Middle English Dictionary Entry
lā̆bǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lā̆bǒur n. Also labor(e, labur(e, labir & lobour; pl. laboures, etc. & labourous. |
| Etymology | L & OF labor |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Work; esp. hard work; also services; don ~, to work; (b) physical exertion, manual work, toil; ~ of the bak, work or exercise tending to strain the back; (c) agricultural labor, horticultural work; (d) mental work; (e) the fruits of labor, product; a book.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3861 : By wisdom, manhede, and by greet labour, From humble bed to roial magestee Vp roos he Iulius the conquerour.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Eccl.10.15 : The labour [WB(2): trauel] of foolys shal tormenten hem that kunnen not in to the cite gon.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)259/52 : Fel auntur þat hire breþur ede In labour to don heore dede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.667 : The fourthe greuance is in outrageous labour in werkes..Heer agayns..Crist..taughte vs pacience whan he baar vp on his blissed shulder the croys.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2384-7 : That on the plogh hath undertake With labour which the hond hath take, That other tok to studie and muse, As he which wolde noght refuse The labour of hise wittes alle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1948 : The bodi fat and full Is unto gostli labour dull.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1971 : Thow woldest han oure labour [i.e., prayer] al for noght.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.42,43 : Hyf ich by laboure sholde lyue..That labour þat ich lerned best þer-whit lyue ich sholde..The lomes þat ich laboure with..Ys pater-noster and my prymer.
- (1415) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)49 : Y will..þat Thomas Hugon my recesyvour..for his labour and his bisinesse have xl s.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)prol.205 : Clerkis..dide her labour and her besynesse.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Job 5.7 : A man is borun to labour [WB(1): trauaile], and a brid to fliȝt.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6723 : If he may done no labour For elde or sykenesse..Or for his tendre age also, Thanne may he yit a-begging go.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)68/13 : God þanne..to herte her moore feruently in labur aboute þe heelþe of mannys soule, answeride.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.27/11,12 : Reste..aftyr labur repayrith man Aȝeyne to labour.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)321 : He may ordeyne hir for to be redy to chere hym..aftir hise labouris and traveilis doon aboute her boþe profit.
- (?1443) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)1 : At ye sayd dener was chosyn a prest to synge for hem..and the prest to haue euery weke xvj d. for his labor.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)21/21 : Nowt only wer þese wordes expressed with labour of his tunge, but his forhed, chekis, his eyne, and all his membres in maner laboured in pronounsyng of þese wordes.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57361 : My mastyr alowed hym for his costes be xxij dayis, xxij s..he hathe reseyvid more than he hath paid, xviij s., The wyche my mastyr gaff hym for his labour.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)28/6 : Edyue Abbas..with hyr propur labour, costys, and almys edified the sayd churche.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.415 : Mony benefites of nature..schalle be knowen by the study and labores of men to comme afterwarde.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)36 : Alien sonis..enter not to þe lif bi þe maner of Crist in meknes, pouert, paciens, and labour.
- c1475(c1447) Epitaph Duke Glo.(Hrl 2251)97 : Studye, labour, and merit for comvne wele; ffor reward, smal thank..Departith from me.
- c1500(a1449) Lydg.Aesop (Trin-C R.3.19)117 : Who woll þryue, labour must endure.
b
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3491 : So worshipful a creature..Ne moore labour myghte in werre endure Was noon.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1862 : For euery labour som tyme moot han reste.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1143 : To hir labour spedily they gon.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)148a/a : Abstening fro..longnez of stricture of þe girdil & fro multitude of rydyng & labour [*Ch.(2): trauaile; L labore] of þe backe.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)152/21 : A man þat laboreþ in his gardeyn or in his orcherd, þe which haþ delyte and is restid in soule wiþ his laboure bycause of his fair orcherd or gardeyn.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)18422 : Here schippes myght not lede her tresour That euery man hadde for his labour.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.4/27 : Aftir the labourous and swetyng that he had by dayes, his body with reste he wolde refresshe.
- c1450(?1436) Siege Calais (Rome 1306)9 : Than cometh tyme of labours, To profit and worshippe wynne In armes.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)26 : To laboreres the hoope of there payment softeth there laboures off there besynes.
- (1446) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 483 : Item, for to mennys labour to helpe brewe, x d.
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1350 : We payde for makyng of ye gret belle whele..for ye labur & for bondis of yron..vi d.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)6b : Most able peple to armes is boystous and rude peple in feelde..þat haue hir..lymmes..hardid wiþ trauaile to al manere laboure.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1839 : Ilkon wirk on þer wise What so es most nedeful labore.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)54/2 : Be temperat..in lieng with wommen and in alle other labours.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)135/20 : He schall make iij thynges hys medicens of leches..The ijd is labur mesurably.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)349/2 : Whan a good knyght doth so well..hit is no good knyghtes parte to lette hym of his worshyp..whan he..hath done so grete labur.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)21 : The xij puissaunt entreprinses..that Hercules..toke uppon hym..being subget to grete laboure, wynnyng renomme and worship.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)5 : Grete lobour þat he hadde on the day Afore made him to slepe hard.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.S.283 : Þei [the accursed dancers] had never hunger, thryst, ne werynes, Nor slepyd in xij monythys..And euer lyk fressh in þer labure and besynes.
c
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3204 : Adam..Was dryue out of his hye prosperitee To labour and to helle and to meschaunce.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.3252 : The Erthe it is, which everemo With mannes labour is bego..The mannes hond doth what he mai To helpe it forth and make it riche.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23700 : Þe erth..sal..blisced be and quit O labur.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.253 : Þe freke þat fedeth hym-self with his feythful laboure, He is blessed by þe boke.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)633 : Þay dyden hys heste, þay wern þereine; Why schulde he not her labour alow?
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6857 : Where fyndest thou a swynker of labour Have me unto his confessour?
- a1450 In þe vale (Sln 2593)p.230 : An aungil..drof Adam into disert; Ther was Adam sore aferd, For labour coude he werkyn non.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)99/37,100/1 : They woll falle to what laboure I putte them and woll be ryght glad to do laboure.
- -?-(1377) Tenants in Som.Dor.NQ 13273 : They of the owte townes shal come at lammasse with such gere as longith to her labor and do her duteis to her lordis.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.2396 : Cham, whos labour is yit in minde, Was he which ferst the lettres fond And wrot in Hebreu with his hond Of naturel Philosophie; He fond ferst also the clergie.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[introd.] 75b : I ne am but a lewid compilatour of the labour of olde astrologiens.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)377 : Be Secoundes..On Augrym stoones and on white caartes ypreued out be diligent labour.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)93 : My spirit..For wery of my labour al the day, Tok reste, that made me to slepe faste.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)220 : As for al þis is labour of argumentis maad bifore in þis same present ije trety.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.162 : 'More apertly of ȝow wolde I lere'..Sche seide..'I wil not for a litel labour spare.'
- c1475(c1445) Pecock Donet (Bod 916)2/24 : Aftirward he haue þese seid chapitris red, y truste..þat he schal resceyue into his laboure chereful counfort.
e
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1986 : Ȝeildes til your creatur Þe tend part o your labour.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.107 : Writyng of old with lettres aureat Labour of poetis doth hihli magnefie.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.7 : Y..intende to compile a tretys..excerpte of diuerse labores [Trev.: bookes; L laboribus] of auctores.
2.
(a) Pains taken, activity, business; lost (waste) ~, useless effort; don ~, to take pains; (b) endeavor, initiative; don ~, to do one's best (to do sth.); (c) intervention, mediation, good offices; also, legal proceedings; don (maken) ~, to exert influence, pull strings.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2193 : Theseus..festeth hem, and dooth so gret labour To esen hem and doon hem al honour.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3388 : Absolon may blowe the bukkes horn; He ne had for his labour but a scorn.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.527 : Whan he sih..that his labour was in vein, Anon he torneth hom ayein.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.781 : Lost is al oure labour and trauaille And al the cost.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.181 : Helden hem vnhardy..And leten here laboure lost & alle here longe studye.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4219 : Troylus..With gret labour firste he cam to grace.
- (1425) RParl.4.271a : I..shall answer to ye boke..synglerly to eche Article yrof, havyng resonable tyme, and elles under your correction hit wer bot labour with oute fruyte.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)45/2 : Ȝe schulen offren vp to me a vessel ful of actuel laburs.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)48 : Þese þat now are come to visite þe are wryte among þe first fruytes of þy labours.
- (1465) Lin.DDoc.124/31 : I wol that euery executour..when he laboreth anything aboute me, for..to take for his labour after his discrescyon.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)322/2 : Mesemyth hit was but waste laboure, for she lovyth none of thy felyshyp.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)377/14 : Som..counceyled..for to seke sir Launcelott..other barownes..seyde that hit was laboure in vayne.
- a1500(a1400) Cleges (Adv 19.1.11)352 : For my labor schall i nott get But yt be a melys mete.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)1290 : Morpheus..I thanke yow hertyly For your trew hert & your gret labour.
- a1525(?1457) Cov.Leet Bk.299 : The kyng vnderstondyng the seid labour willed that..the Cominalte shold keep theyre owen procession.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1653 : To telle a storie, I wol do my labour.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.4335 : Agamenoun To ȝif hym counforte & consolacioun Dide his labour.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3770 : Her labour & her dilligence Is finally to hauen excersyce Fro day to day in Martis hiȝe seruyse.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3474 : Avayleth not..preyere..But ȝif..That the serpent, cause of al þis sorowe, Thorgh her labour lay his hed to borowe.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)22.348 : Alle hire Miht..hath sche do Me to wraththen..The wheche is hire labour bothe i Nyht & day.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1213/26 : And he wolde have made ony laboure for pease, he sholde have made hit or thys tyme.
c
- (1423) Pet.Sutton in Fenland NQ 7308 : Thai have sued writtes of errour and oder processe..whiche have cost hem c marc and more with oder labours of the said tenaunts.
- (1446) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.25 : Sir William hath graunted..to ye seid Robert..the manere of Wodosom..Payng yerely..the ferme of viii marces..And also beryng the charge of suytes and othour labures that belongeth in defence of the seid manere.
- (1448) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.44 : Yf hit fortune ony variaunce to fall be-twix them..theire councell be theire labur..make reformacion be-twix them.
- (c1450) Let.Oxf.in OHS 35285 : We pray..þat ye woll..to do yor labyr and diligence to þe saide persones deputyd, for þe furthrance and promocion off us to þe said bokes & money.
- (1454) Paston2.306 : My wif was sum dele easid bi the labour of the Wardeyn of Flete, for the cursed Cardenale had sent hir to Newgate.
- (1461) Paston (Gairdner)3.297 : Ther shall be labour for a coroner that day, for ther is labour made to me for my good wyll here.
- (1462) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.25 : By synistre meane and labour, the said Sir John Rysley by subtill practis wrote a lettre of manace and thretyng.
- (1462) Stonor1.58 : Sche prayth yow..to make your effectuell labor un[to] the parson of Sylverton þat he wull..loke up all suche evydens.
- (c1462) Stonor1.57 : Thomas Horne bethe come uppe to London a fote, for make labour ayenst me.
- a1525(?1472) Cov.Leet Bk.378 : The Abbot of Kelyngworth, the Abbot of Combe..shuld be desired to be here at Couentre..by the labour of Joh. Smyth.
3.
(a) A task, project; ~ of Hercules; don ~, to perform a task; (b) original labor tasks commuted to a money rent.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.3 : The reve..that hem scholde to here labour lede, Nuste he..what him was to rede.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)259/53 : Heore labour was ston beryng Toward þe werk of heore buyldyng.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.732 : Many a labour, many a gret emprise, He for his lady wroghte er she were wonne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1726 : Sir noe..gaf þe wrightes þar mesure And wroght he self in þat labore.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)6.27 : I shal swynke and swete and sowe for vs bothe, And oþer laboures do for þi loue.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.513 : Iason..reioyseth for to take on honde Þis dredful labour.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.1042 : Yef me this labour and this bisynesse, And of my spede be thyn al that swetnesse.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)32/32 : Yef þai haue..corn at gadir and oþir laburs at do, þai salle noht gruche for þi.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.65 : Hercules..the laste of his labours was that he susteynede the hevene uppon his nekke unbowed.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.14 : His appultreen what hour Best is to graffe is part of oure labour.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1864 : Fro october..Vnto lentyn..In orisons..And lessons salbe þer laboures.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)1 : Exposiciones upon Scripture..that were disparplied in many sundry bokis, my laboure was to bringe hem into o body.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)78/174 : Se the..haue a labour bodyly þat þer in be gostly and bodely mede.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.11 : What man wolde not laȝhe..if that a pigmei scholde make him redy to conflicte after the labores of Hercules?
b
- (1442) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.3.178 : Thimportable labours and charges that oure subgittz of oure seid Duchie dayly bere and kepe to be vndre oure true obeissance.
4.
(a) Trouble, difficulty, hardship; worldli ~, this burdensome life; (b) pain, sickness, disease; also, the active phase of an intermittent disease; ~ of birthe; (c) distress of mind, mental anguish, bitterness, worry; (d) a difficult journey.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.423 : O sodeyn wo that euere art successour To worldly blisse, spreynd with bitternesse, The ende of the ioye of oure worldly labour.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2908 : Mirundones..With gret labour hent hym vp a-noon, Ful dedly pale, so he gan to blede.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.199 : I have herd told, pardieux, of your lyvynge, Ye loveres..And which a labour folk han in wynnynge Of love.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)380/13 : Wiþ mekenes & pacience he suffreþ al maner labur & detraccioun of his neiȝbore.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)306 : What seyth also the epistel of Ovyde Of trewe wyves and of here labour?
- (c1438) MKempe B (Add 61823)234/13 : So þei passyd forth to-Wilsnak-ward wyth gret labowr.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.293 : A grete labour is to correcte A moold in this maner that is enfecte.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)1 : Eld exposiciones upon Scripture..to bringe hem into o body, that thei which schal com aftir schal not have so mech laboure in sekyng of her processe.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking in Studia Neoph.16 (Hrl 2340)16 : How a penne that is brokyn schal be drawe oute withoute eny laboure.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.207 : Whiche monastery was confracte in mony labors [Trev.: travailles; L laboribus].
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.40.85a : With ful gret peine and laboure I am come from ful ferre cuntre for to visite and se youre ryal astate.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)80/21 : The bisshop or his viker..fro the tyme that they haue..seen contricion, pouerte, infirmite, and laboure of a womman, they may myche of here enioyned penaunce relese.
b
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.422 : The newe love, labour, or oother wo, Or elles selde seynge of a wight Don olde affecciouns alle over-go.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4994 : Where Elde abit, I wol thee telle..With hir Labour and Travaile Logged ben, with Sorwe and Woo.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)127b/a : In soda when it is grete and at vomite..& crying and labour of birth.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)148b/b : Þe same is þe kepyng of labours [*Ch.(2): sekenesses] to come & þe correctyng of now ygendred.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)40b/b : Kyndes of obtalmyes hauen peryodos, i. termes assignede by kynde; and paroxismos, i. laboures of þe sekenesse [*Ch.(1): accessez], sewen þe proporcioun of þe materes of þe whiche þai ben made.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)6/30 : What for labowr sche had in chyldyng & for sekenesse goyng be-forn, sche dyspered of hyr lyfe.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)235 : She was not..as odyre childere..Borne in labore and in grete vexacyon, But in the houre of hirr fyrste creacyon A perfect woman.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)1.33 : When thy fadre is ouercome with dethis laboure, Thow may helpe thysilf.
c
- c1390 In a Pistel (Vrn)91 : Strengþe stont vs in no stide, But longyng and beoing in laboure.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)861 : Allecto ek with labour and envie, Drede and fraude and fals trecherie.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.10.5 : Her schal ben the reste of your labours; her is the havene stable in pesible quiete.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)16/24 : Sche was labowrd wyth temptacyons of dyspeyr..Safe for þe tyme þat sche felt grace, hir labowrs wer so wondyrful þat sche cowd euel far wyth hem but euyr mornyn & sorwyn as þow God had forsakyn hir.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10770 : Hir wordes & weping..wold haue persit with pyte any pure sawle..Hit were labur to long hir lotis to tell.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)70b : Labur, vide travell [129b: Travell..vexamen, Aporia, Angor].
d
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)1 : Jon maundeuyle, knyth of yngland, aftir his labour made a book ful solacious on to his nacyoun.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)22/26 : For the lengthe of þe wey and grete laboure from Rome hedir..þe Romayns leften to regne.
5.
A group of moles.
Associated quotations
- c1475 in Hodgkin Proper Terms52 : A Labyr of mollys.
6.
A laborer, farm laborer, unskilled worker.
Associated quotations
- a1425 PPl.A(1) (UC 45)5.135 : Labouros [Trin-C: laboureris & louȝ folk þat lay be hemselue].
- c1425 PPl.A(1) (Antq 687)7.291 : Laboures [Trin-C: Laboureris þat haue no land but lyue on here handis].
- ?c1425(c1412) Hoccl.RP (Roy 17.D.6:Furn.)1348 : A labour [Hrl: Swych laborer þe kythe heere in þis lyf, Þat god þi soule..Reioise may].
- (1440) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.5 : Itm., payde for dobers and laborese, x s. ij d.
- (1442) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1387 : For brede and hale and chese for warkemen and laboras, taking the groundes of the College thorow the pondis in to the Coll..vij s. ix d..Item for xv labor'..kestyng water out of the pondes..v s.
- c1450 PPl.A(1) (Hrl 6041)3.276 : Labore [Trin-C: kynde wit shal..make of lawe a labourer].
- a1475 PPl.A(1) (Hrl 875)6.35 : Laboure [vr. labore; Trin-C: Þere is no labourer..þat he louiþ beter].
- c1475 PPl.A(1) (Dc 323)2.45 : Labores [Trin-C: For lerid, for lewid, for laboureris of þropis].
- a1500 PPl.A(1) (Dub 213)3.234 : Labores [Trin-C: Þat laboureris..taken..Is no maner of mede].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1475) Paston (EETS)1.483 : Iche off yow…graunted me to take labore vppon yow and iche off yow for the hauyng ageyn off my place in Castre.
Note: Additional quote(s)
Note: ? sense
- c1425 Chaucer CT.Kn.(Petw 7)A.1409 : He chaunged his aray And clad him as a poor labore.
Note: Sense 6. a laborer. Need date.--per MJW
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. labour.