Middle English Dictionary Entry
lange n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lange n. Also langue. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A language, tongue; on light ~, in simple language; (b) her.?a tongue-shaped heraldic charge; ?the tongue-shaped end of a banner.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)125 : Men besoght me..to turne it bot in light ryme; þai sayd, if I in strange it turne, to here it manyon suld skurne..And þerfore for þe comonalte..On light lange I it began, for luf of þe lewed man.
- ?a1425 WBible(2) (Cld E.2)Esth.1.22 : Langis [Roy: He sente pistlis bi alle the prouynces..in dyuerse langagis and lettris].
- c1425 WBible(2) (Bod 296)Gen.11.1 : Lange [Roy: Forsothe the lond was of o langage, and of the same speche].
b
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)13858,13863 : He bar a lytel gomfaynoun & did it sprede with tweyne Langues [F ij longes bendes vermeilles] be ryht resoun rede, the Feld gold, with corowns of ynde, and the grete baner..jn this maner was araied..with foure langues fayre & pleyne [F iiij langes toutes plaines dor], and there-jnne corouns of gold..the Feld asure.