Middle English Dictionary Entry
limē̆r n.
Entry Info
| Forms | limē̆r n. Also limere, limmer, limour, limor, lemer. |
| Etymology | OF liemier, limier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A hound trained to be led on a leash and to track game by scent.
Associated quotations
- (1333) *MS L.T.R.M.R.105, m.182 (Precepta) [OD col.] : Cum xliiii canibus..et iiiior lymers.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)18 : An olde deer is wonderewise and felle for to saue his liff..as þe lymer meneþ [read: meueþ] hym or oþere houndes fynden hym wiþout limere.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)70 : Þe houndes couples shuld be of length bitwen the,houndes a foot, and þe Rope of þe limer iii fadom and an half.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)73 : Thane shuld his grome lede his lymer in quest after hym in þe mornyng.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)83 : Þe fostere þat wil ought to knowe of his grete deeres hauntes shalle lede þe huntere and þe lymmer þidere.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2207 : Be-fore yow ye shall see a-none Rennyng houndes..Fayre Grehoundes and grete lymours [vr. lymores].
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)362,365 : Ther overtok y a gret route Of huntes and eke of foresteres, With many relayes and lymeres..I asked oon, ladde a lymere: 'Say, felowe, who shal hunte here?'
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)56 : He roode tho vppon a fforeste stronde..With Alauntes, Lymmeris, and Racches free.
- c1450 *Dogs in MS.Arms 58 (ArmsAr 58)f.1 : There beth grehowndys and Bastordes, mene Mastewys, Alondis and lymowrys..bocher hondis and dongehylle curres, and smale poupes ffor lady chambers.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)15/17 : In sayeng youre praiers..holdithe your hede ferme as a best that is called a lymer [F liniere], the whiche lokithe euer afore hym.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)21444 : And wyth the blowyng off hyr horn..As cruelly as the houndys kan, Vp-on me echon they ran..And to me dyde ful gret wrong, The grete lemerys wer so strong.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.St.Giles (LdMisc 683)126 : Alle his meyne..Houndis on-coupelyd to chasyn at thyn hynde, Roial lymeris with alauntys huge.
- a1500(a1450) Parton.(1) (Add 35288)543 : The grette lymowres ere lette renne; A-bowte the wodde the boore ys broghte.
- ?a1500 Thos.Ercel.(Vit E.10)265 : Fourty hertes to quarry were broȝt..lymors [Thrn: Raches] lay lapynge blode.