Middle English Dictionary Entry
lap(pe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lap(pe n. Also lape, lappa, (in place name) leppe-; pl. lappes & (early) lappene. |
| Etymology | OE læppa, pl. -an. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A part of a garment that is loose enough to admit of being raised, folded, or seized: (a) the lower part of a shirt, skirt, or habergeon; the front or back skirts of a divided garment; mantel ~, shirte ~, q.v.; (b) a loose sleeve, a hanging sleeve, a flap or tippet of a sleeve; haven bi the ~, fig. to have (sb. or sth.) in one's grasp.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Lucy (LdMisc 108)29 : A womman..cam ant touchede þe lappe of ore louerdes cloþes ene.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)559 : Iohan stod in a mantil ifolden..Þe men þat stodin him bi side..Þe lappe of þe mantil god Þei drothȝ so þeiweren wode.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.522 : Me þouȝt Gij sat at min heued, & in his lappe me biweued.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)988 : He stiked vp his lappes þo; In his way he gan to go.
- 1372 Leorne to loue (Adv 18.7.21)16 : I haue neiþer clut ne cloth Þe inne for to folde; I ne haue but a clut of a lappe.
- a1400 Bevis (Eg 2862)117/2456 : Sir B. shilde þe Lyoun ranne vnder, And with his teeþ..He kitte a pece of his lappe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.pr.2.30 : Thise woordes seide sche, and with the lappe of hir garnement, yplited in a frownce, sche dryede myn eien.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)287 : Lappe, skyrte: Gremium.
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Pass.Christi in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)1244 : Neb na whytho grens fannye gans y lappa worth an eth.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)3.356 : Girde þe soore and tukke vp weel thi lappe.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)200 : A messangere..hadde trussed hire lappes [F les pans] in hire girdel redy, as me thouhte for to wrastle.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)654 : Her surkote þat was large and wyde, Ther-wyth her vysage she gan hyde, Wyth þe hynþur lappes.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)101 : He hente the swerde be the hiltes and drough it oute, and couered it with his lappe.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)47/17 : And o knyghtes thegh was kut with the lappe of his haubergeon [L cum panno loricae], with a stroke of a dennysh axe.
b
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.12 : Til that a man be hent right by the lappe, He nys nat war the feend hath hym in honde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.303 : Many a vice..Ther hongen upon Slowthes lappe.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)201 : Þat gracios gay..Rysez vp in hir araye ryalle..Wyth lappez large, I wot and I wene, Dubbed with double perle and dyȝte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)936 : Þe lorde laches hym by þe lappe & ledez hym to sytte.
- (c1422) Hoccl.Dial.(Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)490 : Now haue I god, me thynkith, by the lappe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.59 : Pandarus, that ledde hire by the lappe, Com ner.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Pass.(Hrl 4196)63/627 : Sum of þam hent him by þe lap Þat he suld noght oway schap.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1714 : Ech man tok oþer be þe lappe And louȝe and gonne her hondes clappe.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3254 : A duches dereworthily dyghte..In a surcott of sylke..And with ladily lappes the lenghe of a ȝerde.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2286 : Beryn..wold feyn have voidit..But Macaigne arose, & sesid by the lapp.
- a1500(?c1400) Gowther (Adv 19.3.1)89 : Be þo lappe he laȝt his wyfe.
- a1500(1413) ?Hoccl.Poems PS (Eg 615)p.xxxvii/11 : I wend, in sothfastnesse, Have had for euere Ioye be the lappe.
2.
A folded or extended skirt, or a loose or hanging sleeve, used as a receptacle.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)284/229 : Abite of freres huy hadden upon..In heore lappene huy brouȝten mete.
- a1325(?c1300) NPass.(Cmb Gg.1.1)766 : Þe þritty plates þat he tok, Out of his lappe he ham sschok.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)1057 : Partiez, valet, en vous escours [glossed:] lappes [vrr. the schirtes, scirtes], Le haranc sor de frahel rous.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)34/887 : Be þe hawe tre he gan come..Ful he gaderede his barm..In his oþer lappe [vr. sleves] he gaderede some.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.686 : His walet biforn hym in his lappe Bret ful of pardoun.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.585 : This lord..bad this sergeant that he pryuely Sholde this child softe wynde and wrappe..And carie it in a cofre or in a lappe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.441 : She..heeld hir lappe abrood, for wel she wiste The faukon moste fallen fro the twiste.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.635 : Greet was the sorwe for the haukes harm..But Canacee hom bereth hire in hir lappe.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)p.706 : Hou ihesus bare þe watir in his lap quen þe potte was brokin.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)7.277 : Alle þe pore peple..Benes & blake applis hy brouȝte in here lappe [vr. lappes].
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)90 : If he had of þe fumes he shuld putt hem in his..lappe with gras, for a man shuld not bere hem in his hond.
- a1450(?1420) Lydg.TG (Tan 346)504 : Venus cast adoune Into hir lap, braunchis white & grene Of hawthorn.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)1262,1265 : He..smote of his fadir hede And knyt hit in hys lappe onoon..Out of hys lape the hede he name.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1800 : Thai smyten of here hedes alle; Eche man toke one in his lappe.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)286 : She [the serpent] hadde in hire mowthe a ston..and she late hit fall in þe lappe of gwido.
3.
(a) A small piece of cloth or mail detached from a garment or coat of mail; a clout or rag; (b) one of two strips made by cutting the end of a bandage longitudinally; (c) a portion, part, share; (d) ?a flap or portion of a hide.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)7241 : He..smot him..so fel & grim Þat he a lappe rent out anon Of his brini.
- a1400 Leorne to loue (Hrl 7322(1))255/11 : Ich nabbe clout ne cloþ Þe on for to folde, þe on to folde ne to wrappe; For ich nabbe clout ne lappe.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3286 : Nowe es lefte me no lappe my lygham to hele.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)255 : Lappe..: Birrus.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)287/265 : The hole of this harnes is holdyn to you, And I am leuerd a lap..ffortatyrd and torne.
b
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)78a/a : With þe kytte lappes [*Ch.(1): brasez; L brachijs] of þe rolle, bynde it in þat schuldre.
c
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)2.35 : And what man taketh Mede, myne hed dar I legge That he shal lese for hir loue a lappe of caritatis.
- c1400 PPl.C (Vsp B.16)12.226 : Lappe [Hnt: me were leuere..a lippe of godes grace Than al þe kynde witt þat ȝe can boþe].
d
- (1365) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.17 : [The price of goods..14 s. for 14] lappes [of hide for saddles].
4.
A person's lap; so nere oure ~, ?so near our persons.
Associated quotations
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)30261 : Com þar a bour-cniht and sat adun forþ riht..he nam þan kynges hefd and leyde vppe his lappe [Clg: in his bærm].
- (?c1375-a1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3644 : They leyde hem in his lappe adoun and deyde.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.397 : An hen leide an ey in Phelip his lappe [L gremio].
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)9624 : Þys mydwyfe, whan þe chylde was bore, She helde hyt on here lappe before.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.361 : Glotoun..coughed vp a caudel in clementis lappe.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3089 : This lady..Took the child and laide it in her lappe, And richely in clothes gan it wrappe.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6766 : Als a childe þat sittes in þe moder lappe And, when it list, soukes hir pappe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)126b/b : Þe pacient to be sette in þe lappe [L in sinu] or atuix þe kneez of þe leche.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)19/26 : Whan iij kyngys comyn wyth her ȝyftys & worschepyd owyr Lord Ihesu Crist being in hys Moderys lappe.
- a1450 As I me ros (Sln 2593)p.48 : As che hym tok al in here lap, He tok that maydyn be the pap.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)152 : Thus sete þei iii on ech side and ion in cristis lappe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1240/21 : In one of their lappis kyng Arthure layde hys hede.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)343/219 : Whan cryst oure mayster so nere oure lappe Dede sitte and speke such suete talkynge.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)211 : That hede shalle ly on the stocke that was wonte to ly on Quene Kateryns lappe.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)418 : The mayden made hym to slepe in hir lappe.
5.
(a) A person's bosom or breast; (b) fig. Abraham's bosom, the limbo of the fathers; abrahames ~; (c) fig. the ~ (and bosom) of holi chirche, ~ of the chirche, the community of the Christian church.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2641 : Wt his knyff he towchede somme-what hurre brestbone..& when he hadde repentyd hym..hurre lappe was hole aȝeyn ally-fere.
- c1450 *Bonav.Medit.(4) (MSU 1)5 : Full sorowgthfully he stodyd bowyng hys hede in cristys lappe [L pectus].
- a1500 GLitany (Dc 42)127 : By the most humylle affecc[i]on the whiche she toke of the, by the lappe [Lamb: bosom] of the fadir, in hir virgyne wombe, haue mercy on vs.
b
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.255 : In his [Abraham's] bosome he bar a thyng þat he blissed euere; And I loked on his lappe; a lazar lay þere-Inne.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.20 : Lo here in my lappe..Iosue and Iudith and Iudas Macabeus, Ȝe, and sexty þousande bisyde forth.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.283 : Ich sauh hym [Lazarus] sitte as he a syre were, At alle manere ese in abrahammes lappe.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/b : Þilke þat beþ I-put out of chirche..on an aschewednysday beþ I-fonge in to þe lappe and bosom of holy chirche..on cene þorsday.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)110 : Withowte the ffelechippe of holy chirch and baptym no thyng may availe..for withowte the lappe of the chirch non helthe may be.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)321 : Such ben to be put out of þe lappe of holy chirche, as was þe lady from þe Erldom.
6a.
Anat. (a) A loose end or flap of flesh; one of the five lobes of the liver; ~ of the ere, a lobe of the ear; cheke ~, deu ~, ere ~, fresh ~, q.v.; (b) the female pudendum; pl. lappes, ?the lips of the pudendum.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1350 : Bi þe byȝt al of þe þyȝes, Þe lappez þay lauce bi-hynde.
- a1425 Gloss.Bibbesw.(AS 182)93 : Has here lap [vrr. doulap, dewelappe; glossing AF (Cmb) Chescun orail si ad molet].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)19a/b : It [the stomach] hath..the lyuer on þe right half..makynge hym warme wiþ his lappes [L lumbis] or fyngres.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)55b/a : I haue seyne smale woundes ben heled aboute þe lappes of þe lyuer.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)494 : Typpe, or lappe of the ere: Pinnula.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)70b : A lappe of ye eyre: Cartilagia, legia.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)631 : Legia: lap of þe ere.
b
- a1425 May no man (CmbAdd 5943)17 : May no man slepe in ȝoure halle..but ȝyf he haue a tent of xv enche wyt letheryn knappes..I-blessyd be suche knappes, that ȝyveth such smappes [?read: swappes] vnder my lady lappes.
- c1500 O lorde so (Hnt EL 1160)15 : Ser Iohn ys taken In my mouse-trappe..he gropith so nyslye a-bought my lape, I haue no pore to sa[y hym nay].
6b.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)21a/b : Þai [apostemes] be of þe lappe or bosome [L gremio] of þe materie.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)22a/b : Þe pure or quitour is gendred togider as it war in a lappe or bosom [L in aliquo sinu].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)84b/b : Þer is made cinus culpus, a bosom or a lap, A cauerne or caue.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)85b/b : And som [fistulas] is of o lap or orifice [L sinus & orificii] & som of many.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)96a/a : When forsoþ sanie is leten stonde..it corrodeþ hem & alterateþ & makeþ a bosom or lap & fistule.
7.
A piece of land at the end or edge of an estate or parish, a district; -- only in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.11].
Associated quotations
- (1130) in Ekwall Dict.EPN275 : Lapeleia.
- (a1200) EPNSoc.13 (War.)288 : Lappewrthe.
- (1205) Fine R.King John334 : Prior de Lappeleg.
- (1227) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)298 : Lappole.
- (1241) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)220 : Lappecumbe.
- (1275) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)423 : Lappeflode.
- (1279) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)220 : Leppecumbe.
- (c1300) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)159 : Shenelelappe.
- (1303) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)300 : Lappelond.
- (1409) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)423 : Lapflote.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. lap.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 6a.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. lap of the ear.