Middle English Dictionary Entry
lācen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | lācen v. P.ppl. i)lāced. |
| Etymology | OF laissier. The -ā- may be due to the late (usually N or NMid.) monophthongization of ai, or to the influence of lāsen, unlāsen. Sense (c) could be a var. of lousen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To give up (sth.), part with; (b) to loosen (a banner), unfurl; (c) to loosen (the skin of a hart), cut open.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)160 : I haue leeuere lace [F laissier; Lydg.Pilgr.: lese] my mantelle than ly any time bi thee.
b
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)11/18 : This two maner Pepyll..with baners lacyd [Dub: i-lacet], toke ther wey towardes weysford.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)53/11 : Thay..turned toward Weysford by Odroon, wyth baneres ylacyd [L victricis palmæ vexilla], forto Socoure Robert Steuenes-Sonne.
c
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)663 : To that grette hertte gon is hee And seruyd hym full right; He lacys the sowche [read: slowche] to fede the hounde.