Middle English Dictionary Entry
havok n.
Entry Info
| Forms | havok n. |
| Etymology | AF; cp. CF havot. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Plunder, pillage; crien ~, to give the signal for general plundering; maken ~, to plunder thoroughly and indiscriminately.
Associated quotations
- [ (1385) Ordin.War Rich.II in RS 55.1455 : Item, qe nul soit si hardy de crier havok sur peine davoir la test coupe. ]
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)336/18 : Þere thay robbyd þe peple and slowyn alle alyens..and despoiled alle her godez and made havoke.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)207/15 : A-boue þi harmys owyst þou none to take..but ȝif it be of an heretyke or of ony oþer euyl-doere, & for his euylle dedys his godys be cryed be þe kyng haue-ok.
- a1470 Ordin.War Hen.V in RS 55.1 (Lnsd 285)462 : Also, that noman be so hardy to crye havok, uppon peyn that he that is founde begynner to dye therfore.