Middle English Dictionary Entry
kex(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | kex(e n. Also keix, keiex, kix(e cixi, (?error) kise; pl. kexes & kiskes. |
| Etymology | Cp. MnE dial. kecks dried plant stalks. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A dry hollow stem; also, one used for lighting; (b) any of several umbelliferous plants, such as, wild angelica Angelica sylvestris, wild chervil Anthriscus sylvestris, common heracleum Heracleum sphondylium, or common hemlock Conium maculatum; ?also, teasel; ~ sed, the seed of hemlock, used medicinally; (c) as surname & in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.3].
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)461 : Allumey, auncele, une frenole [glossed:] a keiex [vr. kex].
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)605 : Ki pas bost qui ne vaut frenole [glossed:] keix.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.219 : Glowande gledes gladieth nouȝte this werkmen, Þat worchen and waken in wyntres niȝtes, As doth a kex [vrr. kyse, kixe; C: kyx] or a candel that cauȝte hath fyre & blaseth.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6860 : He sles oure men by fyue and six; He countes hem as thei were a kex.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)277 : Kyx, or bunne, or drye weed [Win: bunne of dry wed]: Calamus.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)201 : All þe wyues of Totenham come to se þat syȝt, With wyspes and kexis and ryschys þer lyȝt.
b
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)246/9 : Temper þe pouder of kexsede with eysyll and a-noynt ofte tymes þe pappis þer-with.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)251/10 : Take þe rotis of persly, alexander..lyly, holyhocke, kex, þat growith in water.
- a1500 When nettuls (BodPoet e.1)p.269 : When..kyskys gyfe of hony superfluens, Than put women in trust.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)53/9 : For to make..gratia dei. Take pigle, bugle..cixi, ribgres, [etc.].
c
- (1203) EPNSoc.36 (West Riding Yks.)130 : Kexbec.
- (1226) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)121 : Kexegilbec.
- (1227) EPNSoc.36 (West Riding Yks.)130 : Kexhilbek.
- (1248-9) Inquis.PM Hen.III in Archaeol.Cant.2297 : Thomas Kix.
- (1270) Close R.Hen.III255 : Rogerus le Kixe.
- (1285) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)272 : Kexby.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1076 : Willmo Kyx.
- (1301) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)291 : Kextwayte.