Middle English Dictionary Entry

lō̆mb n.
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) A young sheep, a lamb; (b) an unborn lamb, a sheep fetus; with ~; (c) in comparisons and proverbial similes; (as) mek (loue, simple) as a ~, etc.; (d) a sacrificial lamb, the paschal lamb; (e) the carcass or flesh of a lamb used for food; (f) an engraved or sculptured image of a lamb as an emblem of Christ.
2.
A follower of Christ, a member of the Christian flock.
3.
(a) A person who is meek, mild, or gentle; (b) a person who is easily cheated, an innocent.
4.
The lamb as a symbol of Christ; godes ~, ~ of god, ~ of heven, holi ~, the ~, etc., Christ.
5.
The hide of a lamb with the wool left on, lambskin.
6.
In phrases, cpds., and combs.: (a) lomb(es blod (lomber blod), the blood of a lamb or lambs; the blood of Christ; ~ cote, a shed for lambs; ~ fel, = ~ skin; lomb(es fles, the fleece of a lamb; ~ flesh, the flesh of lambs used for food; ~ furre, the pelt of a lamb; (b) ~ gavel, a pastoral rent for lambs; lomb(es silver, a customary rent paid in lieu of lambs' lying at the lord's fold; lomb(es skin (lomb his skin), the hide of a lamb with the wool left on; lomb(es wol, wool shorn from lambs; lombes tonge, eue ~, wether ~, q.v.
7.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.13]; (c) as the name of an ale-house.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1400 Þo oure lord god (Mrg M 957)p.320 : Sche gurte helendes wyþ a gerdel of blak..woȝderlyche slake for sor of here wombe it wot sche it deþ Oþre elles sche is wyþ lombe.
  • Note: ?New phr. for 4. 'lamb as a symbol of Christ'
    Note: !Quot. already taken under 1.(b) 'an unborn lamb, a sheep fetus; with ~'