Middle English Dictionary Entry
lọ̄ker(e n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | lọ̄ker(e n.(2) Also locar. |
| Etymology | From lọ̄ken v.(2); also cp. OE lōcere, as in lōceres weg, Birch Cart.Sax. 3.10 |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1a.
(a) One engaged in looking, a looker; ~ abouten, one who is all-seeing; ~ oute, one who divines by looking at entrails; ~ upon, one who looks at something; sotil ~, one who uses his eyes for close work; wrong ~, a squinter; (b) a watchman or spy; ~ abouten; (c) ~ upon, a bishop [pun on L episcopus].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.7.12 : God forsoþe þe lookere aboute [WB(2): biholdere; L circumspector] is, þat mekeþ & enhaunceþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)307a/a : Dyuersite of colour exciteþ kyndeliche þe sight of lokers [L intuentis] to loke and wondre þeron.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)26b/a : Extipex [read: Extispex]: loker out.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)62b/b : Stralio [read: Strabo]: wronge lokere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)28 : Beholdere, or lokar vpon yn seyynge: Inspector.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)115/7 : Þis is a good watyr for all vicis of sore eyne..to wryterys, to lwmmynouris, to stodieris, and to all sotyll lokerys as poyntowris, goldsmethys, and swyche oper [read: oþer].
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.37.18 : Þe soule of an holi man telliþ out oþerwhile soþis, more þan seuene lookeris aboute [WB(2): biholderis; L circumspectores], sittinge in to heiȝte to beholden.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.21.6 : Go thou, and sette a lokere [WB(1): tootere; L speculatorem]; and telle he what euer thing he seeth.
c
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)2 : Scopos is locand vp on; þer for, if we wil, we mai calle bischoppis, locars up on.
1b.
One who has a certain appearance.
Associated quotations
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)10644 : Furste for sorow sche was nye madde..And a dolefuller loker may none be.
2.
(a) One who watches over or takes care of; a guardian or guardian angel; (b) a military guard; (c) ?an overseer; (d) ~ of bestes, a herdsman; (e) a guard or caretaker of a place.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)21/4 : Efterward to þine zuete uelaȝe and to þine guode lokere, þin angle, þet alneway þe lokeþ.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)220/6 : Þeruore þe children of riche men ssolle habbe guode lokeres and oneste.
- c1450(?a1400) SLChrist (Add 38666)5463 : His gost to his fadir he sent, And to his moder, swete Mary, A loker [L paranimphum] forto take entent to hir.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7429 : Þe carters euerichon Of liif days þai brouȝten anon; & her lokers anon riȝtes, Fif þousand heþen kniȝtes, Þai metten wiþ swerd & kniif.
c
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)23/71 : Suche jangelers and lokers, and wayters of games, if thee thinke in aught they mowe dere, yet love wel alwaye, and sette hem at naught.
d
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2591 : Þan mas he laddis ouire to lend & lokars [Dub: lokers] of bestis.
e
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)102/11 : Þe lookers þat kepten þe sepulchre..weren alle abaischt & fellen adoune.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)54a/a : Puticl[u]s: a graue or acareyne loker.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)211/13 : I will that ye knowe that I am the loker and keper of this place.
3.
In place name [see Smith PNElem. 2.26].
Associated quotations
- (1194) in Ekwall Dict.EPN288 : Lokerlay.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4919 : After a loker on the syde [of a chest] ageyn the plombe of lede, yt it may be redde and knowe to exorte the pepull.
Note: New sense ?A peephole in the side of a chest--per SMK