Middle English Dictionary Entry
harneis n. singular & plural
Entry Info
| Forms | harneis n. singular & plural Also harneis(s)e, harneies, harnais(e, harnes(se, harnas, harnis(se, harnois, harnich, herneis, hernais, hernes(e, hernas, hernois. |
| Etymology | OF harnois, harneis, harnes, harnas, hernois; ?from Gmc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Personal fighting equipment, body armor; also, armor and weapons; leg ~, leg armor; horse and ~, horse and arms; to ~, to arms!; wenden to ~, to arm oneself; (b) a set of armor, suit of mail; (c) armor or trappings for a war horse or other beast used in battle; (d) pl. men-at-arms.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4644 : Madame, purvaieþ ous harnais, & we nil neuer blinne.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2349 : But god..gof i hadde now here horse & alle harneys þat be-houes to werre.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1006 : The bodies dede..to strepe of harneys and of wede.
- (1386) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.200 : Legharnoys.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.309 : Norreis & Surreis..With hors & herneis at Carlele mad samnyng.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.216 : I haue seyn hym in sylke, and somme tyme in russet..and in gulte herneys [vr. hernes].
- 1415 Procl.Yk.Corp.Christi Dayp.xxxiv : Þat no mann go armed in yis Citee with swerdes ne with Carlill-axes..and yat yai leue yare hernas in yare Ines.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6373 : Grekis..Mette with hem..Clenly armyd in harneis al of stel.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)1 Kings 17.6 : Stelyn legharneis [WB(2): bootis of bras; L ocreas aereas] he [Goliath] hadde in the hipis.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)24/2 : Whan it is ony derthe the knyghtes ben right pore & þanne þei sellen bothe here hors & here harneys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)228 : Harneys, wepyne: Arma.
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2247 : There is in pypes..moo than CC legge herneys.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)76b : Þey mowe haue space y-now to handele here wepoun and to be-stere hem in here harneys.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.232 : And Anon, 'As Armez' they gonnen to Crie, That Every man to harneys wente hastelye.
- (1450) Paston2.147 : Sir Thomas Keriel is take prisoner, and alle the legge harneyse, and abowte iij ml. Englishe men slayn.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)15 : He..hard grete noise without, and grete clateryng of harnych, and men armyd.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)393 : When the Bacheler hath exercise Of hevy gere, and aftir taketh light Herneys, as sheeld & sword of just assise, His hert avaunceth.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.137 : Mr Phylyp and the Baylly of Cosshay com..with a grete nomber of pepell..in harnysse.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)27/5 : But the scowte-wacche by hir oste cryed, 'Lordis, to harneys! for here be oure enemyes at youre honde!'
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)30/20 : Kynge Ban and Bors made hem redy and dressed theire shyldis and harneysse.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)303/5 : There sate a knyght all armed in blak harneyse.
- (1472) Will York in Sur.Soc.45205 : My white harnes complete, with salett and al odir pece of harnes.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)69 : Alle the comyns..[stode] sodanly to harneys and rebelled ayenst the duc of Exetyr.
- a1486(1438) Challenge Masse (Mrg M 775)36 : We tweyne schal be armyd a pon horsbak in harnes double with ouȝte ony schilde & reste of a vauntage.
- a1500 Amis (Hrl 2386)167 : [Auch: Hors &] harnys [Auch: wepen] & reche wede.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1630 : Ful pryuely two harneys hath he dight, Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3109 : An harneis for a lusti kniht, Which burned was as Selver bryht, Of swerd, of plate, and ek of maile..He tok also with him be Schipe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.298 : With myȝty bowes & arowes..Þoruȝ an harneis mortally to wounde.
- (1450-1) Lin.DDoc.49/6 : The best and hole armyng harnas yat I hafe & my best axe for werre.
- (1454) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99149 : j lancea, j jake, et iiijor harnayse armorum.
- (1459) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.12 : He bargayned and bought to his owne use..xxixti harneys of melentouche.
- (1469) Acc.Howard in RC 57215 : The same day to Cakebrede ffor a harneyse complet, ssave salatt and grevys.
- (1474-5) Will York in Sur.Soc.45215 : j harnesse completum, j polron excepto.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)64 : The lorde of Aragon..offerd up his harneys at Wyndsore.
c
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4542 : J þe bihote..Bulciphal wiþ his herneys.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)450 : Þo drowen dromedarius doun..yheled with harnays of mayle, Eche beste with a big tour.
- (1450-1) Lin.DDoc.45/14 : I gif..my best hors with my best Sadill and the hernas þerto.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4934 : My beste hors with sadil and brydil, with alle the beste harneys for oon hors longyng therto.
d
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8329 : King Harans & his harnoys Went toward þe lond of Leoneis.
- c1425(?a1400) Arthur (Lngl 55)314 : Than hadde he out of Normandye..Fowre skore þowsand harneys.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)6974 : Syre Guncelyn aryued at Toteneys & sire Constant wyþ his harneys. Þat herde þe Bretons alle aboute..To Constant come þen men ynowe.
2.
(a) Harness or fittings for a horse, ass, or other beast of burden; saddle pack or bag; also, fittings for a cart, plow, etc.; side ~, q.v.; (b) fittings or ornament for a weapon, girdle, utensil, etc.; a personal ornament; fig. trimmings, details of circumstance; (c) hunting gear; fishing tackle; (d) army equipment, baggage, impedimenta; (e) fittings associated with some other equipment or installation.
Associated quotations
a
- (1333-4) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.9931 : In..emendacione hernes del fyschorses.
- (1348) Will York in Sur.Soc.451 : Carrum meum cum harnes.
- (1355) Invent.Jarrow in Sur.Soc.2937 : In diversis harnas emptis pro carucis, carectis, et plaustris et aliis necessariis pertinentibus ad hunbandriam.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)3664 : Þe sadel..With gold was fret & pretious ston, & þe harneys was of golde.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3762 : A smyth..in his forge smythed plough harneys.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.433 : Many a vicious knaue..is sustened by cause of hem in to curious harneys, as in sadeles, in crouperes, peytrels, and bridles couered with precious clothyng.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.435 : Goddes sone of heuene..whan he rood vp on the asse..ne hadde noon oother harneys but the pouere clothes of hise disciples.
- (c1391) Gower CA Suppl.(Hnt EL 26.A.17)7.324/3326* : He fond his asse faste by Forth with his harneis redely.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)3430 : Ȝyf þou delyte..yn hors, yn harneys [F herneis] or yn feyre rydyng, Alle ys pryde and vanyte.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1032 : Cleopatras..rood on a mule white so mylk; Her herneys was gold-beten sylk.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.517 : Alle my plowes, cartes, oxis, hors, & harneys þer to longyng.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)228 : Harneys for hors: Falere.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2629 : He..gafe me gret gyftes..a horse and harnayse full ryche.
- (1444) Will York in Sur.Soc.30113 : My litil carte and iiij harneys [vr. hernes] therto.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3677 : Geue hym..Riche jewelles..Ful of ryche þrecyouse [read: precyouse] stones Chargyd in harneys and in coffre.
- a1500 Henley Husb.(Sln 686)49 : When ye dylyuer your carteris hors, shone, sadelis, colouris, or oþer harnes, loke þat þey delyuer you all þat is brokyn or apayred.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2896 : The thridde bar with hym his bowe Turkeys (Of brend gold was the caas and eek the harneys).
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.974 : If the womman, maugree hir heed, hath ben afforced..this shal she telle: for coueitise, or for pouerte, and if it was hire procurynge, or noon; and swich manere harneys [vrr. harneyes, harnays].
- (1406-7) Rec.Norwich 254 : [To Robert Rose, goldsmith, for making the] hernes [of the Mayor's sword].
- (1411) in Rec.B.Nottingham 286 : j tubb' cum parvo harnes.
- (1423) RParl.4.256b : That no Goldsmyth, nor Juelour, nor other Man that werketh Selver Hernois, put noon therof to the sale wyth inne the forseid Citee.
- a1425 Interpol.Rolle Ps.(1) (Trin-C B.5.25:Everett)391 : Princes and kniȝtes..ben now knowen bi her retenue and her waastyng of gold in golden herneys.
- (1445) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 853 : A basyn and harneyse to a lompe yn the bowke of the schersche.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)121/102 : Here slyke harnays as I haue, A baren broche by a belle of tynne, At youre bosom to be.
- (1450-1) Lin.DDoc.50/7 : I will his sister haue a russyt silke gridyll with gilt harnas.
- (c1462) Stonor1.57 : A girdell with silver harnes of his susters.
- (1471) Will York in Sur.Soc.45194 : j purpyll gyrdell, with white harnas.
c
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)18 : Men taken hem [harts] wiþ houndis, wiþ greihoundis, with nettis, and wiþ cordes, and with oþer harnays.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)34 : Þei [wolves] can wondere wele kepe hem from eny herneis þat eny man bereth.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)147/2 : Ye muste furst lurne to mak[e] ȝowr harnes, þat ys to sey, your rod, your lynys of dy[uerse] colors, & your hokes.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)169/9 : Now y haue tolde yow how to make ȝowr harnes and how ȝe schall fysche þer-with.
d
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.497 : I wil my silf toward þis viage Ordeyne I-nowȝ in harneys [vr. armes] and array.
- (1429) Let.Neville in Sur.Soc.269 : To len me yor charioter wit yor chariott & ye chariott hoses to trauaill wit my harneys to warde ye marches.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)12.445 : Whanne that he Cam..There Al his harneis beleft þer was, It was Clene I-spoilled.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)32.107 : And whiles they weren Abowten here harneys, Celydoyne Cometh down In to that pres.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4605 : Sette furthe to þe se..Has harnes ouer hacche, highes in ancer.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)662 : He..toke hym up softly, and bar hym oute of the presse to the harneys, and than returned to the bateile.
e
- (1483-85) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.32155 : Item, for a lacche & the harneyes therto to the same dore, ij d...; item, for a lacche & the harneyes therto to the dore at the steyre hede, ij d.
3.
(a) Personal apparel, clothes, livery; wering ~; (b) household goods or utensils, furniture; (c) provisions or ware for traveling; a traveler's baggage; hors and ~, horse and baggage.
Associated quotations
a
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1582 : William on þe morwe wel him a-tyred Gayli in cloþes of glod [read: gold] & oþer gode harneis, & komes euen to kourt.
- c1390 Mannyng HS, Mir.CC (Vrn)438 : He drouȝ his hosen of and his schon..His herneis feire of he nom.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7473 : He dude on Tholomew..Quiclich his vestement..And he took Tholomeus herneys.
- (1438) EEWills111/25 : All my clothynge & werynge harneys and beddynge at Vsk.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)228 : Harneys, or rayment: Paramentum.
- (1445) LRed Bk.Bristol2.189 : Euery mayster and maryner a foreseyd tha[t] hathe whyte harneys of hys own..schall [be] redy with is seyd harneys in hys own propre persenne.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1519 : Gif me a staff and our harnays.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)159 : Whenne nyght come..the mayde..dude of hir harnes..On þe morow she Ros, & did on hir clothis.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)24/35 : Þe ilke þet is zuo heȝe arise ine prosperite þengþ in his herte..to þe diȝtinge of his house wyþ eyse of loste and oþre manere harneys þet zuo moche is uayr and noble.
- (1418) EEWills36/6 : Al myn Harneys, þat is to say, a bed of Lyn wit a hool silour and Couerlet..& iij nettes of Silk grene for quirtayns for the same bed.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)228 : Harneys, or hustylment [KC: instrumentys longynge to howsolde]: Utensile.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)143/161 : Pakke same oure gere And such smale harnes as we haue.
- (1450-1) Lin.DDoc.56/29 : Al the stuf..in my place at london except plate or harnas platyd.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)20/21 : In aray of his hous, in vessel, in beddynge, and in oþere manere harneys þat is fair and good.
c
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1748 : Oure harneys comeþ her behynde wiþ to hundred men araid.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3296 : I am a man farand þe way, Mi hernes [Göt: harnays; Trin-C: harneys] dun heir did i lai.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.236 : Þis burgeis..þe may & hir herneis did led vnto þe kyng.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)1085 : Þe herdmen has þer harnes hent, To bedlem toke þer way.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.192 : Men þat knowen siche journeis and dispensis in money, wiþ hors and harnays, seien þat it comeþ to more.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)284 : Certeyn knytes counceled the Kyng that the bischoppis whech were aboute him schuld be pryved of hors and harneys and tresoure.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)43/118 : Myn ase shall with vs..To bere oure harnes les & more.
4.
Sexual organs; prive ~.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.9.23 : Sem & Iaphet..couerden þe preue hernays [L verenda] of here fader..& þe manus hernayse [L virilia] of þe fadre þey seȝen not.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.287 : Wormes..Sprang out of his prive harneys [L testiculis].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.136 : I seye noght that euery wight is holde, That hath swich harneys as I to yow tolde, To goon and vsen hem in engendrure.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)141/13 : Anothir yle where bothe men and wemen han bothe the ton harneys and the othir.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)81/1 : But of wyn þat ys takyn abundanly..þes euelys folwyn..ffebylyng of his priue hernoys, distruccioun of his sede.
5.
Associated quotations
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)458 : Oure kyng..beryng þe name kyng of Ingelond & nouȝt clepud kyng of ffraunce, but beryng þe hole harnes of Ingelond and of ffraunce.
6.
(a) In cpds. & combs.: ~ armature, ?body armor; ~ bacin, ~ barel, a basin (barrel) for washing harness; (b) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (1382) Invent.Jarrow in Sur.Soc.2971 : Aula..j harnaysbasin novum.
- (1457) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.152 : [7 bales of] hernes armatur.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57217 : A harneys barelle.
b
- (c1275) Hundred R.Tower 1475 : Rogerus Herneys.
- (1276) Let.Bk.Lond.A (Gldh LetBk A)4 : William Duble Harneys, [saddler].
- (1300) Court R.Lond.52 : William le Hernesemaker.