Middle English Dictionary Entry
hernes n.
Entry Info
| Forms | hernes n. Also herns, herenes, harn(e)s, harneis, (early) hærnes, (errors) heres, harmes. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI hjarni. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The brains of a man or animal; also, the substance of the brains; (b) ~ panne, the cranium.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1137 : Me dide cnotted strenges abuton here hæued & uurythen to ðæt it gæde to þe hærnes.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1808 : Was non of hem þat his hernes Ne lay þer-ute ageyn þe sternes.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5030 : Of hys hede he brake þe bone; Þe harnes lay vpp-on þe stone.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)128.4 : Lauerd rightwise slite sal he Hernes ofe sinful þat be.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)58 : Suche odour to my hernez schot.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)8/68 : Sum lay knoked out þaire hernes.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)635/11 : Hoc cerebrum: harnes.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)22249 : Þe harnes out sprange þe harnepan.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)237 : Hernys [vr. harneys], or brayne: Cerebrum.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)1 marg. : An oþer [medicine] for þe herenes.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)34/10 : Tak a schepe hede..breke all to duste & do a-way þe hernes & syn caste þam in a pott.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)333/400 : It [crown of thorns] heldes to his hede, þat þe harnes out hales.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2545 : Þis chele eftir chaufing, enchafis so his hernes [Dub: harmes], Þat he was fallen in a feuire.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)6116 : Into þe harns he has hym hytt.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)60/18 : Þis stane was put down, & smate oute his hernys.
- c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)356/30 : He smote of his basinet & all the crown of his heid to the harns.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)61a : The harns: cerebrum.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)63b : Herns; vbi brayne.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)128/392 : The dewill knok outt thare harnes!
b
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)146 : Cakenole: herespon [?read: hernespon].
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Trin-C O.2.21)39 : Hernes panne [glossing AF (Cmb): hanepel].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)450 : Pygge rosted, and endored and served with the ȝolke on his neke over gilde, and hernesewes.
Note: New spelling
Note: ~ sewes, some sort of concoction made with the brains of some animal?--MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. harns (pl.).