Middle English Dictionary Entry
latǒun n. & adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | latǒun n. & adj. Also laten, latin(e, laton(e, latun(e, lattin, latton, lateine, lahtoun, leiton. |
| Etymology | OF laiton, laton. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An alloy of copper, tin, and other metals (identified with the orichalcum of the ancients); latten; ~ ware, articles made of latten; (b) alch. a name for mercury; (c) as adj.: made of latten.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Dream Bk.(1) (Hrl 2253)115 : Lahtoun make & to delue, bytokneþ ioie of him selue.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)943 : Þre hundred pounde of latoun Schuld he.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)88/1842 : He kest a man of cler latoun.
- (1339) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.205 : In Camera Gildaulæ sunt sex Instrumenta de latone, vocitata Gonnes.
- (1355) Sacrist R.Ely 2167 : In mundacione de leyton..per vices.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2647 : Þan miȝte men many hornes here of latoun y-mad & bras.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.1.15 : His feet lijke to drosse of gold, or latoun [L aurichalco], as in a brennynge chymeney.
- (1388) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.226 : [A candelabrum of] lattin.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3251 : And by hir girdel heng a purs of lether, Tasseled with silk and perled with latoun.
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)24/24 : Tak thanne a rewle of latoun.
- (1393) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.212 : [Counting-house..3 hooks of] laton, [4 d.; one lock of] laton [with one] fane, [and one balance of] laton.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1245 : Phebus wax old and hewed lyk latoun.
- (1396) Will York in Sur.Soc.4211 : Lego Priori de Wyrsop..unam pelvim cum lavatorio de latton.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)196a/a : Latone hat Auricalcum and hath þat name for, þogh it be bras of messelyng, it shineþ as golde..Also latyn is harde as brasse oiþer copour for by medlyng of coper & of tynne and of Auripigment, and with oþer metalles it is brouȝt in to þe fyre to colour of golde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.622 : And vp on tourettis wer reysed vp figurys..Forged of brasse, of copur, and latoun.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)59a/a : Þay ben made..of an holowe pype of latoun [*Ch.(1): of brasse; L eris] or of siluer.
- (1433) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)2.461 : [All his napery and] le latonware [of his butlery].
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)43/5 : Tak & mak a rynge of laton fyne & were for þe crampe.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)151/3 : Virell þe staff wel at bothe endys with hopy[s] of yren or laten, with a pyke yn þe neþer ende.
- (1454) Will York in Sur.Soc.30172 : Elizabethæ Neteham..a candelstik of lateyne.
- (1454-56) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31243 : Paied for v Candilstikkes of Laton, viij s. iiij d.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57364 : My mastyr paid for iij smale basens of laton, ij s.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)255/7 : At the bo[le] of the tre hongys a basyn of couper and latyne.
- (a1475) Recipe Painting(2) in Archaeol.J.1 (Sln 73)154 : For to make vertegrece. Take platis of clene coper, or ellis of pannes or caudrones, but nether pot-bras ne of basenes, for that is latoun and is not therfore.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)71a : Latvne: Auricalcum.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)768/2 : Hoc auricalcum: latum.
b
- (a1500) in Singer Cat.Alchem.2.336 : Mercurius, laton..anzot, id est argentum vivum.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)180b/a : Be þer made a ful subtile puluer, And be it kept in a brasyn or latyne [*Ch.(2): brasyn; L erea] boxe.
- (1461) Acc.St.Margaret Southwark in BMag.32643 : Paid..for makyng of the laton Senser, xij d.
- (1469-72) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31529 : Payed..for scowryng of laton gere in the Chirche, xiiij d.