Middle English Dictionary Entry
lapen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | lapen v. Also lape, lappe(n. |
| Etymology | OE lapian |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of certain animals: to drink (water, a liquid food) by lapping with the tongue; -- also intr.; (b) of persons: to drink (sth.) like a cat or dog; also, take a drink or sip; (c) fig. to imbibe (water of grace); ~ awei, consume (the fat of the land); (d) in surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)299 : Ore donez a chauel a flater [glossed:] lappen [vrr. to lapyn, schale lape].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)261a/a : Somme goynge bestes wiþ complete and euene lippes drynkeþ sowkyng, as man, hors, cow, and mule, & oþre suche, and bestes wiþ vneuene lippes..drynkeþ lapynge, as an hound and a catte and othere suche, and so by disposicioun of euenenesse & vneuenenesse of lippes some bestes in drynkynge soukeþ and some lapeþ..kynde ordeigneþ wiseliche in houndes and in oþre lapynge bestes tendre tonge, longe and pliaunt.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.363 : Glotoun..coughed vp a caudel in clementis lappe; Is non so hungri hounde in Hertford schire Durst lape of þe leuynges, so vnlouely þei smauȝte.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)p.11 : Ore donez ceo chaele a flatier..Now gyf þat welpe lape.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)46 : Whelpes..lappe wel whan þei be a monyth oolde.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)106 : He shuld rest awhile if þe houndes ben hote..and þan ladde to þe water to lape.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)287 : Lappyn, as howndys: Lambo.
- c1440 Thos.Ercel.(Thrn)265 : Raches laye lapande in þe blode [vrr. lapynge blode, lappand on þe dere blode].
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.7.5,6,7 : Þulke þat wiþ honde & wiþ tounge lapyn þe waters as houndys been wont to lape..þe noumbre of hem þat wiþ þe hond þrowynge to þe mouþe waters haddyn laped..in þre hundred men þat lapedyn waters.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.121 : Gedeon dede awey þe grete multitude wiþ þre hondred men þat lapede water into her owne mowþe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3671 : What man that hath the water nome Up in his hond and lapeth so, To thi part ches out alle tho.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.18 : And if hym lyst for to lape, þe lawe of kynde wolde That he dronke at eche diche ar he for thurste deyde.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1434 : Bryng hem [vessels] now to my borde, of beverage hem fylles, Let þise ladyes of hem lape.
c
- c1460 Of alle mennys (Dub 432)95 : A gentyll dogge wol naturally His mayster love..These curre dogges before dyd not so..They lapped a wey the fatte me fro.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)67.25 : Of thi faes sall be made tonges of thin hondis, that is, wisemen, brekand [?read: berkand] agayn wickidnes, and lapand watire of grace.
d
- (1275-6) Let.Bk.Lond.B (Gldh LetBk B)257 : Henry Lapewater.