Middle English Dictionary Entry
hẹ̄rd(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | hẹ̄rd(e n.(1) Also heorde, hird, hierde, hurde & (in place names only) herdhe-, horde-, hard(e-, hert-, herth(e-. Pl. hẹ̄rdes, hīrdes & (early) heorde(n. |
| Etymology | OE heord & (?in place names) ON; cp. OI hjörð. ME forms show confusion with hīred n. & hẹ̄rd(e n.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A flock or herd of domesticated animals; got ~, q.v.; (b) a herd of wild animals; esp. a herd of deer; also, a flock of birds, swarm of gnats; (c) fig. spiritual flock, group of people under the guidance of a spiritual leader; (d) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.244, 248].
Associated quotations
a
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)15/17 : Ȝif..ealdor..to litle note & nytwyrðnisse on his hurde [L in ouibus] onȝyte.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)54/5,6 : 'Ut of þis hehschipe, of þis muchele menske, & folhe heorde [Nero: heorden] of geat,' he seið. Hwet beoð heorde of geat?
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)795 : God gaf him ðor siluer and gold, And hird and orf and srud and sat.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)28a/a : Lana succida, i. þe wolle þat groweþ aboute þe tetes of þe schepe or hirdes, fulfillen þe declenacioun by dryeng.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)167 : Floke, or heerde of bestys, what so they be: Polia.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)236 : Heerde, or flok of beestys, what so euyr they be: Polia, armentum.
- a1450(a1401) Chastising GC (Bod 505)162/1 : If þou castist us out, sende us into an heerde of hogges.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)305 : Heo funden ane heorde [Otho: hierde] of heorten.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2988 : He smot wið ðat gerde on ðe lond, And gnattes hird ðor ðicke up-wond.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)762-3 : Vn herde de cerfs, A herde of hertes, Vn herde de deymes, A herde of bukkys.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)141a/b : Suche foules louen to duelle togidres..and goþ and fleþ in herdes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)280a/b : Þay [harts] swymmeþ ouer þe see in heerdes.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.94 : With a herde þei mette; a herte þerof gan lance.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)2 : Fyrst when hertez beþ assembled, And herde þanne hyȝt ys appeled.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1212 : The herde of hertes founden is anon.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603 : A herd of alle maner of dere. a herd of sannes. a herd of cranes. a herd of wrannes. a herd of curluys.
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)231 : A herde off hertes. a herde of bukkez. a herde of swannez. a herd of wrennez. a heerd of curlewz. a herd of felfares. a herd of cranes.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)2.16 : Þey seuerid and sondird for somere hem faylid, And flowen in-to forest and feldis abouȝte, Alle þe hoole herde þat helde so to-gedir.
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(3) (Lamb 306)233 : A herd of hertis. A herde of harys. A herd of Buckis. A herde of Cranes.
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(4) (Dgb 196)232 : A herd of swannes. A herd of feldfares.
c
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)95 : Erest he scal hine seolfne wið sunnan isteoran, and seoððan his heorde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13309 : For þai [the apostles] samen luued ilkan als breþer, Þair herdes sundrid neuer fra oþer.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)42/35 : If I sulde make my herdis [L greges] to labur to mikil in walkyng, þai sal alle die on one day.
d
- (1185) EPNSoc.13 (War.)268 : Herdewich.
- (a1189) in Ekwall Dict.EPN208 : Hertheby.
- (1237) in Ekwall Dict.EPN209 : Hordewik.
- (1250) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)125 : Herthwyk.
- (c1250) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)24 : Herdewikeweie.
- (1251) EPNSoc.27 (Der.)179 : Herdwyk.
- (1275) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)205 : Herdheby.
- (1275) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames97 : Joh. de la Hertwik.
- (1279) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames97 : Joh. del Herdewykes.
- (a1307) EPNSoc.29 (Der.)734 : Le Herdewikefurlong.
- (1330) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)205 : Herthby juxta Thornhagh.
- (1383) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)205 : Hardeby.
- (1401) EPNSoc.13 (War.)270 : Prioures Herdywyk.
- (1431) EPNSoc.28 (Der.)269 : Hardwyck Hall.
- (1467) EPNSoc.13 (War.)285 : Cuyteherdewyke.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)593-4 : Tatt tatt swa wass hæfedd hird, Þatt hird wass i þatt time Nemmnedd Eleazaress hus.
Note: Antedates (c) Right word?
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.200v (l.8623a) : The kyng his bissoprich all hadde on honde thoo , And the bisshopriche of Wynchestre and Salebury therto, And abbeys in Engelond yut therto enleuen, That atte kynges dethe he hadde ahad a harde evene.
Note: Perhaps belongs loosely to (c), in the sense "collection, flock" (of ecclesiastical properties under one's control). Or a different word altogether.