(a) Honey; milk and ~; -- said of the richness or abundance of a land or country; (b) ~ of the feld, wild honey; ~ of roses, a preparation of honey and roses; comb of ~, a honeycomb; whit ~, ?honey made by bees before swarming; wilde ~, honey made by wild bees; (c) nectar of flowers; (d) a honey-like preparation used medicinally; (e) fig. that which is agreeable, gratifying, or spiritually beneficial; (f) in proverbs and sayings; (g) as a term of endearment; ~ dere (swete).

In cpds. and combs.: (a) ~ be, a honeybee; ~ bike, a honeycomb; ~ brid, honey-bird, a bee; -- as an epithet for Christ; ~ comb, q.v.; ~ douce, a dish made of almond milk and rice; ~ drope, a drop of honey; ~ onfake, a confection made of juice of unripe grapes and honey; ~ pot (vessel), a receptacle for storing honey; ~ souke, ~ soukel, q.v.; ~ strem (flod), flow of honey; -- also fig.; ~ sugre, ?crystallized or candied honey; ~ ter [OE hunig-tēar], a drop of honey, honey dripping from the comb; -- also as an epithet for Christ; ~ tre, ?a plant of the genus melianthus; (b) ~ lif, sweet life; -- epithet for Christ; ~ love, sweet love, tender love; ~ mouth, honeyed mouth, Homer's mouth; ~ swete, sweet honey; fig. pleasing language, sugared words; -- also adj., q.v.; ~ thikke, thick as honey; ~ wordes, flattering words.

In surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.269].