Middle English Dictionary Entry
lisper n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lisper n. Also wlisper. |
| Etymology | From wlispen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One who lisps; (b) anat. 'oversized recurrent laryngeal nerve inside tongue, supposed cause of a lisp' [Norri].
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)2.3.213note (f.32va; p.97) : Tuo synowes .. go .. to þe tunge, and þai ar called nerui vocales, þe speche synowes, for vppon þe disposicioun of hem is sounyng of speche in þe tunge; [marg. reads: whi lisper and stamerer] for somtyme þise synowes bene ouer large.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)306 : Lyspare [Win: Lyspar]: Blesus, blesa, sibilus, sibila.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)218 : Lyspe. Lysper. Lyspynge: blesus.
b
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)2.3.210ff. (f.32va-32vb; p.97) : Tuo synowes .. go .. to þe tunge, and þai ar called nerui vocales, þe speche synowes .. for somtyme þise synowes bene ouer large and þan mow þai noȝt soune þis letter 'S'; and þis synow is called 'psidius,' þe psidi, or elles wlisper.