Middle English Dictionary Entry
hein n.
Entry Info
| Forms | hein n. Also hain, hane. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI hegna to hedge & Dan. hegn, Swed. hägn enclosure. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An enclosed piece of land; in hide and in ~, in field and in enclosure, everywhere, completely [?nonce phr. due to exigencies of rime]; (b) ~ wod-silver, the commutation of the service of collecting hedging-material for the lord of the manor; ~ bote, ? = hei-bote; (c) in surnames & place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.215, 241].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)5064 : Ne sculde na cniht hærȝien þær he hauede haines iwald.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)70 : Grete hertes in þe haynes [Cmb: Fayer parkes in-wyth haynus].
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)253/285 : Of thy hurtis be þou hole In hyde and in hane [rime: agayne, vayne, sayne].
b
- (1298-1300) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 253 : Et de xxvi s. x d. ob. de opere de Wodehenes affirmato termino Nativitatis S. Johannis Baptiste vocato heynwodesilver.
- (1442) Deed Yks.in YASRS 6337 : [John to execute all the repairs at his own cost, taking the necessary] housebote [and] haynebote.
c
- (1200) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.1292 : Petrus Hain.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10218 : Thom. atte Haneholt.
- (1372) Deed Yks.in YASRS 6380 : [A close of land and meadow called] le Hayne.
- (1425) in Ekwall PNLan.87 : Haynslak.