Middle English Dictionary Entry
Īrish n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Īrish n. Also irishe, hirishe, irisse, hirisse, iris(e, jris, irisc(e, irich(e, iresh(e, jresh, ires(se, irreisce, (error) yrischs & erisch, erich herisse & ireis, hireis, irais. |
| Etymology | From OE Īras, from ON; cp. OI Īrar, from OIr. Ēriu. Some forms suggest the influence of OF irais, ires, irois 'angry' & Irais, Irois 'Irish'. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The Irish people; Irish soldiers or army; wilde ~; (b) the Irish language; (c) ?Irish linen; (d) as surname [some examples may be OF irais, wrathful, bad-tempered].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12855 : Islaʒen wes Wanis..Scottes..Galewaʒes & Irreisce [Otho: Yrisse].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)17346 : Þa Irisce [Otho: Yresse] weren bare.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3095 : Vter & is compaynie..a stronge bataile smite, & þe yrisse to driue þere.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5551 : Þer were of deneys & of scottes aslawe, & al so of yreis [vr. Irysshe].
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8828 : Of folk þey ladde fyftene þousand, Agayn þe Irische [vr. Iris] for to stand.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)13876 : Þere he houed with his compenye To knowen of these jresch more certeinlye.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)48 : Pictis and Scottys and Hyrysshe also, And þe Denmarkes come þo first ynne.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)687 : Of sylvere and golde there is the oore Amonge the wylde Yrishe, though they be pore, For they ar rude and can thereone no skylle.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)6037 : Kyng R. leffte wiþ hys..Scottes, Yrysch [vrr. Yressh, Jrys], ffolk of Bretayne.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)prol.10 : Richard..werrid be west on þe wilde Yrisshe.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)204/30 : This Erle..rode Thomon xl dayes, the wyche is the moste Inly Streynth of Iryssh.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)33/13 : Herof come..to the Irysh dred and wanhope.
b
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)375/309 : Quaþ þe bysschop an yrischs, 'Ic wepe for þis king.'
c
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.173 : [A lord's gown of] Iryssh [lined with black]..[a] bastard [gown of] Irissh [furred with] gray.
d
- (1169) in Pipe R.Soc.13107 : Ricardus Ireis.
- (1191) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.7288 : Herueius Yrich.
- (1221) Pleas Crown Glo.33 : Willelmi le Ireis.
- (1255) Hundred R.Tower 258 : Ric' le Irishe.
- (1261-2) Cart.Oseney in OHS 89146 : Willelmus le yres.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1066 : Johanne le Herysse.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1069 : Johanne Hyrysse.
- (1308) Let.Bk.Lond.B (Gldh LetBk B)206 : Walter le Hireys.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3172 : Margeria Ireys.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3268 : Nicholaus le Irays.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10153 : Johannes Erissh.