Middle English Dictionary Entry
harper(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | harper(e n. Also harpour(e, -ar(e, -eur, -or, -ur, hareper, -our, herper, -ar, arper, -ur. |
| Etymology | OE hearpere & OF harpëor, from Gmc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who plays the harp, one who sings while accompanying himself on the harp, a minstrel; smal ~, one who plays a small harp; (b) in surnames; (c) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.240].
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)1471 : Hi sede hi weren harpurs [Ld: harperes], & sume were gigours.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5509 : Menestral he was god ynou, & harpare [vr. an harper] in eche poynte.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.394 : Þer was trumpes & tabour, Fiþel, croude, & harpour, Her craftes for to kiþe.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)44/513 : Icham an harpour [vrr. herper, mynstrel] of heþenisse.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.14.2 : The voys which I herde, as of harpers harpinge in her harpis.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52110/1 : Item, diuersis harpours..de dono domini, xvj s. pr.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4746 : Hys harpers chaumbre was fast þerby.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.24 : Shal none heraude ne harpoure haue a fairere garnement.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1030 : For though the beste harpour upon lyve Wolde on the beste sowned joly harpe That evere was, with alle his fyngres fyve, [etc.].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)39a/a : Liricina: an arpur.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)19931 : Arpur so forth he was degisede; Of him it was na man auisede.
- ?a1430 ?Hoccl.Poems PS Compl.Virg.(Hnt HM 111)62 : Your fadir Dauid..an harpour was.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)228 : Harpowre: Citharista, cithareda, liricen, fidicen, dico.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)413 : In lijk wise of singers and of harpers of þe same lord.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A Melodi of harpers.
- (1450) RParl.5.196a : Provided also, that by this Acte or Petition, noo hurt nor prejudice be done to eny Letters Patentes made by us, to John Turges, Harpour.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1205,1209 : And on his syde, faste by, Sat the harper Orion..And smale harpers with her glees Sate under hem in dyvers sees.
- (1464) Acc.Howard in RC 57159 : My mastyre toke to my lordys byddynge..to my ladyis grawndamys harpere that dwellyth in Chestre, iij s. iiij d.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)375/12 : And so Trystrams lerned to be an harper passyng all other.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)618/11 : I woll make a lay for hym, and whan hit is made, I shall make an harpere to syng hit afore hym.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)61a : A harper: Citheredo, Citherista, Citheredus, fidicen, fidicina, fidicistra, liricen, lericina, lirista, liristes.
- a1500(a1400) Cleges (Adv 19.1.11)484 : An harpor [Ashm: harper] sange a gest be mowth.
- a1500 Orfeo (Hrl 3810)4/35 : Syker was euery gode harpure [Ashm: herper] Of hym to haue moche honour.
b
- (1185) in Pipe R.Soc.34207 : Robertus le Harpur.
- (1199) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms185 : Will. Harpur.
- (1207) Fine R.King John447 : Thomas Harper.
- (1212) Bk.of Fees76 : Steph. Harpor.
- (1246) Assize R.Lin.in Lin.RS 2220 : Patrick le Harper.
- (1255) Close R.Hen.III221 : Alanus Harpeur.
- (1271) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms185 : Henr. le Harpeur.
- (1275) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms185 : Nic. le Arper. Henr. le Harper. Rad. le Arpur.
- (1286) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms185 : Henr. le Harpor.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 1680 : Adam Harpour.
- (1324) Court R.Lan.in LCRS 4147 : Adam le Harperson.
- (1327) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms185 : Ad. le Harpere. Will. Harpur. Petr. Le Harpour. Rog. le Harepour.
- (1332) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms185 : Thom. le Harpar. Edm. le Harpere. Joh. Harpour.
- (1361) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms185 : Ric. Harpour.
- (1376) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms185 : Joh. Harpour.
- -?-(1469-70) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.96191 : Johannes Herpar, merchaunt.
c
- (c1175) EPNSoc.31 (West Riding Yks.)80 : Harpere Welle.
- (c1250) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)2 : Hareperisbroc.
- (1294) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)3 : Le Harperbrok.
- c1381(1183) Boldon Bk.(PRO SC 12/21/28)27 : Harperleia reddit 20 s.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1360-1) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100562 : Cuidam Welsharpour domini Willhelmi de Dalton, 3 s., 4 d.
Note: New cpd.