Middle English Dictionary Entry
hen n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | hen n.(1) Also en, henne, hene, han. Forms: gen. sg. hennes, henne; pl. hennes, hennen & (error) henhen. |
| Etymology | OE hen |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The domestic fowl, hen; nice as a nonne ~, overrefined, fastidiously wanton; a (pulled) ~, something of negligible value, a straw; singen so ~ in snoue, to sing miserably; (b) the female of other birds [cp. mor-hen]; fesaunt ~; tele ~, the female teal; ~ of Ind, some kind of exotic bird.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)36/18 : Nabbe ha nawt henne cunde; þe hen hwen ha haueð ileid ne con bute cakelin.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)68/14 : Fret ase fox deð baðe ges & hennen [Nero: hen hen; ?read hennen].
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)413 : Þu singest so doþ hen asnowe, Al þat ho singeþ hit is for wowe.
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)235 : Letet on hire renne from þe necke to þe to, scalden ir ase an henne.
- ?a1300 Fox & W.(Dgb 86)28 : On hous þer wes, þe dore wes ope, Hennen weren þerinne I-crope.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)702 : Þe gees, þe hennes of þe yerd, Al he solde.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)38/3 : Þe little þyeues þet steleþ..hire capons, hennen, frut of hire gardins.
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)p.92 : Nym hennyn and porke and seth hem togedere; nym the lyre of the hennyn and the porke.
- (1381) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.4 : xiv hennes and iii cokkes.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.177 : He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)94/35 : As þe hen Gedereþ hire Chikenes..vndur hire whynges, wolde I gedere þe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1112 : Swich arrogance is nat worth an hen.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)702 : He had soner y-eten a man þan two champyons a han.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6856 : I rekke not of pore men, Her astat is not worth an hen.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)66/15 : Puluis of hennez feþers brent, medled with white of ane ey.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603-4 : A padelynge of hennes..a hene y-Swylyd.
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)231 : A Grale off hennez.
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)p.47 : All hit is for wo Þat þe hen synges in snowe.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)69/30 : He keped theym, as the hen did hir byrdes vndre hir weng.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)673 : This diagalange Is..not worth a pulled hen.
- a1475 Terms Assoc.(1) (Brog 2.1)60 : A heene dysmemmyrde..A hene ispyllyde.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)370 : The henne gaderith to-gedre here briddes vndere here wynges, and namely a gayne the puttock.
- a1500 Sum be mery (Lamb 306)p.268 : Women, women..Some be nyse as a nonne hene.
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(4) (Dgb 196)232 : A garule of hennes.
- ?a1500 How GMan(3) (Hrl 2399)132 : Many man here gederes gode..Þat he may not..Have onys tyme to ete an hen.
b
- (1324) Iche Edward Kynge (Jul F.10)p.168 : With hart ant hynd, do ant bokke..Partriche, fesant henne and fesant cocke.
- c1450 In a noon (Lamb 853)74-5 : This hauk of herte in ȝouþe y-wys, Pursueþ euere þis feisaunt hen; Þis feisaunt hen is likingnes.
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)110 : Many a grene spekyng popyn jay..Hennys of Inde come fro brugys and gaunte.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)36 : Þo fesaunt kok, but not þo henne.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)762 : Filica: a telle hen.
2.
Cpds. & combs. (a) ~ bon, ~ bouel; ~ brouet, chicken soup; ~ chiken, a female chicken; ~ cote, a hen house; ~ coupe, a hen coop; ~ dong (drit, muk), hens' droppings; ~ egge, ~ ei, a hen's egg; ~ fether, ~ flesh; ~ foul, a hen; ~ forke, a gable end; ~ grese, hennes grese, hens' fat; ~ herte, a chicken-hearted person; ~ nest; hennes-yeve, a payment in hens for Churchscot; ~ yost, ?hen-yeast, i.e. hens' dung; (b) plant names: ~ bane (belle, dwale), hennes-bane, henbane Hyoscyamus niger; ~ bane rot, ~ bane sed; whit ~ bane, white henbane Hyoscyamus albus; ~ cresse, Shepherd's Purse Capsella bursa pastoris; ~ cresse sed; ~ gras = ~ cresse.
Associated quotations
a
- 1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1131 : Þær æfter swulten þa henne fugeles.
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)134.135/9 : Nim þanne ða corn & ȝewurp to sume hennefuȝulum.
- (1371) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.94 : Hennecoote.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.75 : Þanne he wolde ete..oon hen ey.
- (1395) Wycl.12 Concl.(Th 17)297 : Frere Thomas..wolde haue mad a miracle of an henne ey.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)323a/a : In þe hen ey after þre dayes..beþ tokenes y-seyne of þe chikken.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)321/26 : Anoynte him wiþ oile of lilie..or hen-grese.
- a1400 Recipe MS Hal.in Rel.Ant.1 (Hal 335)53 : Tak fresch swynes grees molten, and hennes grees.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.410 : Come neure..Man..þat acounted conscience at a cokkes fether or an hennes.
- (1421) Indent.Catterick in Archaeol.J.758 : Nich[olas]..schall make a luge of tre..iiij romes of syelles And two henforkes.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.160/624 : These been percelles of an henne coupe þat standeth yn þe ȝerd.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.176/1128 : Nailles to Jankyn Tenterdene, and oþere þynges for þe henne cowpe iiij d.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)662 : Caro gallinacia, heneflesche.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)670 : Hoc gallinarium: henecote.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)25/23 : A comoun hous ordaynd and made full of holes, as it ware hen nestes.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)326/198 : A! henne-harte! ill happe mot ȝou hente.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)124 : It [a sore] was of the gretnesse of ane henne egge.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)240/4 : Þai saw att þe henbowels was turnyd in-to a whik tade.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)80/207 : Brenne hen bones and ey shellys.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)178/558 : Take old vryne of a man and hene dirt & tamper it togedyr.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)210/667 : Take pure henne muk and fresshe grese of a swyne and fry heme togedire.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)242/777 : Take henne yoost [?read: yeest] and capons grese and medle heme togedir.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)171 : Tak an henne eyȝ & rost hyt harde.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)212 : Aissches of henne-feueres [vr. feþeris] doþ þe same.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)59/30 : Take kapones and hennys-downge.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)81/10 : Put þer-to almawnd-milke and capouns-brouȝt or hennys.
- (1478) Doc.Cust.Bleadon196 : Hensyeve.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)73/13 : Henchekyns, surlens, eyren.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)804 : Hoc galinarium, a hencote.
- c1500 PParv.(Hrl 2274)235 : Henne nest, Ingitatorium.
b
- ?c1125(?OE) Dur-C.Gloss.(Dur-C Hunter 100:Cockayne)3.303 : Gingeralis: Heunebel [?read: hennebel].
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)121.104/1 : Þeos wyrt þat man symphoniacan & oþrum nama belone, & sume men hennebelle hatað.
- c1225 Wor.Bod.Gloss.(Hat 76)19 : Hennebelle [glossing: symfoniaca].
- a1300 Hrl.978 Vocab.(Hrl 978)559 : Iusquiamus: chenille i. hennebone.
- ?a1300 Wor.F.157.Gloss.(Wor F.157)185 : Symphomacha [?read: symphoniacha], hennebelle.
- c1300 Add.15236 Gloss.(1) in Hunt Plant Names (Add 15236)238 : [Simphoniaca:] gallice geneler [read: gelener], anglice hennebelle vel hennebane.
- c1300 Add.15236 Gloss.(1) in Hunt Plant Names (Add 15236)72 : [Cassilago:] gallice geliner, anglice henebel vel heneban.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)210a/a : Aristotil..setteþ ensample of bolenus, hennebane seed, ffor þat..is venemous.
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)84 : Iusquiamus..henesbane uel hennedewole.
- a1400 Mirfeld Sinonoma (Pmb-O 2)23 : Hennekersen, i. bursa pastoris.
- a1425 MS Roy.12.E.1 in Hunt Plant Names (Roy 12.E.1)152 : [Jusquiamus albus:] henbelle, henbane.
- ?a1425 Alphita (Sln 284)173 : Simphoniaca, iusquiamus..hennebane uel hennedwole.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)112b/a : Of henbane sede [L iusquami] the þridde parte.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)180b/a : Take of white henbane [L iusquami albi].
- c1450 Agnus Castus (Bod 483)163/13 : Or henbelle [vr. hennbelle; Stockh: Iusquiamus is an herbe men clepe henbane].
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)74 : Take henne cressen, & croppes of wode bynde.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)116 : Þre peny wyȝt of henne cersen seed [vr. seed of bursa pastoris] wyþ red wyn.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)118 : [T]ake hennecarsen [vrr. henne gresse, hencressen, hennen crissen].
- ?c1450 Iff a man (Stockh 10.90)321/579 : Þe bok tellyth þat hennebane-rote Of þe broc is mythi bote.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.5 : Henne-ban sede duckys wylle kylle.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)122b/a : Þou schalt take þe rote of bismalue of hennebane of lilie & seþe hem.
- a1500(?a1450) Treat.Garden.(Trin-C O.9.38)171 : Henbane camemyl wyldtesyl & stychewort.
- a1500 MS Hrl.3388 in Hunt Plant Names (Hrl 3388)65 : [Canicularis:] henbelle vel henbane.
- a1500 Dresd.Gloss.434 : Hyoscyamus: copwed, i. hennebelle.
3.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.243].
Associated quotations
a
- (1195) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.6216 : Galfridus Henneheued.
- (1259) Pat.R.Hen.III57 : Adam Hen.
- (1274) Pat.R.Edw.I51 : John Henneman.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 1299 : Symon le Henkere.
- (c1275) Hundred R.Tower 1490 : Willielmus Hencote.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 16151 : Henr. Henbyter.
- (1316) Pat.R.Edw.II590 : Edward de Henhous.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3100 : Rogerus le Hen.
- (1327) Sub.R.Wor.in Wor.HS (1895)31 : Lucas atte Henne.
- (?a1350) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.197 : Johannes Henneberd.
b
- (1144) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)199 : Heneieham.
- (1166) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)39 : Henewich.
- (1186) in Ekwall Dict.EPN224 : Henherst.
- (a1200) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)39 : Hinewic.
- (1200) in Ekwall Dict.EPN223 : Esthenred.
- (1201) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)282 : Hennebroc.
- (1220) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)270 : Enstintun.
- (1242) in Ekwall Dict.EPN224 : Hennele.
- (1249) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)412 : Estenestil.
- (1258) in Ekwall PNLan.77 : Hennethyrn.
- (1279) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)199 : Enneye.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)294b/a : Iuuenal meneþ þat orix is a certein brid þat is most fatte..orix is a bridde liche to an henne of affrica.
Note: New phrase, probably 'guinea hen'.
- a1500 Bod.EMisc.Lapid.(BodEMisc e.558)32/277 : Þat stone hathe an other henne withynne hire.
Note: ?gloss
- (1263) in Fransson Surn.76 : Adam le Henmongere.
- (1312) in Fransson Surn.76 : Le Hennemongere.
Note: New cpd.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 MS Cai.200 in Hunt Plant Names (Cai 200/106)72 : [Cassilago]: anglice he[n]qwale.
- a1500 MS Trin-C.O.1.13 in Hunt Plant Names (Trin-C O.1.13)152 : [Jusquiamus]: Gallice chanelé, anglice henquale.
Note: These two synonyma have henqwale or -quale where one would expect -bane, -belle or -dwale. The identity of the second element is obscure. If not simply a transmission error for dwale (and the Caius MS in particular is described by Hunt as "careless and inaccurate with frequent errors"), it might be quelle n. (quellen v.) or quailen v.(1), the former semantically equivalent to 'henbane' ('hen-kill'), the latter to 'hendwale' ('hen-enfeeble').