Middle English Dictionary Entry
haft n.
Entry Info
| Forms | haft n. Also hafte, haufte & heft(e, hefþe, helft, (error) heste. |
| Etymology | OE (WS hæft, Merc. *heft) & ON (cp. OI hepti). Form helft is a blend of haft & helve. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The handle of a weapon, tool, surgical instrument, etc.; hilt of a sword, knife, dagger, etc.; helve of an ax; the upper part of the breastbone (manubrium sterni); also, staff of a flag [quot.: 1416-9]; (b) haven other haft(es in hand, to have other business to attend to; los in the ~, unstable, unreliable; ~ gret, large as a handle, of a size conveniently grasped with the hand [cp.Palladius 4.429]; ballok ~, q.v.
Associated quotations
a
- a1333 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Add 46919)625 : Haft [vr. heste [read: hefte]; glossing AF (Cmb) maunche].
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)791 : Tak al-so my swerd ploraunce..þe hefþe of hym doþ greuaunce to my wounde wyde.
- (1387-8) Rec.Norwich 249 : [For a spar..and the] helft [of a mattock].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.926 : Yit ne fond I noght the haft Which mihte unto that bladd acorde.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)251/16 : Þou schalt haue an instrument..schape in the maner of a nedle, and it schal sitte in a greet hafte þat þou mai þe bettir hold it wiþ þin hand.
- (1416-9) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 7814 : Roberto Flecher pro factura hafte ad portandum vexillum.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.19.5 : The axe fleeth the hoond, and the yren slipt of fro the haft [WB(2): helue; L manubrio].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)40a/a : Manubrium: an haft.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)133a/a : Þe instrument with which is put away Þe catharact is seid..of latine acus, i. a nedile..And þe hefte oweþ to þe liȝt or smoþe & apte to hold.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)171 : Tho v toward whom the hafte of the knyff lyth shuldyn ben putt of with oute ony ooth doyng.
- (1447) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 11118 : A Knyffe with two hafftes to cut holy brede.
- a1450 Lestenit lordynges I you beseke (Sln 2593)p.279 : My baselard haght a wrethin hafte.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)985/26 : And the scalis of the hauffte were of two rybbis of two dyverse bestis.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1239/6 : He behylde that noble swerde, and the pomell and the hauffte was all precious stonys.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)29b/b : Þe secunde boon..is mad in þe maner of a forke, þe foot or þe hafte of which boon entriþ & is sett in a box..in myddis of þe vpmeste ende of þe brest boon, þe which is callid Thorax, & þanne þe braunchis of þis ilke canel boon aforseid strecchiþ forþ to boþe þe schuldris.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)62a : A heffte: manubrium, manutentum.
b
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)362 : Unnethe is nu eny man that can eny craft, That he nis a party los in the haft.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.311 : To sette [pomegranates] is best a bough a cubit longe, Clenliche ycutte vche eende, an hafte grette [L manubrii crassitudine].
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)158/76 : Sone, hense away! I wolde þou wente, For othir haftis in hande haue we.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.558 : Thow shalt fynde hem full loois in the hafte.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.435 : Thow shalt fynde the fende full loose in the hafte If he may haue the vndre his dominacioun.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)187/52 : Son, hens away I wold thou went, ffor othere haft in hand haue we.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. haft.