Middle English Dictionary Entry
linke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | linke n. Also lenke. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI hlekkr (from *hlenkir) 'link'. Also cp. OE hlencan 'coats of mail' & gehlenced?'bound with iron'. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A link in a chain, necklace, etc.; (b) some kind of connecting device used in a clock; (c) ?a link in a coat of mail; (d) a section of a rope or cord; (e) a link of sausage; (f) anat. a vertebra; ~ bon; nether ~, over ~, q.v.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)57 : If a cheyne of vj lynkis were hanging in þe eir at a mannys hond, þe firste louȝist lynke hangiþ of þe secunde lynke, and but if þe firste were holde of þe secunde, it schulde falle and abide not.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)168/5025 : Hit wrought was fulle of broken balis Of dise, and as they fillen out Bi lynkis and so downe avalis, To se them how they werle abowt, Hit wondir was.
- (1467) Paston (Gairdner)4.263 : Item, my master gaff here a devyse of goolde with xiiij lynkes, and the ton halffe of the lynkes enamyled, set with iiij Rubyis, iij dyamawntes, and vij perles.
b
- (1428) Proc.Privy C.3.290 : Item, for iij lenkes and j rynge and a bolte for the hamer, ij s.
c
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)994 : The siluer Bere his lynkys al to fle, And bare is he behinde and eke beforne.
d
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)74/13 : For to make þis þrefolde corde, we must haue þre lynkis.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)3/35 : And, be þe wyndas of þi mynde, wyth þis roop made myȝty in thre lynkes, schal be turnyd vp þe bokett of þi desyre.
e
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)306 : Lynke, or sawcistre: Hilla, hirna.
f
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)15b/a : Þe conteynynge parties and makynge þe nekke..beeþ þe skynne, fleisshes..& bones or 7 lynkes or ioyntes [L spondilia septem]..After þe nekke þere beeþ 7 spondiles or lynkes, and after þe spawdes 12.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)20b/a : Þe spondiles, i. þe lynkes ioynt or bones of þe bak.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)103a/a : Brekyng cometh selden when to þe spondiles, i. to þe lynke bones.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)106a/b : The spondiles, i. þe lynkes of þe bakke ben some tyme fully vnioyntede.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. link.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (f)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. link bone.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (f)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. nether links (pl.).