Middle English Dictionary Entry
harlotrī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | harlotrī(e n. Also harlotrẹ̄, harloteri, harlatri(e, harletrie, arlotrie, herlotri(e, (?error) harlottie. |
| Etymology | From harlot n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Base, crude, or obscene behavior; popular entertainment [quot.: Jacob's W.]; evil conduct, sexual immorality; also, a sinful or lewd act.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.37 : Þis Comodus..ȝaf hym al to leccherie and harlottrie [L obscenitati].
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.561 : He was a iangler and a goliardeys, And that was moost of synne and harlotries.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.902 : Thise wommen that consenten to hire [priests'] harlotrie doon greet wrong to Crist and to holy chirche.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2262 : Whan that his wyf wolde doon hym vileynye, Thanne shal he knowen al hir harlotrye.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.353 : Lechoures louyen lauȝen an iapen, And of her harlotrye [vr. herlotrie] and horedome in her elde tellen.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)579 : Bot non nuyez hym..As harlottrye unhonest, heþyng of selven.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)5/12,13 : Abstene he hym fro harlotrie als wele in wordes as in dedes in euery place, for ȝif he vse hym to harlotery in priue places, som tyme in opene place ther may falle to hym vnworship of yuel vsage.
- ?c1430 Wycl.Tract AMaria (Corp-C 296)207 : Þus þe fend blyndiþ men to clepe þis cursed hauntynge of arlotrie & synne gret worschipe of god.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)28 : When he thynketh..in what harlotrees he is plongeden and what onclene maters he sesseth neuer to cast from hys flesch be all the condittes off hys body.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)7938 : Thurgh youre vnthrifti harlotrie Was the goode knight betraied I-wis.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5024 : Exiona..in seruage ye put, And fele of my ffryndes into fer londes In hordam & harlatry vnhyndly to lye.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)126/23 : Þe good mannes sone þat wasted his heritage and dispendid it in harlotries [Ayenb.: ribaudie; F ribaudies].
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)134/24 : Þe v inche is harlotrie, makyng iapys a-forn folk, in pleying at þe spore, at þe bene, at þe cat, in ledyng berys, & apys, or in swich oþer vnthryft.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.49 : Synne hated he hertely, harlotry [vr. harlatrye] and vys.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)77/31 : There is now a dayes that haue the gouernaunce are gladde that folke are of such harlottry.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)205/148 : Com forth, þou hore and stynkynge bych clowte! How longe hast þou such harlotry holde?
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)58/23 : For what is lecherie? What is dronkenhede? What is harlotrie? What is lesynge? What is periurye?
2.
Low, trifling, or ribald talk; foul jesting, scurrility, obscenity; also, a dirty story; don ~, speken ~, to engage in ribald talk.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Eph.5.4 : Ether filthe, or foly speche, or harlotrie [WB(2): harlatrye; L scurrilitas], that perteyneth not to thing.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.39 : Machometus..hated wyn dronkenes, ribaudye, and harlottie [vr. harlottrye; L spurcitiam].
- c1390 Bi west (Vrn)133 : Now harlotrye for murþe is holde, And vertues tornen in-to vice.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3184 : The millere is a cherl..So was the reue eek..And harlotrye they tolden bothe two.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)27623 : Of pride be-comis..manikin vnnaite oþer þing, als sange of harlotery & lesing.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)4.106 : Til clerkis & kniȝtes be curteis of here mouþes, And haten here harlotrie [vrr. harlottre, herlatry, harletries] oþer mouþe it with tungis [Vrn: to don heor harlotrie and vsun hit no more].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.413 : I haue leuere here an harlotrie or a somer game of souteres, Or lesynges to laughe at..Þan al þat euere Marke made.
- ?a1425 Const.Masonry(1) (Roy 17.A.1)594 : Loke thou come not to churche late, For to speke harlotry by the gate.
- c1450(a1400) Orolog.Sap.(Dc 114)358/12 : Þey spenden miche of her tyme in veyne spekynges and harlotryes and oþere suche vayne þinges.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1318 : Hast þow I-had gret lykynge For to here euele thynge, Or nyce wordes of rybawdy, Or suche maner harlotry?
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)50 : It semiþ good..þat feyris nor markets had no place in þe kirk in solempne tymis..and þat in silk tyme men tent not to idil talis, foul spechis, harlotries, bakbityngis, or conuenticlis.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)60b : Harlottry: lecacitas, invrbanitas, nugacitas, rusticitas, scurrilitas; to do harlottry: Scurrari.
- a1500 Hal.Gloss.(Eg 829)7 : Scurrilitas: a harlottrye.
3.
(a) Filth, rubbish, trash; (b) folly, nonsense.
Associated quotations
a
- (1439-41) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)261/16 : For a labowrer..for makyng clene the kechone place and brennyng the bonys and harlotri, and for makyng clene of the seler, and for cariage a wey of Robous.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.374 : That no man caste donge or harlotry at the slipp, ner vpon the key.
b
- a1475 Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)860 : It is but wicchecrafte þat Sidrak seide..; þerfore..Sidrak do þou brenne, þat al þis harlotrie þe dide kenne.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. harlotry.