Middle English Dictionary Entry
husk(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | husk(e n. |
| Etymology | ?MDu. or Flem.; cp. MDu. husekijn, -ken, dim. of huus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The outside covering of nuts, and certain fruits; (b) the cup of an acorn; (c) husk or chaff of grain; (d) a cocoon; (e) the carapace of a beetle.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)125/17 : For right as the note of the hasell hath an husk withouten..right so it is of the notemuge & of the maces.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)94/5 : Ȝe schall vnderstand þat þe macez er þe huskes [F noiz] of þe nutemug.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)254 : Huske [Win: Husk] of frute, or oþer lyke: Corticillus, cullea..Huske of a note: Nuci [Win: Nauci].
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)99/7 : Take grene walnotis with all þe huskes, and bray hem smal in a morter.
b
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)150a/a : Put þerto a litel ventose or slowȝhes or huskes of akornes [L cupula glandium] Imade hote.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)191a/a : Putte þerto..þe huskes [*Ch.(1): coppez] of acorns.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.331 : Vnder huskes growyng on ground arable, Hath be founde & tried out good greyn.
d
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)38b/b : R[ecipe]..flour of rede coralle..rawe silke of þe huske of þe worme..be þer made moste subtile pouder.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)180a/b : R[ecipe]..rawe silke propreli of þe flok or huske of þe worme [L folliculo vermis] smal kutted.
e
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.64r : Bruk is a maner of flye, short & brodissh & in a sad husc; blak hed in shap mykel toward a golde bowde, & mykhede of twyis & þryis atte moste of a gold bowde; a chouere.
2.
Anat. & surg. (a) The fold of the skin which covers the glans penis, the prepuce; (b) the membranous sac surrounding an abscess.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)18b/a : Also it [the matrice] haþ a tentigo as þe prepucie, i. huske.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)19a/a : Þe ende of þe ȝerde is called balanum..þe huske, prepucium.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)44b/b : Bocchis þat ben vpon þe tercis heed nediþ þe strengere driynge medicyns þan þo þatt beþ vpon þe prepucioun or huske.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)34a/b : Drawe yt out holy with his floscle, i. huske [*Ch.(2): sloghe; L flosculo], for els wolde it come agayn.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)42a/b : Forsoþ if it [the boss] be fre..be þe skyn kut & discarnisshed or flayne, And be it drawen out holy with his huske.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)48b/a : Afterward to consume þe follicule, i. huske, I put to a litel of arsenic with cotoun.
3.
Phrase: ~ of hares, a group or company of hares.
Associated quotations
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)232 : A huske or a denne of harez.
- (c1475) in Hodgkin Proper Terms52 : A Droue or A Huske of Harrys.
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(3) (Lamb 306)233 : A huske or a dove of haris.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. husk.