Ichot a burde in a (Hrl 2253)16 : Glad vnder gore in gro ant in grys.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4174 : Gij him schred in fou & gray.
- (1378) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103586 : In 1 amows de Gray et Menevayr empt. pro d'no Priore.
- c1390 St.Greg.(Vrn)184/1402 : Monie was glad of þat come Þat werede boþe fouh and gray.
- (1393) Will York in Sur.Soc.4188 : Unam armilansam rubeam de scarleto, fururatum de gray.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) John Bapt.(Phys-E)p.42 : Forthi asked crist quer thai yed To se sain Ion In wlanke wede, Als qua sai, es he nan of tha That er cled in gren and gra..'In kinges houses,' he said, 'won thai That er cled in gren and grai.'
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25459 : Nan sa wild in wa to wrak, To riue þe grene and gra [rime: ma, fra].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.215 : For I haue seyn hym in sylke and somme tyme in russet, Bothe in grey and in grys, and in gulte herneys.
- (1415) Will in Bdf.HRS 224 : It'm i pane paled wt menuer and red gray.
- (1416) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.49 : [One man's gown of scarlet furred with] grey cristey.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)896 : A velwet mantill gay Pelured wiþ gris and gray Sche caste aboute her swire.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)2272 : Sythen aftir gan þay ta A riche bathe for to ma, And made þe lady in to ga In graye and in grene.
- (1445) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.80 : [One blue gown trimmed with] rede grey.
- (1446) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.88 : [One crimson-coloured woman's gown furred with] grey.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)5.384 : Your quene, floure of womanhede, Of no devyse enbroyded hath her wede, Ne furrede withe Ermyne ne with tresty [Adv: trysty] graye.
- (a1451) Will York in Sur.Soc.4598 : ij parvae peciae de gray, vocatae ruskyn gray.
- (1464) RParl.5.505a : And also..stablish that noo man but such as have possessions to the yerely value of xl li..use or were..eny Furres of Martirons..pured Grey, Menyver.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)237 : Hare manteles were of grene felwet..Ipelured with grys and gro [rime: mo].
b
- (1349) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.21 : [A tun full of fells called] Greywerk.
- (1365) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.330 : [Persons bringing furs of] greywerk [from Flanders].
- (1365) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.34 : [Simon de Lincoln,] pelter, [was committed to Newgate for bribing John de Rothewell, tawyer, to hand over to him divers pieces of] greywerk [left with the said John for the purpose of tawing].
- (1379) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.21 : [One great tun of skins of] eremyns [and] graywerk.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester7 : A Tymber Grey Werk, j quart.
- (1408) LRed Bk.Bristol97 : Furrures de Pellure, Menevere, Greyware et Wyldeware.
- a1500(a1451) Commodities Eng.(LdMisc 593)553 : What merchandyse and rychese come thydyr..owt of the Northe est Contrey..whiche lond spekyn all maner Duche tonge..23 Grey werke, 24 Rede werke, and all maner of 25 Peltry.