Middle English Dictionary Entry
lash(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lash(e n. Also laishe, laȝssche, lache, lacch, las; pl. lashes, etc. & lacch. |
| Etymology | Prob. from lashen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A blow, stroke; also, a crash, violent fall; (b) a blow with a whip or rod, a lash; (c) a whipping, scourging; (d) the lash, or flexible end, of a whip; (e) ~ of carteres, a group of carters.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9375 : Kehenans com wiþ gret rape & ȝaf king Arthour swiche a las, Þat Arthour al astoned was.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12437 : He stombled & gaf a cry, A dredful & a loþly; When he fel, he gaf a lasche As wyþ a blast had falle an asche.
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)388 : With þis same dagger that ys so styf & strong..On lashe I shall hyme lende or yt be long.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)879 : Philip farde too fight..With ludes of Lacedemonie lasches too deale.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.31 : Ȝif he dede ffornicacioun wiþ a sengle woman, he schulde have foure score lasshes [L verberibus].
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)48/9 : Þow weore naked bounden til a pyler and scourget so sore, þat þow ne miȝtest none weys wrenchen, ne heore smarte lassches bi none gate blenchen.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.220 : As proude Bayard gynneth for to skippe Out of the weye, so pryketh hym his corn, Til he a lasshe have of the longe whippe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)288 : Lasche, stroke: Ligula [sic].
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)199 : For þe brekyng of sum gretter [commandment], he happily wole euer rebukyng ȝeue summe laischis or money leesyng.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)201/21 : It is good to suffre þe smertnesse and scharpe lassches of þe rodde of chastisyng.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)56/11 : Þai bete me becauce I tuke wronguslie vi d. of a man..& now I hafe for ilk peny a lassh.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)162 : Eche tyme had he fourty lacch saue on..Because her lawe comaunded þat þei schuld not passe xl lacch.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)234/6 : Chastysmente in mesure of a wys man profitez more than a hundreth lasches [L centum plage] anenste a fole.
- ?c1450 in Aungier Syon Mon.255 : Ther shal not be ȝouen for the disciplyne but fyue lasches.
- a1456(a1402) *Trev.Nicod.(Add 16165)98a : Oure lawe comaundeþe..þat he haue nyen and thritty of lasshes [vr. laȝssches].
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11139 : I kan wynse ageyn the prykke..as bayard out off the tras, Tyl I a lassh haue off the whyppe.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.338 : They leid on þi leigis, Richard, lasshis ynow.
c
- a1425 LChart.Chr.C (Roy 17.C.17)645/223 : Onone þai bet me full rewfully..A, saule, for þe tholyd I þis lasche! My [blod] ran oute at ilka dasche.
d
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)178 : The piler elm, the cofre unto carayne, The boxtre pipere, holm to whippes lashe.
e
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A barne of tharshsers, a layshe of carters.
- a1475 in Hodgkin Proper Terms169 : A Lache of carttars.