Middle English Dictionary Entry
grōt n.(3)
Entry Info
| Forms | grōt n.(3) Pl. grōtes, grottes, grōtz. |
| Etymology | MDu. groot |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An English silver coin equivalent to four pennies; half ~, q.v.; ~ of coper, a copper groat, counterfeit coin; (b) not (nought) worth a ~, not worth much; the valeu of a ~, a groat's worth; holden (leien) a ~, to wager a groat; setten a ~ at, to have any concern or scruple about (sth.); leden ~, a lead groat, something worthless; (c) ~ silver, an allowance of a groat; ernest ~ [see ernes n.].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.259 : Þe groot turoney is somwhat lasse worþy þan an Englische groote.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.376 : He shal haue multiplyyng of his grayn Whan he hath sowen, be it whete or otes, So that he offre pens or ellis grotes.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1964 : A, yif that couent foure and twenty grotes.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)4.113 : Alle rome renneris..Bere no siluer ouer see..Neiþer grotis ne gold ygraue wiþ kynges coyn [vr. Coroune].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.507 : Þat Rode þei honoure, Þat in grotes is ygraue and in golde nobles.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)112/22 : Þe fende wiþ hise cautels haþ ȝouun leue to xii men for twelue grootis to passe forþe on a quest.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.151/341 : Item, j grote of Coper, receyued at þat tyme, þat was of no valwe, iiij d.
- (1423) RParl.4.258a : That the Maister of the Mynte do smyte..half Nobles, Ferthynges of Goold, Grotes, half Grotes, Pens, [etc.].
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)12 : In the yere off oure Lorde Ml.ccc lj, Kyng Edward made newe money, that ys to say grotis and half grotis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)214 : Grote of mony: Grossus.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)299 : A man may not make comparisoun bitwixe þe worþines of a noble and þe worþines of a grote..but if he knowe first and bifore þe worþ of þe noble in it silf.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)134 : Þe comune talketh [H]ough grotz been y-gadrid and no grief amendid.
- (1465) Acc.Howard in RC 57492 : My master..payd hym therfor of old grotes, 1 s. And in new grotez, ij s. vj d.
- (1465) Procl.Edw.IV in Archaeol.12405 : iij grotes shall make a shillyng.
- (1469) Indent.Edw.IV in Archaeol.15168 : On pece of hem rennyng for iiii d. of sterlyngs, which shalbe called a grote, and there shalbe cxii such pecs and a half in the lb. weght of the Toure, and another for ii d. which shalbe called the half groote.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)58a : A Grott of syluer: hic octussis.
- a1500 PFulham (Jas 43)243 : Ne noblys nor grottes ne no coigne yclyppyd.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4148 : I dar wel leye a grote That ye shul haue a feuere terciane.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.34 : Wolde neuere king, ne kniȝt..Ȝiue hem to here ȝerisȝiue þe value of a grote.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.31 : He warned watt his wyf was to blame, Þat hire hed was worth halue a marke, his hode nouȝte worth a grote.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.586 : Though al this town cride on this thyng by note, I nolde sette at al that noys a grote!
- c1450 Dice(1) (Frf 16)119 : Now who that had al youre kunnynge be rote, He had boght hyt to dere a ledyn grote.
- (1469) Paston (Gairdner)5.33 : I told hym that I was not woorthe a groote withowt yow, and therfor I wold mak no promes to nobody tyll they had your good wyll fyrst.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)88/199 : It xal not be, I ley a grote.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)176/328 : I hold here a grote she lykys me not weyll.
c
- (1394-5) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99214 : Item hominibus de domo Dei pro eorum grotsilver, 6 s. 8 d.
- (1428-9) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99229 : Pro eorem grotsilver erga Natale Domini.
- c1460(?c1435) Lydg.Let.Glo.(Hrl 2255)35 : An ernest grote, whan it is dronke and goon, Bargeyn of marchauntys stant in aventure.
- (1440-1) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99234 : Et quindecim fratribus et sororibus de Domo Dei pro eorum grottsilvere, 6 s. 8 d.
2.
Any of several small European silver coins.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.259 : At Brisak uppon Ryne I have i-fonge in chaunge enlevene grotes furoneys for a duket, þat is worþy half an Englisshe noble.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)95/6 : And þis creatur went sumtym to hir for cawse of mekenes & preyd hir of mete & drynke, & þe mayden ȝaf hir wyth good wyl, & sumtyme a grote þerto.
- c1470(?1458) Wey Money (Bod 565)2 : For a doket, [of Florence] x papal grotis.
- c1470(?1458) Wey Money (Bod 565)3 : At Venyse be grotys, grossetys, galy halpens, whyche be clepyd ther soldes and bagantynes. For a doket of Venyse xv grotys..For a doket of Rome or of Florense a grote lasse; for a grot viij soldis..In Cipresse ye schal haue grotis of syluer and half grotis..A grot of Cypres ys worth xxxviij denars..A grot of Venyse ys worth ther xvj denars.
3.
One-eighth of an ounce [cp. gros n. (2)].
Associated quotations
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)152a/a : [Scruple 1], þe whiche is þe þridde part of a grote [*Ch.(1): grosse; L grossi].