Middle English Dictionary Entry
hǒus-hōld n.
Entry Info
| Forms | hǒus-hōld n. Also -hald, -hould, household, housshold, housold, houssold, housole, h)ousald, houseld. |
| Etymology | From hǒus & hōld n.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) The members of a family collectively, including servants, a family; the familia of a bishop, abbot, etc.; also, a hive full of bees; also fig.; (b) the persons living with a king, queen, or noble; attendants, retainers, retinue; court; (c) ?a court of justice; (d) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.43 : If he deye wit-outen ye lystes of thre myle, and his mansioun and his houseld ben in ye cite, he schal do don a dyryge and messe wyt here lythe.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)267 : Þou schalt o tyme wiþ Martha be bisy ffor to ruile & gouerne þin houshold, þi children, þi seruauns.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1895 : Thei [Ypocrisie & Falssemblant] ben togedre broght Of o covine, of on houshold.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester10 : A custumer no schal nouȝt takyn of no man for non vitayles to his houshold.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)1 Cor.1.16 : Safe ich baptyzed Stephanies houshold.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)70b/b : Yconomus: an hosbonde of howsholde.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.pr.6.332 : The nedy poverte of his houshold myghte rather egren hym to don felonyes.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)157/16 : Þu madist me onys stiward of þin howsholde & executor of alle thy good werkys.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1999 : On of þis houshold he gan to his powere repe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)250 : Howsholde: Familia.
- (1444) Will York in Sur.Soc.30113 : I ordeyne..to every yoman in houshald not rewardid, vj s. viij d.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)22.317 : Whanne sche was In Myn howshold, Fairere sche was be an hundred fold.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)45/16 : He luffid hur passandli wele, and his howsold bakbate hym þerfor.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)4.13 : Alle these ben bees, whiche to þe houshold brynge Alle her stuf and al her gaderynge.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.111/3 : At v days solemne..I and my howsold to the modur church schall come.
- (c1470) Stonor1.109 : Yowr wyffe..ffaryth well and all ȝowr howsolde.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)78/25 : The seyd raph shal fynde hors & harnes to hym-selfe & to hys wyfe & to hem that were of hys howshold.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.1100 : If þou be far from thy wyffe and houshalde.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)68 : The terme of Res publica..ought aswelle be referred to the provision and wise gouvernaunce of a mesuage or a householde as to the conduit and wise governaunce of a village, towne, citee, countree, or region.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Lamb 633)192/24 : A wif is lik an ornement of an houshold.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1675 : A king..His wif and child schal reule and guie, So forth with al the companie Which in his houshold schal abyde.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)18 : He is..clene in his corte, þe Kyng þat al weldez, And honeste in his housholde.
- (1417-19) Paston2.8 : To fore thys gate, lay my Lord of Clarense vnto riversyde of Seyne with mykyl of hys howsold.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2752 : Pirrus..held also..Andronomeca with hym in housholde.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2137 : He gan to hym calle Chief constable of his Chyualrye, Charchyng hym fast for to hye with al the worthy Chooce of his housholde.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.122/27 : Thei hirid a page of the Quenys housold to arreste a botfull of rysshis.
- (1423) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)268 : Also I be-whethe iche swyer þat is with me in houshold at my deyng xl s.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)144/14 : Knyghtes clene armed to kepe þat noman entre..but ȝif þei ben seruantes or mynstrall of the houshold.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)157/18 : He trusteth more in the cristene leches..And his oþer comoun houshold is withouten nombre.
- (1426) Proc.Privy C.3.218 : No lord of what estat..þat he be of wetyngly receyve, cherisshe, holde in houshold..ravisshours of wommen ayenst þe lawe.
- (1439) RParl.5.32b : Ye, Soverain Lord..have ordeyned of the Revenues..to be applied to your said Housolde dispenses.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)89 : He was eke longing on-to þe grete houshold Of Herry þe Emperour.
- (1444) RParl.5.115a : Hit is ordeined..that upon such purveauncez to be made for the Housoldes of the Kyng and of the Quene, redy paiement shall be made in hand.
- (1450) RParl.5.192a : Provided also that this Petition and Act extende not nor be prejudiciall to Robert Fowleshyrst, Squier of oure Housholde.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)1 : Marcus paulus..descryued on to us þe natur of þe cuntr..and þe stately aray of þe grete cane houshold.
- (1458) Paston (Gairdner)3.125 : The Duk of Yorke came to London with hys oune housole onlye to the nombre of cxl hors.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)176 : The Kyng wex so pore, that he had not to fynde his houshold.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)128 : A lord..is charged with no such charges..as is the kyng, except an houshold.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.218 : Þe hie houusinge herborowe ne myghte Halfdell þe houshould but hales hem helped.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)49 : When I come, make grete gladnesse of me be-fore youre peple in youre howsolde.
c
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)263/237 : Now sees þat oure howsolde be holden here hole, So þat none carpe in case but þat in court dwellis.
d
- (1312) Pat.R.Edw.II432 : Peter Houshald.
1b.
In phrases: purtenaunce of ~, household goods; of the ~, of a remedy:?household, domestic [cp. homli adj. 1. (a)]; abiden in ~ with, to remain or live with (sb.); holden in ~, keep (sb.) as a member of one's family; kepen (holden) ~, have a residence, dwell, keep house, hold court; kepen in ~, keep (persons together) as a family; maken ~, make a home, set up housekeeping; putten out of ~, dismiss (a servant), disown (a child).
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.38.13 : That thou..take portenaunce of houshold [L auferas supellectilem] and substaunce.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1634 : He schope hym forþe to þe court as blyue, Wher duk Nestor..His housholde held, royal as a kyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3409 : And in þat tyme..In Strynestar..Þei held an housholde solempne & ryal.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2587 : Tho lordes that with hym abyde In houshold stille han her leve take.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)136/26 : Þat cytee..is stronglich enhabyted with peple, in so moche þat in on hous men maken x housholdes.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)180b/b : Þe secounde fourme is of þe housholde [L de domo], and it is cleped þe rede powdre.
- (1427) RParl.4.318b : And also ye saide Commens, graunten to oure saide soverain Lord..so yat yer be..x persones there holdynge housholde.
- (1429) Will Braybroke in Ess.AST 5299 : I wol that after my deces my meyne meygnall be kepte togederes in houshold in ye maner of Danbury.
- (1438) Will Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.4328 : He xal..fy[n]dyn a prest to syng in hes Chapell qwer he kepyth hes housold for my sowl and Cecyl.
- (1442) Visit.Alnwick230 : Thai holde many housholdes, wherthurghe as we drede comes many harmes.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)198 : Þe servaunt or þe child..schal anoon be putte out of household of good lordschip or of good fadirhode for euer.
- (1446) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.32 : Yf sche kepe houssold there, he schall dyne or suppe there.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)2662 : Thou shalt be ther in a while, Where that love..Stately holdeth his housholde.
- c1450 How mankinde dooþ (Lamb 853)88 : Þanne comeþ þe vij deedli synnes With þe wickid aungil housholde to holde.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)43/33 : Whann he was mad bischop he say weel þat..he must hold a houshold.
- (1459) Will Fastolf in Nrf.Archaeol.2232 : The said John Paston shulde haue and enheritte the same maners, lands, and tenements..And ther to duelle and abide and kepe householde.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)146 : The xij spirituell men off this covnsell..shull not nede to kepe an houshold in thair contray.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)4.2 : Where was euere ony cristen kynge..Þat helde swiche an household be þe halfdelle?
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)322 : He helde in howsehold with him þe sone of his brothir, whom he moche lovid.
2.
(a) A dwelling place, residence; (b) separate quarters occupied by small groups of nuns in a convent; (c) a landholding able to support one household [cp. hide n. (2)].
Associated quotations
a
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.1293 : His toune to hym was receit & houshold.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)480 : Alisaundre..Sent unto hym a secre massageer With-oute Exskus to come to his houshoold.
b
- (1440) Visit.Alnwick350 : We inioyne yow, supprioresse, and all others of the couent..that ye lefe your householdes and stande alle holy wythe the prioresse in hire householde.
- (1442) Visit.Alnwick52 : [Nuns] levyng vtterly all pryuate hydles, chaumbers, and syngulere housholdes.
- (1445) Visit.Alnwick115 : There are many..and separate housholdes of nunnes in your saide monastery.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.39 : Þe met of þis ilond..is a þowsand housholdes [Higd.(2): townes other howseholdes; L familiarum] and two hondred.
3.
(a) Furniture and articles belonging to a household, household goods; household food; (b) domestic affairs, housekeeping; (c) eating and drinking in a household; ?hospitality.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.99 : For wel ye knowe a lord in his houshold Ne hath nat euery vessel al of gold.
- (1420) EEWills52/11 : Also I will þat my wyffe haue all my housholde holy, with vcl li. that is in hir handes.
- (1424) EEWills56/10 : Also I wul he haue al myn other houshoold þat I haue atte Londen, except my bed of Tapistree.
- (1424) EEWills57/27 : All myn other howshold, saf suche as longeth to þe gamerye, I wul abyde to myn heyr.
- (1426) EEWills70/30 : I woll þat all maner howshold be kept, and let þe children haue hit, or þe prys.
- (1429) Will Braybroke in Ess.AST 5306 : Also I wol that, yif any of myn executours..wol bye any thing of my houshold, that they be preferred to bye so yat they yeue as muche therefore as other wullen.
- (1438) Will Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.4328 : And as towchyng in alle my goodes, catalles, and jowelles..and alle my stuff of houssold and husbondrye in my maner..thys is my last Wyll, that Myles, my sone, have all that ther of that he desyreth.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)9891 : No wyse..she shuld eete, Of hyr houshould, metys wych..Hyr thoute hyr seruauntys dede not gete.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)59/15 : When þe wykkid fyre was in howsis nere-hand hur, hur doghter began to bere oute hir howsshold.
- (1454) Will York in Sur.Soc.30171 : I wyll scho [my wife] have the hole howshowld as it standys.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1297 : Ne take no wyf..for housbondrye As for to spare in houshold thy dispence; A trewe seruant dooth moore diligence.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)242a/a : Of thise russhes beeþ y-made dyuers needful gere and þinges þat nedeth in houshold.
- (1430) EEWills85/12 : Al-so y be-queth..to Richard Soler alle necessarijs longynge to housold of dede store, saue a grete brasse potte.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.1292 : As Diogenes in his litil tonne Heeld hym appaied, because attemperaunce Hadde of his houshold al the gouernaunce.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.516 : I wyl y[at] my seid wyf shal have al my stuf longyng to myn houshold.
- c1450(?a1449) ?Lydg.Marriage (Dgb 181)70 : Vpon here husbondes when hem list be bold, Howe they allone gouerne the howsold.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)22/20 : Þere ysaye..and oþer þat dwelled aftir him..putten certeyn necessaries þat longed to householde.
c
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4740 : Þat synne..were by-cause of to gret excesse of householde, Forto make to euery mon & womon ryȝt gode chere, & euer to ȝif hem mette & drynk he was fulle bolde.
4.
In cpds. & combs.: ~ bred, ?bread for servants; ~ fader, the head of a household; ~ gere (stuffe), equipment of any kind belonging to a household; ~ man, one who belongs to a household, a servant or attendant; ~ meine, members of a household, servants; ~ nede, ~ servaunt.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.10.25 : Ȝif thei han clepid the husbonde man..Belzebub, hou myche more his housholde meynee?
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.21/7 : And to the seruantes..the same howseholde-fadir answerde, [etc.].
- (1427) Reg.Langley in Sur.Soc.16963 : And I wyl that myn howsehold servantz have departed emang theym..a C marcs.
- (1445) ?Bokenham Claudian CS (Add 11814)267/101 : That householde stuffe sholde not be streyte.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)377 : He hath wijf and children and household needis ȝeerli and daili to be costioseli founde.
- (1450) RParl.5.205a : The said Harri Bruyn is the Kinggs houshold man.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)124/29 : He that reckez not of his awen menȝe and most of his housholdmene..es worse than a paynym oute of feyth.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)429/22 : His howshold-men cownceld hym at he sulde not do so.
- (1451) Lin.DDoc.46/6 : Al my howsald seruants, & owt of owsald..al that þe haue offendyd me & det they owe me..I will be for-giffyne to some the to-halfe.
- (?1470) Let.Christ Ch.in Camd.n.s.1921 : Ye nedid to write to Apuldre how the goods schall be disposid, for hit ys houshold gere all.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)55 : Alle howsold bred iij dayes old so it is profitable.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)95/8 : Þou, god, chasist in þis worlde poure & meke and despised of þe worlde into þine familiars & householde men.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)1355 : In the grosse worke doo by my Read: take never therto no howsholde man.