Middle English Dictionary Entry
hough n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | hough n.(1) Also hogh(e, ogh, hoh, (N) hugh, heugh & hou(e, ou, houwe, (N) hu, heu & họ̄, hoi(e. Pl. houes, houwes, huwes & hoes & (from OE dat.pl. in names only) houm, haum, houhum, houen, hauen, hone. |
| Etymology | OE hōh (infl. hō) promontory & ON (cp. OI haugr); ?also cp. OF höe hillock, hill. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A promontory, cliff; mountain or high hill with steep sides; bi hilles and houes, in hurstes and houes, over hil and hough, over hill and mountain, everywhere.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15826 : Þai..rugged him vn-rekenli bath ouer hill and ogh [Göt: hogh].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22202 : Sa sal he sterck Ouer hogh [Phys-E: hoghe] to lepe his hals to brek.
- ?c1400(c1340) *Rolle Psalter (Sid 89)148.9 : Howes [vrr. Howis, Hyllis; L Montes] & alle hilles [L colles].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3486 : He dryfes with his ost Be hiȝe hillis & howis & be holuȝe dounes.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.3 : The hunteres thay haulen by hurstes and by hoes [Dc: halowe in hurstes and huwes].
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5549 : Him thoght þat abouen þat hough he and his men lay sure ynogh.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)82.13 : As flawm brennand howis [L montes]..brennand howis, that is, pynand all that ere..heghe in malice.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)113.4 : Howis [L Montes] gladid as wedirs, and hillis [L colles] as lambis of shepe.
2.
A projecting ridge of land; eminence, piece of high ground, hill, hillock, artificial mound: (a) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.235-6, 256-7]; (b) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1125) in Ekwall Dict.EPN241 : Houwes.
- (1130-8) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)163 : Haum.
- (1160-5) EPNSoc.2 (Bck.)36 : Moleshou.
- (1169) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)44 : Ponte de Houm.
- (1176) in Ekwall Dict.EPN241 : Hoh.
- (1181) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)208 : Hoton.
- (1194) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)163 : Houhum.
- (1199) EPNSoc.30 (West Riding Yks.)112 : Hoiland.
- (1223) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)81 : Drengho.
- (1236) in Ekwall Dict.EPN241 : Houes.
- (1261) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)487 : Hoo.
- (1266) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)434 : Huthweyt.
- (1280) in Ekwall Dict.EPN237 : Howen. Hawen.
- (1285) in Ekwall Dict.EPN241 : Hogh.
- (1292) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)84 : Thirshowe.
- (1317) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)119 : Houghthweyt.
- (1324) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)340 : Houland.
- ?a1325(1237) Liber Cust.Lond.in RS 12.264 : A les Foires de Seynt Yve, Hoylonde, et Wycestre.
- (1332) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)110 : Hoghton.
- (1338) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100378 : In falcacione prati del Hough.
- (1348-9) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100380 : In factura grangie de novo apud le Heugh.
- (1369) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)434 : Hothwayt, Hewthayt.
- (1392) in Wallenberg PNKent114 : Longhoo.
- (1398) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)18 : Huby.
- (a1400) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)324 : Fourehowes, Sevenhouflat.
- (1414-5) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99139 : Cum expensis factis apud le hugh.
- (1449) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)81 : Dryngow.
- (1465-6) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100412 : Apud..Secristanhugh.
b
- (1189-1200) EPNSoc.30 (West Riding Yks.)308 : Swane de Hoiland.
- (c1190) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames109 : Baldric de la Howe.
- (1198) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames110 : Swift del Ho.
- (1209) Pipe R.Winch1/52 : Thoma de Hou.
- (1286) Select Pleas Forest in Seld.Soc.13129 : Iohannem de le Howes.
- (1288) Chester R.in Chet.n.s.84107 : Richard del Hough.
- (1296) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames109 : Will. de la Houwe.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 218 : Thoma Underhou.
- (1310) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 1827 : Roberto Houman.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10120 : Johe atte Hoy.
- (1330) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)339 : Walter atte Hoo.
- (1332) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames110 : Dionis' ate Hone.
- (1346) Reg.Edw.Blk.Pr.1.14 : Richard atte Hogh.