Middle English Dictionary Entry
lax n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lax n. Also lex. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. WS leax, late WS lex; A læx, lex. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The salmon (Salmo salar); ~ wer, a weir for catching salmon; (b) in surnames; ~ man, one who fishes for salmon; (c) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.22].
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)543/15 : Ysicius, uel salmo: lex.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)754 : He tok þe sturgiun and þe qual And þe turbut and lax with-al.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)896 : He bar up wel a carte lode Of segges, laxes, of playces brode.
- a1350 Ich herdemen (Hrl 2253)42 : Þenne mot ych habbe hennen arost, feyr on fyhsh day, launprey & lax.
- (1392) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.87 : [The profits of the] lexwere.
- (1412) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.87 : [A fishery called] Lexwere.
b
- (1281) in Fransson Surn.77 : Rog. Laxman.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 21108 : Johanne Laxman.
- (1327) in Fransson Surn.77 : Will. Laxman.
- (1339) in Fransson Surn.77 : Rich. Laxman.
- -?-(1318) in Fransson Surn.77 : Rob. Laxman, piscarius.
- -?-(1353) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.9647 : Thomas Lax de Hornby.
c
- (1187) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)25 : Lexemer'.
- (1208) Fine R.King John442 : Homines de Laxfeld.