Middle English Dictionary Entry
kirf n.
Entry Info
| Forms | kirf n. Also kerf(e, kerffe; pl. kirves, kerves & carffes. |
| Etymology | OE cyrf |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The action of cutting, slashing, or chopping; also the cut resulting, an incision, a wound, gash; also fig. the wake of a ship; (b) the act of carving, sculpture; (c) something cut or carved; ?also, a niche; (d) the edge of a sword; (e) ~ of paneteres, a company of pantlers; (f) ~ sheres, some kind of shears.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)253b/a : Þe kuttynge [of vines] schal be aslope bytwene two knottes so þat in þe oþer syde afore þe knotte þe kerf [L vulnus] schal passe.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)372 : 'Kepe þe, cosyn,' quoþ þe kyng, 'þat þou on kyrf sette, & if þou redez hym ryȝt, redly I trowe Þat þou schal byden þe bur þat he schal bede after.'
- (?c1422) Hoccl.ASM (Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)203 : As a ship þat is sayllynge In the wawes & floodes of the See, Whos kerfe nat fownden is whan past is shee.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2713 : With clere watire a knyghte clensis theire wondes..And whene þe carffes ware clene, þay clede them aȝayne.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.190 : Turne euery kirf [L incisura] aweyward from the grape Lest droppyng do hit harm.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)256/828 : Do it [plaster] nat away till thow trow that the kerfe be closid togedir.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)383 : Eek in the kerf, thi right arm is disclosed, Also thi side; and in the foyn, couert Is side & arm.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.757 : With sondri kerf and pourtreture, Thei made of goddes the figure.
c
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)17860 : Men say that hit [the Palladium] is most of tre, But what tre can no man knowe Off alle the kerues that it owe, Ne what forme, ne what hewe.
- (1441) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2450 : Et de iij d. pro kyttynge de xij kyrvis tenementi ecclesie.
d
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4194 : Today Clarente and Caliburne sall kythe them togedirs, Whilke es kenere of kerfe or hardare of eghge.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)382 : Tweyne vnchys entirfoyned hurteth more Then kerf or ege, although it wounde sore.
e
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A kerfe of panters.
- c1475 in Hodgkin Proper Terms152 : A Kerffe of Pantersse.
f
- (1356) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.283 : [2] kerfsheres, 5 s.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. carf.