Middle English Dictionary Entry
kenet n.
Entry Info
| Forms | kenet n. Also kenette, kenit, kenid-. |
| Etymology | AN kenit; cp. CF kennet, var. of OF chienet. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A small hunting dog, small hound; also, a dog, cur; (b) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1354) Rec.Norwich 2207 : Mes cest ordinaunce ne se estent pas a leuerers, spaynels, ou petit kenitz. ]
- a1350 Opon a somer (LdMisc 108)5,10 : Wiþ kenettes kene þat wel couþe crie & conne, I hiede to holte wiþ honteres hende..Kenettes questede to quelle.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1701 : A kenet kryes þerof, þe hunt on hym calles; His felaȝes fallen hym to, þat fnasted ful þike.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)61 : There ben also rennyng houndes, some lasse and some moor, And þe lasse byn clepid kenettis.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)13573 : Thei go & hunte with her grehoundes, With hauke, brache, & with kenetes.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)271 : Kenet, hownde: venaticus, caniculus.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)43 : Thay keste of þaire coppilles..Thay recomforthed þaire kenettis, to kele þame of care.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)122 : The Romaynes..Fore ferdnesse..Cowchide as kenetez before þe kynge seluyn.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)1740,1743,1745 : The lord a lytyl kenet hadde..The kenet on hir lappe lay..Scho slowe the kenet..'Dame,' he sayed..'Thou myghtyst..late my hondis on lyf go.'
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)85 : Þe huntur atte þe northe ende..Vncoupult kenettis as he couthe.
- c1450 *Dogs in MS.Arms 58 (ArmsAr 58)f.1 : There beth grehowndys And Bastordes..kenetis And terrourys.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15655 : I am the bychche gret with whelpe That whelpeth kenetys [F chiens] off meschaunce Euere redy to do vengaunce.
- c1475(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Hrl 661)p.417 : Take Kenettes and Ratches with you, and seche oute all the forestes with houndes and hornes, as kynge Edwarde with the longe shankes dide.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)202 : A Kenit: caniculus.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)699/22 : Hic caniculus: a kenet.
b
- (1273) *in Pilkington Surn. : Robertus Kenidheyd.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1017 : Will. Kenet.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.54rb (2.7) : It [urine] was karopos propurly, þat is euermore þik 'naturaliter' & somtyme white-graye, moste lik a colour þat þai callen a kenet, somtyme whit-ȝelow, & somtyme ȝelow, & somtyme euen bitwene boþe whit-ȝelow [& ȝelow], bot euermore þik.
Note: Additional quot. Editor's gloss: 'a hunting dog'.