Middle English Dictionary Entry
joint n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | joint n.(1) Also jointe, joinet, joinct, joignt, goint, junte, jount, jonte, gont, geinte, yoint(e, yont. |
| Etymology | OF joint & jointe, joincte. Some forms show influence of ME joinen v.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A joint between bones; either the place where the bones meet or the structure holding them together; haunche ~, q.v.; (b) out of ~, dislocated; fallen (gon) out of ~, to become dislocated; bringen to (in) ~, reduce (a dislocated joint); comen into ~, gon to (into) ~, of a dislocated bone: go back into place; settinge into ~, the reduction of a dislocation; (c) out of ~, fig. disordered, in confusion; perverted, corrupted; (d) the upper end of the thigh bone; also, the socket into which it fits.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)186/42 : He was i-scourget so, þat men miȝten i-seo ech bon And euerech Ioynt and senue.
- c1390 Chart.Abbey HG (Vrn)360 : In þe drawynge, alle þe Ioyntes of boþe his armes bursten in-sunder..þei to-borsten..alle þe Ioyntes of his lendes and of kneos & of his sydes [vr. feet].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)35b/a : Flewme is profitable to make moist þe joyntes & oþir meuable parties with þe moisture þerof, þat þe ioyntis & parties beþ noȝt Ilette of here office by hete of meuynge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)51b/a : To moche humour kelynge and slideringe and slaken þe synewis of þe ioyntes, and so liȝtliche þe ioynt tofalleþ, and þe lyme falleþ out of his place.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)96b/b : Also hit makeþ þe ioyntes of fyngres vnsemelich wiþ knotty bunchis.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)22/20 : Þer ben manye boones..& summe to fulfille the holownes of summe ioyntis [Add: Iunttes; L iuncturarum], as þe handis & þe feet.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)23/12 : Þe eende of þe boones whiche þat ben in þe ioyntis schulden haue a softere confutacioun [read: confricacioun] in her ioyntis [L iuncturis].
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)235/21 : Of akynge of ioyntis þou hast had general rulis.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)296/17 : He schal not go ne ride, but if his leg & his foot be bounden wiþ a boond faste, & speciali in þe ioynct.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1540 : Þe stronge strok of þe stonde strayned his joyntes.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)53 : Whan it is in þe joyntis of here feet, þat ben renne out of her places.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.5694 : Þe moisture..Þoruȝ bon and Ioynt gan his vertu shede.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Dan.10.16 : My Lord, in thi siȝt my ioynctis [WB(1): ioyntouris; L compages] ben vnknit, and no thing of strengthis dwellide in me.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)41a/b : Alle maner of bones ben gretter at þe ioynte þen amidwarde.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)54a/b : And þer as þes two focilles ben ended and ioynen wiþ þe bones off þe hondes, þer is þe ioynte of þe honde.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)56b/a : Also ȝe maie se and knowe þat, amonge þes ioyntes, þe ioynte of þe Elbowe is moste harde to be dislocate and hardeste for to be reduced aȝeine also.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)34b/a : Watry apostemes comen more in þe feet and in the testycles and in þe hede and in þe ioyntes [L iuncturis] þan in oþer places.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)46b/a : Harde fleumatik apostemes ben gendred sometyme aboute þe ioyntes [*Ch.(1): iuncturez] of þe fyngres.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)54/12 : Hys peyn was so wondyrful in alle hys joyntys & in al hys body.
- a1440 Palmistry (1) (Dgb Roll 4)44 : Yf ther be fownd vpon the space betwix the rote of the shewer and the first joynt of the same fyngur ij lynys along vpstandyng.
- c1440(?a1400) ?Nassyngton Trin.& U.(Thrn)247 : And þe Ioynetes of ilk lym & bane, And þe vaynes ware strydand ilkane.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)233/11 : For ache in þe joynte.
- c1450 Dc.55 Cook.Recipes (Dc 55)116 : Take a crane..and lete him blede to deth..& cutt of the wyngys next iunte the body.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)172/531 : Kyttyngs & sores in yontes, a souereyn medecyne.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)89/9 : Oyle benoyt..is good for þe goyntys, also in a playster for þe reggebon.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)72/18 : He sette certeyn merkys of his fingeris and his ioyntis in what place of þe Psalme he was, þat sone aftyr þe temptacion was voyded he myth retorne a-geyn onto þe same place of his orison.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)396 : Somme, with wylde hors ydrawe..Tyl ther Ioyntes wente a-sonder, Nerff and bon assonder Rent.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14780 : Men myghte sen bothe nerffe and bon, And hyr Ioyntes euerychon.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)263/936 : My flesche qwakyth in ferful case, As þow þe joyntys A-sondre xuld schake.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)13b/a : Þerfore þe ligament was bowable & insensible, for if he hadde be sensible, he myȝte not haue susteyned þe traueile of þe meuynge of þe ioynctis.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)20a/a : But the cause whi þese bonys beþ ioyned to þe verual bonys not by serratile ioyntis but oonly superficial is þis.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)46a/b : Vpon þe ioynct of þe knee, þere is a boon..þe which is callid yn ynglisch þe knee panne.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Prayer Leonard (LdMisc 683)20 : Lat thy praier and thy grace avaylle To alle tho that calle þe in ther neede, And specially of women that travaille, To ache of bonys and gontes þat do sprede.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)267/307 : Lyft vs this tre [the cross]..and let it into the mortase fall..And it will breke ilk ionte in hym.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)91/10 : And with that oynement anoynte the nekke and the synwes and the veynes and the Ioyntes of the handes.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)51b/a : For by suche violens þe lyme falleþ out of his Joynt & of his place.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)62/19 : Þe boon..is to-broke atwo & dislocate -- þat is to seie, out of ioynte.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)200/4 : If þe lyme be out of joynct..þan it is yuel to make þe lyme greet aȝen as it schulde.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)316/2 : Al at oonys wiþouten drede, þe boon wole come into his ioynct.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)323/18 : A Mannes schuldre mai go out of þe ioynct in iij maners.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.215 : He þat lolleþ his lame, oþer his leg out of þe ioynte.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)53 : Þe best help þat þer is to brynge hem agayn to þe joint.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)120a/a : And he most drawe fast þat þe bone of þe spondile mowe gone aȝeine to his owne ioynte.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)125b/b : Þe token þat it is oute of ioynte vppewarde is knowen be as moche as þe pacient maye not putte oute his arme fro his bodie.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)126a/a : Þe schulder bone schal gone in to ioynte aȝeine.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)126b/a : Þe elbowe is selden oute of ioynte because of multitude of sinewes & cordes, & it goþe out of ioynte with grete difficulte, and þerfore it is harde to bringe it in ioynte aȝeine.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)7b/a : The secounde doctrine is of restorynge of bones out of ioynte [L de restauratione dislocationum].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)22b/b : Þe maner of reducynge, i. settynge aȝen into ioynte.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)49/10 : His foote was oute of ioynte, that he myght not stonde bot on oon foote.
- a1475 *Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)31b : To knowe þe colde crampe..loke yf it be in þe lege or in the wyng, for whan it commyth in hem, it wyll seme to breke hem, or þei wyll seme owte of joynte.
c
- (1395) Wycl.12 Concl.(Th 17)304 : We preye God of his endeles godnesse reforme oure chirche, al out of ioynt, to þe perfectiun of þe firste begynni[n]gge.
- (1415) Hoccl.Oldcastle (Hnt HM 111)200 : Bewar Oldcastel..To thy correccioun now haaste and hie, For thow haast been out of ioynt al to longe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2828 : Naked þe hed, his armure al to-torn..At disavauntage, & pleinly oute of Ioynt.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6650 : It sittith nat..Hem [women] to rebuke that parfit been & goode, Ferr out off ioynt thouh sum other stoode.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)1107 : And yet this lady, wys and sage, Was ryght olde and of gret age, No thing stondynge out of Ioynt But ay abydynge in oo poynt, Whos beaute fade may nor falle.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)2939 : Thow art in party out of Ioynt.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1639 : Yt shall nesshe ful wel thyn herte Whan yt is harde or out of Ioynt.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13689 : Ryght so fferd I, al out off Ioynt.
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)147/30 : Þis heepe..schal be oute of cours, of ioynt and oute of liþþ, oute of ordre and oute of dewe processe, to gider clumprid, þat it schal neuer serue to teche.
d
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)264 : Ioynte, or hole of the knokylle bone [KC adds: cleped the whirlebone]: Ancha.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)421 : Qvyrlylebone, yn a ioynt: Ancha.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)524 : Whyrlebone, or hole of a ioynt: Anca, vertebrum, vertibulum, condulus.
2.
(a) A joint or node in the stem of a plant; ?also, the stalk (?root) of an onion; (b) a joint or juncture; also, something which fastens; (c) a crevice where things come together, a fissure.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)221a/b : Þe tame oynoun haþ an holowȝ stalke wiþouten knottes & reneweþ boþe ioyntes and leues [L folia..et radices].
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.137 : The tasul now in donged lond is sowe..Sette hem not depe -- oonly iij fyngris mette On hem, vnto the ioynt [BodAdd: unto the yoint; L ad primos articulos] in lond descende, And hele hem light.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)264 : Ioynte, or knytty[n]ge togedur, what so they be [vr. knyttynge to-gedur of what thing so it be]: Compago, compages.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)17352 : Therto tho ȝates Ful clos they ben with joyntes of yrne þat Men Mown sen, an on Euery ȝate vij hynges.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)1226 : Fryer Bacon disclosed more of that poynte when he sayde, 'departe ye every Iointe in elementa propinqua.'
c
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)30 : Moises..was..thanne put in a vessel of wykyris, fillid the joyntis with tow erde cleped bithumen, and so put in watir.
- a1500 Tundale (Adv 19.3.1)928 : The edders schulld owt of hem crepe, Noght only throw prevy place, But throw ylke a lym..Throw hed and feyt, backe and syde, Throw armis and leggys..And throw ylk a ioynt that thei fand Their crepud owt all attonis.
3.
(a) One of the joining parts of a bone structure; a vertebra, one of the phalanges of a finger; (b) a section of a reed between two joints, an internode; (c) a joint of meat.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)247b/b : Þe rigge bon is y-cleped spina, for þe ioyntes of þe bones in þe rigge bon beþ scharpe as thornes.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)15b/a : Þe conteynynge parties..[of] þe nekke..beeþ þe skynne, fleisshes, muscles, ligamentis, & bones or 7 lynkes or ioyntes [L ossa seu spondilia septem].
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)63 : And sodeynly ther spronge out of hir honde a ioynt of hir fynger whiche he toke ioyfully as a precious ȝefte of god and bare hyt hoom to hys monastery.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)47a/a : And þese bonys ben nyȝ round and ben y-founden in euery ioynct of ech fyngir in mannys body.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)227/25 : Tho men whych haue the neke wel dystyncted by his yontes and wel delyuerit, they bene of good witte and good vndyrstondynge.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)5.162 : Kitte out a ioynt [Bod Add: ayointe; L internodium] of reed, and in the side Therof let make an hole, and theryn do Hony or swete wyn.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)35b/a : He seiþ þat cokes kitten not eche ioynte one after anoþer, but þei grynden and brissen & wasten alle at ones.
4.
(a) A limb or part of the body; a finger, hand, leg, etc.; (b) everi ~, every part of the body; all over the body; in every part of a stone; (c) ?the projecting part of a molding.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)5090 : Loke alle þy lymes, fete and hondes..And ȝyf þou mayst forbere noun..Y rede we þanke hym of euery poynt, Syn we may nat forbere þe lest Ioynt.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.175 : Þe paume hath powere to put oute alle þe ioyntes And to vnfolde þe folden fuste.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1571 : On smale pecis til she be to-hewe And dismembrid assondre Ioint fro Ioint.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)54b/b : Þe whiche felen smytynges in smale ioyntes [L articulis].
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)2448 : With bondis grete..Thei haue him bownde; his ioyntis are al blewe.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Mutability MN (Hrl 2255)17 : Off erthe he hath ioyntes, flessh, and boonys, And of watir ful manyfold humours.
- (1449) Will York in Sur.Soc.30151 : Item, una pixis lignea cum quantitate capillorum Beatæ Mariæ Magdalenæ in eadem inclusa; Item, una alia pixis cum joynt Sancti Laurencii in eadem incluso.
- a1450 St.Etheldr.(Fst B.3)880 : No geynte of hurre body lay þerinne amys, Bot euery lemme of hurre body ley þerinne bothe fayre & honestly.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1027 : Þe freke..With a cramp & a colde cauȝt was so hard Þat þe fyngres & feet, fustes & joyntes [vr. ioyntes and handes], Was lyþy as a leke.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)247/5 : Þis ys good for þe pappis and for þe priuy membrys and for smal joyntis abowte.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)78/17 : Tak a quarte of oyle lauryol and late þe sike man a-noynte..all his iowntes of his body a-ȝens a fer.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.2840 : He wolde..breke his othe in euery poynt Then to leese of his bodye the leest Ioynt.
- ?a1500 Job (Hnt HM 140)90 : Sathan..smote hym with plages and wondys right vervent; From the fote vnto the hede he no yointe spared.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.1197 : This Maister hath hire every joignt With certein oile and balsme enoignt.
- a1450 St.Etheldr.(Fst B.3)718 : For þat ston was well ygraue euery geyntte, Þat holy body to close alle holle with-inne, With ryȝt curiose crafte eueryche a neynche.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15153 : I kan Enoynten euery Ioynt, And affter, with my knyves poynt..I kan wel smyten at the bak.
c
- (1422) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1385 : They..shal at their owne costes do be made and browght vn to london iiijc xvj fote of legement table bering ful joyntes at ye lest iij ynches or more clene apparailled in the forme that ys callid casshepeed according to a molde to theym therof deliuered by the said William.
- (1422) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1386 : iijc xxiiij fote of tweyne legement tables aftur the forme of certain moldes therof to theym deliuered bering ful joyntes iiij ynches or more at the lest.
5.
Copulation.
Associated quotations
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.854 : Impacient yf that femalis [mares] be And wol no male, her naturalite With stamped swille embawme other ennoynt, And they wole sone enabul in that ioynt [L libidinem contrahunt].
6.
(a) Position, place; (b) situation; in another ~, in a different frame of mind; in ivel ~, in a bad way.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)30.292 : Maketh Ordenaunce For that swerd..And Ordeyneth bothe for hondele & point, To Setten Euery thing In his Ioynt.
b
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.622 : He..Made hem to dyen vppon his poynt And Made here bodyes in Evele Ioynt.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.766 : Ye chaungen too and fro, Now wil ye, now arn ye in another ioynt, And thanne wil ye nought.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1420) *Mun.B.Bridgewater(no 42?) : In gumpt et vertnell et ferr. petil. pro alta Cruce, xd.
Note: New spelling
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.48va (2.6) : Accompte hem by the ioyntz of þi 4 fyngres.
Note: Additional quot., sense 1.(a). New spelling (pl.) = jointz.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. joinct.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. joint.