jai - Middle English Compendium

Middle English Dictionary Entry

jai n.

Forms	jai n. Also jei, ǧaie.
Etymology	OF jai, gaye.

(a) The European jay (Garrulus glandarius); (b) in Bible transl.: a Biblical bird, ?the heron; (c) as surname.

a1350 Ichot a burde in boure (Hrl 2253)41 : Heo is..gentil, iolyf so þe iay.
c1330 Why werre (Auch)104 : A jay in a kage..God Engelish he speketh, ac he wot nevere what.
(c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.642 : Ye knowen wel how that a iay Kan clepen Watte as wel as kan the pope.
(c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1397 : For any wit that men han now a dayes, They mowe wel chiteren as doon iayes.
c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)142 : Syngeþ þe niȝttyngale, gradeþ þe jay.
?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)56/21 : Redars in þe fendis chirche ianglen her lessouns as iaies chatiren in þe cage.
a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)51/2 : I fynde no swetnes but speke as a Iay, and nouȝt wote what I mene.
(?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2953 : A iay may chatre in a goldene cage, Yit euer sum tech mut folwe of his lynage.
c1460(a1449) Lydg.MRose (Hrl 2255)28 : Iayes in musyk haue smal experyence.
a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)357/265 : He jangelis like a jay.
(a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)805/15 : And in his slepe he talked and claterde as a jay of the love that had bene betwyxte quene Gwenyver and hym.
?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)154/77 : I am jolyere than þe jay Stronge thevys to steke.
c1475 Five Puzzles (Brm)12 : Take iij claterars..B kbk. A iai.
a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)6312 : Syr kyng..I praye the, make these folke be stille, That janglys thus lyke a gaye!
a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.416 : Þeis women..Gangle as a gosse and Iangyll as a Iey.

(a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.14.18 : Vnclene ete ȝe not..anyȝtcrowe, acormaraunt, & ajay [WB(2): caladrie; L charadrium] eche in his kynde.