Middle English Dictionary Entry
lēpere n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lēpere n. Also lipper. |
| Etymology | OE hlēapere |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who jumps or bounds; an animal that leaps, such as a hare; hevenli ~, one who aspires to heaven; (b) a dancer; (c) one who runs; ?a messenger, ?a courser; ~ abouten, ~ over lond, a wanderer, vagabond; (d) a fugitive, deserter; (e) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1300 Names Hare (Dgb 86)31 : Þe wilde der, þe lepere.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)180 : I hatte jolyfnesse..the rennere..the lepere that sette nouht alle daungeres at a glooue.
- a1475(?1445) ?Lydg.Cal.(Rwl B.408)205 : Make us, Seynt Crystyn, heuenly lepars.
b
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)75a : A leper: saltator.
c
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.203 : Þat is riȝtful religioun, none renneris aboute, Ne no leperis [vrr. lepars, lippers] ouer lond ladies to shryue.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.107 : Ȝut arn þer oþer beggers in hele..Ac hem wanteþ here witt..Þe wiche aren lunatik lollers and leperes a-boute.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)297 : Lepare, or rennare: Cursor.
d
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)297 : Lepare, or rennar a-wey: Fugax, fugitivus.
e
- c1200 in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms189 : Henr. Leper.
- (c1280) Sub.R.Wor.in Wor.HS (1893)78 : De Mauricio le Lepare, xvj d.
- (1379) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms189 : Rob. Leeper.