Middle English Dictionary Entry
kersei n.
Entry Info
| Forms | kersei n. Also kersi, kercie, kerissei, karsei, karissei, carsei, carissai, cerseg, (error) terseg. |
| Etymology | From Kersey in Suffolk. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A kind of coarse woolen cloth; also, a piece or manufactured length of this cloth; ~ man, ?a maker of this cloth.
Associated quotations
- (1262) in Gross Gild Merch.2.4 : Memorandum de illis qui ponunt lanam de Ispania in pannis tersegis [read: cersegis].
- (1376) RParl.2.347b : Monstrent les Communes de les Contees d'Essex & de Suffolk..que les Draps appellez Cogware & Kerseyes faitz es ditz Contes..ne soient compris en dit Estatut.
- (1390) RParl.3.281b : Une manere de Marchandise appellez Kerseyes.
- (1390) RParl.3.282a : Touchant l'envoye des ditz Kerseyes.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5289/3 : Pro iijbus vlnis et di. de kersey.
- (?1392) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.528 : De Johanne de Wesenham pro iiiixx kerseys.
- (1393-4) RParl.3.320b : Le Roi voet que chescun homme du Roialme purra faire Draps, si bien Kerseyes come autres, de tiel longure & laeure come luy plerra.
- (1409-12) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.689 : De duobus duodenis blankettorum de Kent..ii peciis kersey.
- (1433) RParl.4.451b : Every man of his Reaume myght make as wele Clothes of Kerseys as other Clothes, of soche lenght and brede as it liked hem.
- (1439) Close R.Hen.VI279 : [John Benham of] Spene mille [co. Berkshire], kerseyman.
- (1445) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 93110 : Pro corpore l duploidem de albo carissay.
- (a1450) Pet.Chanc.in Seld.Soc.10134 : v peces of kercies.
- (1458) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2.59 : For every clothe of Frise..For euery pece of Karsey.
- (a1460) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.214 : De quolibet trussello de kerseye, Walssh russet, et mantell' d'Irland.
- (1464) RParl.5.562a : Also be it ordeyned..that every Cloth called Kersay..hold and conteyn in lengh xviii yerdes..and in brede a yerde and the nayle.
- (1468) Stonor1.101 : Also vij erdys of kersey þat was made of þe same roset.
- (1471) Paston (Gairdner)5.121 : An hose clothe of ȝelow carsey of an ellyn.
- (1474) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)117 : Item iij peces of karsey, ij d.
- (c1475) Stonor1.153 : A payre off hossen..off russet keryssey..a payr of hosse..off russet karyssey.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)21b : Carsay: bilex.
- a1525(?1434) Cov.Leet Bk.166 : Ric. Kersyman.