Middle English Dictionary Entry
līǒun n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | līǒun n.(1) Also lion, liun, leoun, leon, leun, leion, (error) leom & leo, le, (early sg. gen.) lenes, (early pl. gen.) leonæ; pl. lioun(e)s, etc. & (?error) lyown. |
| Etymology | OF lïon, liun, leon, leun & OE lēa, lēo (infl. lēon) & L leo (infl. leōnis, etc.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A lion; (b) in comparisons: fers (hardi, wod) as ~; cruel (real, sterne) as a ~; strongere than a ~; proudere (wildere) than the ~; etc.; (c) in phrases: fers (gredi, grim, lothli, wilde, wod) ~; ~ fers (hardi); roringe ~; ~..king of bestes; ~ of cotteswold, a sheep; ~ in halle, one who is courageous in safe places; (d) liounes flesh [OE lēon-flǣsc], the flesh of a lion; ~ ilinde, lion's fat; ~ mouth, lion's mouth; (e) ~ whelp (ketling), liounes whelp [OE lēon-hwelp], a lion cub; (f) pride of liounes, a group of lions; (g) bok of the ~, Machaut's Le Dit du Lion or Chaucer's translation of it.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(OE) Bod.Hom.Dom.Quadr.(Bod 343)48/7 : Daniel hine bed on ðeræ leonæ sceaþe, & he earnode beon ihæled.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)28068 : Þa leo [so Otho] me orn foren to.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)28074 : Þe leo [so Otho] i þan ulode iwende wið me seolue.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)37 : Þe deuel..teð forð geres, hwile after fox, hwile after wulue, hwile after leun.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)29/284 : Þu biwistest daniel bimong þe wode liuns [Roy: leuns].
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1827 : Crist..fedde hire..as he dude Daniel..i þe liunes leohe.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)2 : Ðe leun stant on hille.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)270/320 : He i-saiȝ ane leon [Corp-C: lion] licke þat bodi.
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1275 : Leouns fale..metten heom in grete rage.
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1336 : Þo weren huy in grete mourningue For þe liouns manie raumpaunt.
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1344 : Of þe liones he made a semblingue.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)573 : Him ne hauede grip or ern, Leoun or wlf..þat wolde him dere.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)191 : Leunes and beres him wile todragen.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)46/538 : Þer y founde..Wiþ lyouns a man to-torn smale.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)15/16 : Þe þrote wes of lion uor his greate cruelete.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2303 : Þan was þer a litel lyoun of þe lederes bi-ȝete.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3451 : And whan that she was elder, she wolde kille Leons, leopardes, and beres.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1640 : Whan hunted is the leoun or the bere.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.399 : Alisaundre putte þe Leonides..to leouns forto ete.
- c1390 Bi west (Vrn)4 : Wlanke deor on grounde gunne glyde, And lyouns Raumping vppon bente.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)290a/b : Whanne þe leoun..is sike..he dredeþ swiþe þe crowynge and þe combe of a cok.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22892 : An crafti clerc..asked him a questiun Of a wolf and a leon [Göt: lion; Trin-C: lioun; Phys-E: liun].
- a1400 Bevis (Eg 2862)117/2464 : Þus þe lioun died at þe last.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.272 : Ac noyther antony ne Egidy..Of liouns ne of leoperdes no lyflode ne toke.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)58/8 : He eet & dranke & was slayn of a lyoun as he went þennes.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)241 : Þare was mani a wilde lebard, Lions, beres, bath bul and bare.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.4.8 : The men that..the lyoun and the tigre and the bere and the boor seken to sleen with hir teeth.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)377 : For lo, the gentyl kynde of the lyoun!
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)306 : Lyone [Win: Lyon or lyvn]: Leo.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)517 : Þe lion whan him hongreþ sore, He gynneþ for to crye and rore.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)50.239 : Telleth vs..what signefiaunce þat this May be, Of this hert and fowre lyown.
- (1461) RParl.5.475b : The Keper of such Lyons..within oure seid Toure.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)118/18 : He founde the knyght and the lady etyn with lyons othir with wylde bestis, all save the hede.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.135 : To slee and not to restore to lyfe is lyke to the powere of lyones and of wulfes.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)138/25 : Fle the maneres of wylde bestis..and the fiersnes of the lyoone.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1463 : Towardes Numbert he leop swilc hit an leon [Otho: lion] weora.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16710 : Touward Hengest he leop swulc [Otho: ase] hit a liun weore.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)139/19 : Alswa ðe lyon, ðe gað abuten þe dier hem to forswoleȝen, swa deð deuel abuten ȝew.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)141/9 : Beoð eauer aȝein him hardi ase liun.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)21562 : Hii leopen vt of wode ase hit lyons were.
- a1350 Maximian (Hrl 2253)263 : Gentil ich wes & freo, wildore þen þe leo.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1322 : Þe prinse..nis to preisi noȝt Þat in time of worre as a lomb is boþe mek & milde & in time of pes as leon [B vr. ys a lioun] boþe cruel & wilde.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9384 : Is mouþ is as a leom [vrr. leon, lyon]; is herte arn as an hare.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)262 : He wole lihten adoun Wraþfful and sterne as a lioun.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)84/22 : Virtue makeþ man hardi ase lyoun.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)7.2 : Þat þe enemi ne rauis nouȝt my soule as a lion.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)9.31 : He waiteþ in priuite as lioun in hys denne.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1231 : Leþerly as a lyoun, he lepes in-to þe prese.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.16.12 : They toke me doun, as a leoun [WB(2): lioun] redy to the prey.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.9.8 : And the teeth of hem were as the teeth of lyouns.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1598 : This Arcite with ful despitous herte..As fiers as leoun pulled out his swerd.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2171 : As a leoun he his lookyng caste.
- c1390 11 Pains(3) (Vrn)253/64 : Of hem tok I [?read: þei] no more kep But as a Lyun doþ of a schep.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3035 : Thi regne also with pride on hih Was lich the Leon in his rage.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)259a/a : Some beþ swiþe hardy, bolde, and proude as þe leoun.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)1137 : He wexe wood [vr. egre] as Lyoun.
- ?a1400 Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)11255 : Grete presse was at þe procession, Ilkon proudere þan þe lion.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.198 : And as a lyoun he loketh þere men lakketh his werkes.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)58/5 : Proude men, fers as lyones.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Judg.14.18 : What is stronger than a lyoun?
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.830 : Troilus wel woxen was..Yong, fressh, strong, and hardy as lyoun.
- a1425 Horse(4) (Glb E.9)p.xxv : After a lyon, prowd-herted, brod-brestid, iiii good legis, and a stowte stern.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)627 : With stoute Romeyns, crewel as lyoun, To ship they wente.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1605 : Now was Jason a semely man..And of his lok as real as a leoun.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)75 : And ther-on stoode a sturdy champeoun, Off looke and chere sterne as a lyoun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)8.2761 : Shewe ay themsilff hardi as leouns.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1592 : Þe oþer alle had no foysoun Þan had þe lomb ageyn þe lyoun.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5182 : Hit falleþ no kyng to felon res, As lyon in þe tyme of pees.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)13.259 : For so wilde Rasyng was neuere lyown As they thanne Isswed Owt of that town.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)938 : I lepe as a lyon.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5257 : He was wode of his wit, wild as a lione.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)118/3 : Hur husbond, þat befor was als wude as a lyon, wex als meke as a lambe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)29/7 : Than Arthure as a lyon ran unto kynge Cradilment of North Walis.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)30/29 : He fared woode as a lyon.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)189/1127 : But he him defended as a leyon.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)203/1610d : Also sterne he is in fyght As a lyon out rages on heyght.
c
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)127 : Þe deofel..geð abutan alswa þe gredie leo sechinde hwen he maȝe fordon.
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)18/163 : Ich iseo..hu þe unwhiht..ase liun iburst ȝeað abuten ure hus.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)85/27 : Ȝef a wod liun [Cai: woð leon] urne ȝont te strete.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6142 : As leon hardi ynou, he wende aboute wide.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1444 : Asaut to þat dragoun Tristrem toke..As a loþely lioun.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)252 : Nu ben theih liouns [vr. lyons] in halle and hares in the feld.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.198 : For thilke spouse that she took but now, Ful lyk a fiers leoun, she sendeth heere As meke as euere was any lamb.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)1 Pet.5.8 : The deuel, as a roryng lyoun, goith aboute, sekinge whom he shal deuoure.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4369 : He looketh as it were a grym leoun.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.2167 : As leon is the king of bestes, So schal the world obeie his hestes.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.794 : And he vp stirte as dooth a wood leoun.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1146 : Som tyme hath semed come a grym leoun.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416:Everett)176/22 : Oure aduersarie, þe deuel, as a lioun roringe goþ aboute.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.586 : Þe feerse lyon he [Hercules] byrafte his hous.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2168 : For Loue..Was bolde and hardy liche a fers lyoun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3858 : Þei ran I-fere..Liche wode liouns.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)35/4 : Afeend [read: aferd] schul þei be þat are now so kene as wood lyouns.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5877 : Vne wode of his wit as a wild lyon.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.280 : Þe leoun fiers out of his skyn he gete.
- a1500(c1437) Brut-1436 (Lamb 6)582/25 : Ye..Come rennyng on hym fersli as lyons of Cotteswold.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)57 : A lyon is kyng of bestes.
d
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)22/1,3 : Þa þe scinlac ðrowion, ete leones flæsc..Wið sina & wið cneowa liþe sare, nim leon ȝelinde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)237b/b : Oyle in þe which lyon is freissh [read: lyonis fleissh; L caro leonina] is y-sode.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7112 : In leon muth he fand..A bike o bees.
e
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5838 : Forr leness whellp þær þær itt iss Whellpedd, tær liþ itt stille Þre daȝhess.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.16.12 : And as a leoun whelp dwellende in hid placis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)289b/b : It is y-trowed þat þe leoun whelp..slepeþ þre dayes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7103 : A lion quilpe [Trin-C: leouns whelpe]..ran ouer-thuert.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18645 : Leon quelpe [Frf: lioun quelp; Trin-C: leouns whelpe], quen it es born, Lijs ded ai to þe thrid morn.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)100/17 : Hij [proud women] maken sleues of þe side gores and feden þe lyoun whelpes in her breest.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)16.13 : Þai onfanged me..als lioun kitelinge.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)103.22 : Lyoun whelpes romiand..seke fra god mete vnto þa.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.103.21 : Liouns whelpis rorynge for to rauysche.
f
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603 : A pride of lyons.
- a1475 in Hodgkin Proper Terms53 : A pryd of lyonnys.
g
- (a1400) Chaucer CT.Rt.(Manly-Rickert)I.1087 : That Crist haue mercy on me..and namely of my translacions and enditynges..of worldly vanitees..As is..The book of the Leoun and many another book.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.319 : And off the Leoun a book he [Chaucer] dede write.
2.
(a) A representation of a lion in painting, sculpture, engraving, embroidery, etc.; (b) her. the figure of a lion on a shield, badge, banner, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.692 : Who peynted the leoun, tel me who?
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.617 : And vp on tourettis wer reysed vp figurys Of wylde bestis, as beris and lyouns.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)894 : For nought yclad in silk was he But all in floures and in flourettes, Ypaynted al with amorettes..With briddes, lybardes, and lyouns, And other beestis wrought ful well.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)56/26 : An Awtier of gold & iiij lyouns of gold.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)148a/a : An ymage of a lyon y-grauen in most pure golde..yborne in a brigirdil..it preserueþ fro þe stone.
- (1432) Rec.St.Mary at Hill26 : Also a red vestement of satyn with lyons of gold of o sevte..Also a rede cope of selk with lyons of gold.
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1214 : For the subdekyn the Orfray of grene welvet & Rede with lyons & Roses of white.
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1349 : Fyrst, a palle of Rede with lyonnes of gold embroudyd.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)328 : A gay egle of gold on a gilde appul, With grete dragouns grym alle in gold wroȝte, & lyk [read: þer] to lyouns two lyande þer vnder.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1573 : And all of marbill was made with meruellus bestes, Of lions & Libardes & other laithe wormes.
- (1466) in Cox Churches Derb.86 : Item, one grene cope with lyons of golde brotherde.
- (1487) Paston6.203 : An hanging bed with a lyon thereupon.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)20 : I fond..a similitude..depeyntid vpon a wall..The hardy Leoun famous in al rewmys.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.39 : And two grete lyonns the throne of king Salomon vp bare.
- c1500 Money Coins MSS Hast.in HMC (Hnt HU 1051)1.419 : The gyldren of Gaunte with a lyon is worth, iij s. iiij d.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1040 : He smot him in þe lyoun, And tristrem..Bar him þurch þe dragoun In þe scheld.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)1313 : Þo þe king Dubbid him knyȝt..ȝaue him Armoure..With a lyoun of ryche Assure [Arms: A lyon of gold y-dentyd in asour].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4294 : Þe kyng haþ sett out his dragoun, And on his tente a golde lyoun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.8480 : He..bare þat day a schelde, Þe feld of whiche was of purid gold, With þre lyouns.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.494 : And in his scheld, I fynde..Þe chefe of gold, of goulys a lyoun Depeint þer-in.
- (1441) Arms Codrington in BGAS 21306 : Of Silver a veece of Sable Batale counter batale Frett with Gowles, betweene three Lyons passants of the same.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)976 : For the kyngdam off Ethyop, hos kyng beryth a lyon rampand Off goulys.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)5927 : Thre lions the lord bare, all of light goulis, Þat were shapon on his shild.
- (c1450) The Rote is ded (CotR 2.23)9 : Þe White lioun is leyde to slepe.
- (a1460) Badge York in Archaeol.17 (Dgb 82)226 : The Bages that he beryth by the Erldom of March ys a white Lyon.
- c1460 Awake lordes (Dub 432)24 : Þei hopen..To se þe rose and þe lioun brought to a bay.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.3 (Hrl 2169)198 : The feld of gold, the dowbyll tressore flourte all gowlys, the lyone of the same. Roy de Scottys.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.3 (Hrl 2169)203 : [France and England with] a bordore sylvyr [with] lyonys purpull. Count de Cambrygge.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.4230 : Goulys, a lyon passaunt of sylvyr, crownyd wyth golde.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)54 : He berith a scochon of gold with a lion in þe myddell.
3.
(a) The lion as a type or as a symbol of Christ, St. Mark, a good man, pride or a proud man, the Devil; ~ of helle, helle ~, the Devil; (b) a fierce or cruel person; mouth of the ~, liounes mouth, deadly peril; pleien the ~, to fight savagely; (c) in proverbs and sayings.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5827 : An oþerr der wass seȝhenn þær Inn an leuness like Forr þatt itt shollde tacnenn uss Marrcumm þe Goddspellwrihhte.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5834 : & tatt wass rihht tatt le wass sett Onnȝæn þatt Goddspellwrihhte.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5978 : Ure Laferrd Crist..wass tacnedd þurrh þe leo Forr þatt he ras onn erþe..Þe þridde daȝȝ.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6027 : He riseþþ upp & sahhtleþþ himm Wiþþ Godd þurrh rihht dædbote, & iss swa tacnedd þurrh þatt deor Þatt wass i leoness like.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)131 : Þa streonge leo..wes þes liuiȝendes godes sune.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)85/1 : Seinte peter seið þet helle liun rengeð & reccheð eauer abuten.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)101/26 : Þe liun [Recl.: Lyoun] of prude haueð swiðe monie hwelpes.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)103/8 : Hu se eauer hire curtel beo ischapet oðer iheowet, heo is þe liunes [Cai: leones] make.
- a1300 11 Pains(1) (Jes-O 29)247 : And þe lyun þat wes so strong..Er þat he was ibrouht a-dun Wiþ cristes holy passyun.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)17/8 : Prede is king of wyckede þeawes; Hy is þe lioun þet al uorzuelþ.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)173/36 : He is ine þe prisone of zenne ine þe þrote of þe lyone of helle.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.33 : Þe first beest semed a lyoun, And þat oþer an Oxe.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.5.5 : A lyoun of the lynage of Juda, the rote of Dauid, hath ouercomen for to opene the book.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1657 : So kepe vs fro the temptour, Sathanas..beth war as in this cas; The leoun sit in his awayt alway To sle the innocent if that he may.
- (c1395) WBible(2) Prol.Is.(Roy 1.C.8)p.226 : The profetis..liknen men to vnresonable beestis and clepen men bi figuratif speche, liouns, beris, culueris..as men ben clepid liouns for pride ether raueyn ether sum other synne; and sum tyme a lioun signefieth Crist for his power, and sum tyme a lioun signefieth the deuel for tirauntrie and raueyn.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)7.2 : This lyon is the deuel, that sekis how he myght wynn mennys saule.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)118/24 : And herefore he [Christ] is callyd a lyon.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)373 : It happenyth some tyme in a grete Couente that there are many bestes..lyouns be pride, Foxes be fraude.
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)700 : Oh thow, my Lord God and Sauyouer..strong Lyon of Juda!
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)16/12 : Lowse me, lauerd, ut of þe liunes muð.
- c1225 St.Marg.(1) (Roy 17.A.27)15/32 : Þu luðere liun, lað godd, þi mihte schal unmuchelin & melten to riht noht.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)64/27 : Wummon wrað is wuluene; Mon, wulf oðer liun [Nero: leun] oðer unicorne.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4027 : Ðis leun sal oðer folc freten, Lond canaan al preige bi-geten.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.21.22 : Saue me fro the mouth of the leoun [L ex ore leonis].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.57.7 : The wang teth of leouns the Lord shal to-breke.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1775 : Fy Vpon a lord that wol haue no mercy But be a leoun [vrr. leon, lyoun, lyon, lyone] bothe in word and dede To hem that been in repentaunce and drede!
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1989 : With inne thyn hous, ne be thow no leoun.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.216 : In porte a lambe, in herte a lyoun fel.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)4200 : And Tydeus..Fro day to day pleyeth þe lyoun So cruelly..That Theban non aforn his face abood.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.19.3 : He is maad a lioun and lerned for to take pray and for to ete man.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.1074 : And in the feld he pleyde the leoun; Wo was that Grek that with hym mette.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3881 : This was sir Gawayne the gude..Þe lordelieste of ledynge qwhylls he lyffe myghte, Fore he was lyone allossede in londes inewe.
- a1500(1413) ?Hoccl.Poems PS (Eg 615)p.lviii/220 : Yit knowe I wel that lyon is he nought.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)52 : Remembre of Ector, the Troian chaumpioun, Whoos hors was callid whilom Galathe, Vpon whos bak he pleyed the leoun.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)222 : Entryng the feeld, he pleyeth the leoun.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Prov.26.13 : The slowe seith, 'A leoun is in the weie.'
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Eccl.9.4 : Betere is a quyc dogge thanne a leoun dead.
- c1390 Whon Men beoþ (Vrn)77 : Salamon seide..He holdeþ wel betere with an hounde..of seknesse hol and sounde Þen be a Leon þouȝ he ly Cold and ded vppon þe grounde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.491 : And for to maken othere be war by me, As by the whelp chasted is the leoun, Right for that cause..Myn harm I wol confessen.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4071 : By deeth, a leon maad is briddes mete.
4.
(a) Astron. & astrol. The constellation Leo, the zodiacal sign; signe (tokeninge) of the ~; (b) alch. grene ~, ~ grene, sophic mercury [see grene adj. 5. (b)].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2462 : I do vengeance..Whil I dwelle in the signe of the leoun.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.207 : Here take hed þat þe cercle of [read: þat] þe sonne holdeþ his cours ynne by the ȝere is i-deled in twelue parties, and eueriche partie þerof is i-cleped a signe..Þese beeþ þe names of þe signes: þe Wether, þe Boole, þe Twynnes, þe Crabbe, þe Leon, [etc.].
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)44/38 : Whan any eclips (lune) fallith in aries, taurus, gemini, cancer, leo, virgo, than is the Eclips in caput.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1067 : The fifte Signe is Leo hote, Whos kinde is schape dreie and hote, In whom the Sonne hath herbergage.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1249 : And that contre Governed is of Signes thre, That is, Cancer, Virgo, Leo.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.265 : Phebus..ascendyng was the beest roial, The gentil leon with his Aldiran.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1058 : Now next at this opposicioun, Which in the signe shal be of the leoun, As preyeth hire so greet a flood to brynge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)110a/b : Þe signe þat hatte leo is fury, male, & I-piȝt, & a day signe, þe hous of þe sonne & his exaltacioun.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)118b/b : Þe aier is hoot and drie, and þat comeþ of..þe sonne, þat is þanne wiþ þat sterre canicula in þe signe þat hatte leo.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3372 : Phebus chare..Oute of þe Crabbe toward þe Lyoun Holdeth his course in þe firmament.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.588 : Phebus is passed þe Lyoun.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)4.32 : Byfel that, whan that Phebus shynyng is Upon the brest of Hercules lyoun, That Ector..Caste..for to fighte.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1190 : I shal ben here..Er that the moone..The Leoun passe, out of this Ariete.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)155b/b : Þe sonne beynge in leone, i. in þat signe of þe firmament þat is called leo, i. þe lyoun, þe mone noght byholdynge saturne ne noght goynge fro hym.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)575 : In this forsayd spere, closyd in oryent sterrys, as in a cage..The Crab, the Lyon, the Vyrgyne, and the Weghtys.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.8.4 : Under the compas of thilke degrees ben writen the names of the Twelve Signes: as Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.25.43 : My sonne is peraventure in the first degre of Leoun, 58 degrees and 10 minutes of height at non.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)35 : Ther wer also apperyng þere þe signes super celestial..in whech tymes of þe ȝer þe sunne passith be hem..in iune be þe crabbe, in iule be þe leoun.
- ?c1450 Iff a man (Stockh 10.90)320/524 : Lilie wil be gaderyd iwys, Whil þe sonne in leon is; Þat is to seye, fro mydde july To mydde awgust sekyrly.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)49b/b : Leo, þe signe, haþ lordschip ouer þe stomak, þe lyuere, & þe splen & of alle þe membris þat longiþ þerto.
- ?1480 Court Sap.(Caxton)2145 : The crabbe, the lyon, and the streyt mayd.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)112/4 : Stable þou þe mountant, or þe vpspryngand, yn þe tokenynge of þe Lyon.
b
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)57a : The saide menstruall is..The blode of our grene lyon & not of vitriall.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)63b : The spottid panther, with ye lyon grene, ye crowes bill blew as led.
5.
In plant names: liounes fot, fot de ~ [OE lēon-fōt], a plant with leaves or flowers resembling a lion's foot; ?lion's leaf Leontice leontopetalum, ?lady's mantle Alchemila pratensis; liounes toth, the dandelion Taraxacum officinale; dent-de-~, q.v.
Associated quotations
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)110.84/1 : Nim þysse wyrt þat man pedem leonis & engle leonis fot nemned.
- c1225 Wor.Bod.Gloss.(Hat 76)19 : Leonfot, pes leonis: leones fot.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)197a/a : Pes leonis: liones fot.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)150/24 : Dens leonis is an herbe þat men clepe dendelyoun or lyonys toth.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)68/14 : Take pee-lioun -- fot de lyoun -- and houe be euene veyte, and bray hem to-gedre.
6.
As surname; also, as name of a ship.
Associated quotations
- (1253) Close R.Hen.III193 : In navi que vocatur La Leon de Winchels[ea].
- (1272) Close R.Edw.I507 : Herebertus Lion.
- (1287-90) Bk.of Fees1303 : Willelmus le Leoun.
- (1328) Sub.R.Der.in Der.ANHSJ 3079 : Rob. Lyoun.