Middle English Dictionary Entry
Italian n. & adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | Italian n. & adj. Also italion, italien, itaillian. Pl. italians, etc. & italiance. |
| Etymology | Prob. ML & OF. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) As noun: a native of Italy; (b) as adj.: marchaunt ~, an Italian merchant.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)237a/b : Ofte some ytalians clepen superfluite þe potage of olyue.
- a1425 Trev.Higd.(Hrl 1900)7.31 : Italyens [StJ-C: Whanne þe Italies breke þe pees].
- (1439) RParl.5.32a : That..none Itaillian, nor other Merchant of the Contres beyonde the said Straites of Marrok, selle withyn this Reaume.
- (1449) RParl.5.144b : That every Venician, Italian, Januey, Florentyn, [etc.]..paye to you oure Soveraigne Lord a Subsidie.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) Ctn.(Hrl 2261)447 : A grete multitude of peple of the cite of Rome entrede into the palice, cryenge, 'A Roman or an Ytalion.'
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)130/15 : The ytaliance sayth that in a kynge hit is noght reproue yf he be scarse to hym-Selfe and large to his sugettes.
b
- (1423) RParl.4.249a : Bysechyth humbully these Merchauntz Italians [*Anc.Pet.: Itaillians] en London.