Middle English Dictionary Entry
lā̆s(se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lā̆s(se n. Also lasce & (error) lysse. |
| Etymology | Prob. ON; cp. OI löskr 'idle, weak' & MSwed. lösk kona 'unmarried woman'. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A young woman; also, a female infant or child.
Associated quotations
- c1390 NHom.Martin AM (Vrn)72 : Fadur and Modur asked þis laas who hedde i don wiþ hire folye.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) John Bapt.(Phys-E)p.39 : Bifor him com a fair yong lasce, þat herodias dohter was.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2608 : Yone lasce [Göt: wenche] þat i biside þe laid, For-þi þat sco has barn o þe, Als in despit sco haldes me.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1499 : The last of þos lefe children was a lysse faire, Polexena the pert.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3746 : If any consaue þar a knaf, þan kepis him his modire Vij ȝere with-in oure-selfe & sendis him his fadir; And be scho lyuir of a lasse, scho lengis in oure burȝe.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)444 : No syb ne spoussyd þai spare, ne nowther lad ne las [rime: was].
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)2112 : For leuer thou haddyst wyth lassis to loure, Than to joye with byrdes in bowre.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) John Bapt.(Phys-E)p.40 : For he hauid sworn his athe, To wrech that laze thoht him lathe.
Note: New sense