Middle English Dictionary Entry
lō̆mb n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lō̆mb n. Also lombe, loumbe, lamb(e & lomp(e, loumpe, lamp & lom, lam(e, lamme & (error) lonb. Pl. lō̆mbes, etc. & lō̆mber, lō̆meber, lamber, lambur, lambre, lamer & lambres & lambren, lambron, lambroun, lambern, lamborn & lō̆mb. |
| Etymology | OE lamb, pl. lambur, lambru. |
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.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1312 : Lamb is soffte & stille deor, & meoc & milde & liþe.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)7752 : Swa we muȝhenn alle imæn Þe lambess bisne follȝhenn.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12662 : Shepess lamb uss ȝifeþþ millc, & flæsh & blod & wulle.
- c1175 Stw.57 Gloss.(Stw 57)411 : Agnus, lomb, i. angel, uel Agna, ewelomb.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)49 : Ech man þe ne haueð noht redi lombbes loðlesnesse, ne turtles clennesse.
- c1300 SLeg.11000 Virg.(LdMisc 108)130 : Ase so fale wolues a-mong lambren, heore flechs huy to-drowe.
- c1300 SLeg.Fran.(1) (LdMisc 108)297 : Seint Fraunceis..Muche..louede ȝoungue lambre.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)85 : Whan he hath the silver of wolle and of lomb, He put in his pautener an honne and a komb.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)139/10 : Kende wyle þet þe lambren louie ham togidere and beuly þe wolues.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.5.17 : And lombis [WB(2): lambren] shul be fed aftir ther order.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.303 : Alle þe splekked lamberne [vr. lambren] and kedes..schulde be Iacob his mede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.102 : Vnder a shepherde softe and necligent, The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to rent.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)264a/b : Among alle the bestes of þe erþe, þe lomb is þe most Innocent, softe, and mylde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)264b/b : Agnus agniculus is a lomb of ful age of oon ȝeer.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)4.415 : Saul..gaf þe kyngdome to hus knaue þat kept sheep and lambren [vrr. lambre, lambus].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7013 : Outward, lambren semen we, Fulle of goodnesse and of pitee, And inward we, withouten fable, Ben gredy wolves ravysable.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)638/37 : Hic agnus: lamme.
- c1425 Wycl.Concord.in Spec.43 (Roy 17.B.1)271 : Sumtyme suche wordis varyen or diuersen al oonly in oo lettre, as flax & flex, invie & envie, lomb & lamb.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)286 : Lam, or loom, yonge scheep: Agnus.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)5.146-7 : Laat lamber marke hem now. Now first tuppyng Be maad, lambron to ripe er wynter sprynge.
- (1444) Will York in Sur.Soc.30106 : All my array except ij furres, ye tane of martyns, ye tother of blake lambes.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)1592 : Þe oþer alle had no foysoun Þan had þe lomb ageyn þe lyoun.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)663 : Skynnes..Of shepe, lambe, and fox is here chaffare.
- ?a1450 Lanfranc (Add 12056)75/31 : Ȝif hym flesch of smale chyknes..& kyddes & lambres.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.143/14 : Thabbot hathe..ij partys of scheves, of lambys, and of pyggys, and of other smalle tithis.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)70b : A lame [Monson: Lambe]: Agnus, Agnellus, Agna, Agnella.
- c1500(a1449) Lydg.Aesop (Trin-C R.3.19)243 : The rauenous wolf opon þe lambe doþe lour.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)SSol.4.2 : Hou fair art þou, my leef..þi teeth as þe flockis of clippid sheep..alle with double lombis [WB(2): lambren] in þe wombe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)264a/a : If scheep beþ wiþ lombe and heereþ þe þonder, sche casteþ hire lombe for drede.
- a1400 Þo oure lord god (Mrg M 957)p.320 : For sor of here wombe ich wot sche it deþ, Oþer elles sche is wyþ lombe.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.143.13 : The scheep of hem ben with lambre.
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.398 : Þat he sle..no Ewye that is on Rammyng nor grete with lambe.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)8/8 : Ich iseo me, lauerd, bistepped & bistonden ase lomb wið wedde wulues.
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)273 : Tu, mi leue ihesu, for þi mikle meknesse to lamb was euenet.
- a1325(?c1300) Caiphas (Sln 2478)121 : Cryst com as moeklych as a lom To habbe for ȝou deþes dom.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)1321 : Þe prinse..oþer king nis to preisi noȝt Þat in time of worre as a lomb is boþe mek & milde.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7609 : Wolues dede hii nimeþ vorþ, þat er dude as lombe.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)260 : He þat was woned to be Meke as a lomb, ful of pite; Þeder he wole lihten adoun Wraþfful and sterne as a lioun.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)113.4 : Hij heden þe mounteyns as weþeres, & þe littel hilles as lambren of shepe.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.199 : As meke as euere was any lamb to yow.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 10.3 : Go ȝe, lo! I sende ȝou as lambren a mong wolues.
- c1390 Chart.Abbey HG (Vrn)360 : Crist wente as mekeliche to his hongynge as a lomb doþ to his scherynge.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3704 : I moorne as dooth a lamb after the tete.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.4983 : Lich a Lomb whanne it is sesed In wolves mouth, so was desesed Lucrece.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.538 : As a lamb she sitteth meke and stille.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)6.40 : He is as louȝ as a lomb [vrr. lom, lambe] & loueliche of speche.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.200 : For þere ar beggeres and bidderes, bedmen as it were, Loketh as lambren [vrr. lambroun, lambern] and semen lyfholy.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)815 : As meke as lomp þat no playnt tolde For vus he swalt in Jerusalem.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)74/25 : His beryng shal bene meke as a Lambe.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)203 : This is he which as an innocent lomb is bitraied to the deeth.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)944 : We suffer payn mekely, Als lams þat er lede for to dy.
- c1450 Lydg.SSecr.Ctn.(Sln 2464)2301 : He [man] is hardy as a leown..Symple as the lamb, lyk the ffox malicious.
- a1500(1465) Leversedge Vision (Add 34193)28 : My seid saule, kneling stil as meeke as a jnnocent or lambe..hard wel this disputacion for hym aȝenst hym.
d
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)1308 : Wiþþ lamb þu lakesst tin Drihhtin.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.Pentec.(Lamb 487)87 : God het Moyses..þet heo sculden offrien of elchan hiwscipe gode an lomb of ane ȝeres and merki mid þan blode hore duren.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)236/9 : God het to ham þet ssolden ethe of þe lombe, þet betoknede þet bodi of Iesu crist, þet hi gerten wel hare lenden.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.1.10 : He shal offre aloomp of o ȝeer wiþoute wem.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.3.7 : Ȝif he shal offre aloomb byfore þe lord, he shal putte his honde opon þe hed of his slawyn sacrifice.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.23.18 : Ȝe sholen offre wiþ þe louys seuene loombys vnwemmed of oo ȝeer.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128b/a : In þe pask of Ebrewis a lamb was I-offred, I-rost, and I-ete..postis of houses were I-bained wiþ blood of þe lambe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)10380 : Ioachim..Mad sacrifijs..First ten lambes, quitte als milk.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11302 : Sco..wit hir child suld offer þare A lamb if sco sua riche ware.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)31/68 : This lombe xal I offre it up to the.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)31/75 : In a lombys lyknes, þou xalt for mannys wyckydnes Onys ben offeryd in peynfulnes.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)2655 : Pore offring þer chese he and laft lomber..þat riche men vset of grete degre.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)4710 : In the Olde Testament..thay maken sacrifice of the lompe on Pasche day.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)95/39 : Abel offered a lombe, and Caym handfulles of fruytes.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)118/1 : Also in the Palme Sonday is seide þe 'Agnus', for then the lombe was includid and steekyd in þat that he was to be sacrifised in the vi ferye after.
- a1500 *Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)169/24 : It is to vndirstonde and noted tha doves and lombes war presented to God.
e
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.35 : Take a lombe or a kidde and half rost hym.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)132a/a : Take tridels of a lombe oþer of a kidde, iij ounces floure of rye, of barlie, oþer of benes, halfe a pounde storacis liquide.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A lame sydyde.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.OFools (LdMisc 683)150 : Isigrinus, cheef wardeyn of the ffolde, Takith to his larder..Grettest lambre [vr. lambren], oon or two or thre.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)74/16 : It nedys þat a man vse yn þat seysoun..lambren, old wyn, and swete raysyns.
f
- (1443) Will York in Sur.Soc.30189 : Item, j chalis of silver and gilt playne, with j lambe graven in ye patyn.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)50 : On þe brinke of þis uessel he sette a lombe al of gold.
- (1472) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum4 : Item, j Chalice of olde fassion with his patent both through gilte..and in the patent ther of the holy lombe, both weyinge in all xx unces.
2.
A follower of Christ, a member of the Christian flock.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)13329 : Symon shollde wurrþenn Hæfedd & hirde off Cristess hird..To werenn hise lammbre.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)29/25 : Ich am mi lauerdes lomb, & he is min hirde.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)40/9 : Ah, deore drihtines lomb, leoðe me a lutel.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2224 : [Jesus to Peter:] ffed þanne my lambren, þat hi ffare nouȝt amys.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2235 : What were sheep and þe lomb þat he bad him wisse and rede Bote mony soules here þat he moste wissi neode?
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 21.15 : Jhesu seith to hym, 'Feede thou my lambren.'
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.792 : Vndigne preestes and curates..sellen the soules, that lambes sholde kepen, to the wolf that strangleth hem; and therfore shul they neuere han part of the pasture of lambes, that is, the blisse of heuene.
- a1425 Wycl.MCh.(Bod 788)416 : Crist bad Petir þries to fede his lambren and hise sheep.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)295/18 : Þis wrecchid mynistre..schulde be..mynystrynge to my verry lomb.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)180 : If j wolde telle thee..how many lambren he [the devil] hath departed fro the brest and strangled, j trowe it shulde not plese thee.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)19332 : I go and serche..ffor to devoure..Alle foolkys..That lambre be off cristis ffoolde.
3.
(a) A person who is meek, mild, or gentle; (b) a person who is easily cheated, an innocent.
Associated quotations
a
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)336 : S. pouuel firist wes wlf & soþin bicom lonb.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)191/41 : Þat Saul was a luþer man..lomb he is bi-come.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.604 : He that was a Lomb beforn Is thanne a Wolf.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.216 : He souȝt to procede To execute his menynge euery del, In porte a lambe, in herte a lyoun fel.
- a1425(c1300) Assump.Virg.(1) (Add 10036)130/671 : Ihesu crist..Of a wilde hounde haþ made a lomb, To preche his worde in eche a lond.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)295/17 : And þere þat he schulde be a lomb..he is a ram wiþ hornes of pryde.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1803 : Howe shuld o sely lombe a-mong wolvis weld, And scape vn-I-harmyd?
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)145 : The Kyng of Frauns in face schewid himself a lomb, and in work a leon.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.148 : [Arthur] As a lyon in felde was moste douteous, In house a lambe of mercy euer replete.
b
- c1500(a1449) Lydg.Aesop (Trin-C R.3.19)321 : Þer be wolfes..That clyp lamborn at sessions & at shyres Bare to þe bone, & yet þey haue no sheres.
4.
The lamb as a symbol of Christ; godes ~, ~ of god, ~ of heven, holi ~, the ~, etc., Christ.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.263 : Godess hallȝhe Lamb..he sahh ec inn heffne.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12630 : Cristess follc i Crisstenndom Wel cunnenn shollde & cnawenn Þatt hallȝhe Lamb, þatt haffde hemm bohht.
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)127 : Ge..beoð [redeemed] mid þan deorewurþe bleode of þan clenan and of þan unwemmedan lombe ðet is godes sune.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)129/14 : Maidenhad..folȝið ðe hali lombe, and him his neȝest.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)32/86 : Lo here godes lomb, þat bi-nimeth þe worldes mis-dede.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1431 : Euere stod þe Mylde lomb, and þolede al hare wille.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)76/2155 : Þys sygne Þat holy lambe þat slaȝen hys To ondo hyt hys wel dygne.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)232/29 : Volȝeþ þet lamb of mildenesse, þet is, Iesu crist.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.141 : Þai shullen fiȝtten wiþ þe Lombe, & þe lombe schal ouercome hem, for he is lorde ouer lordes & kyng ouer kynges.
- (a1382) WBible(1) Pref.Jer.(Bod 959)7.36 : Ruth moabitis fulfylliþ þe prophecy of ysay, seying, 'lord, send oute þe lombe, þe lordschiper of erþe, fro þe stone of desert to þe mownt of þe douȝter of syon.'
- c1390 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Vrn)280-1 : Þe lomb haþ leid þe Lyoun a-doun; Þe lomb is lord in eueri toun.
- c1390 Treat.Mass (Vrn)592 : Whon þe pater noster is don, To þe Agnus dei he goþ ful son..'Godes lomb' hit is to sei.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.459 : The kyng of heuene..The white lamb that hurt was with a spere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)127b/a : When þe septuagesme of þis lif is ful endid, þan we schal schine in white in presence of þis lambe.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) John Bapt.(Phys-E)p.45 : This es that lamb that I you hiht..Godes lamb mai ye se her.
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)516 : Gods lamb [vrr. lambe, lombe, lowmpe]..of vs haue merci & pite.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12839-40 : Þis es þe lamb wit-vten were, Þe godds lamb, þan clenge sale Þis wreched werld fra sinful duale.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)841 : Thys Jerusalem Lombe hade neuer pechche Of oþer huee bot quyt jolyf.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)867 : I seghe..þe Loumbe hym stande On þe mount of Syon.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)872 : On alle her forhedez wryten I fande Þe Lombez nome, hys Faderez also.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)945 : Þe Lompe þer wythouten spottez blake Hatz feryed þyder hys fayre flote.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.77 : Crist is clepid Goddis lombe for many resouns of þe lawe.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)77/31 : Þat deeþ of oure synne took awey þe bodily liif fro þe pure lowly lomb, þat is, þi dere sone.
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.50 : Lombe [vr. Loomb] of god..ȝyue us pees!
- a1450 Of alle þe ioyus (Cmb Dd.11.89)97 : I se that lomb with outen lac So mekliche toward Hys deth go, Bering the holy croys on His bac.
- a1450 Of alle þe ioyus (Cmb Dd.11.89)201 : Ther heng that blissful lomb of lyf By twene to theuis al naked tho.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)257/24 : Foleweþ..euere-more þe lambe, þat is, Ihesu Crist.
- a1450 Enmy herowde (Sln 2593)10 : Þe lomb of heuene is comyn vs to.
- c1450 Surge mea (Lamb 853)57 : Pulcra vt luna, þou berist þe lamme, As þe sunne þat schineþ clere.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)116/501 : To the lawde of this lam Syng we in syght.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)201/217 : I haue sene the lamb of god.
5.
The hide of a lamb with the wool left on, lambskin.
Associated quotations
- (1404) in Rec.B.Nottingham 222 : Unius tenice penulatae cum albo lambe..unius penulae de nigro lambe.
- (1418) EEWills37/2 : A gowne of grene frese..furryd with blak Lambe.
- (1434) EEWills97/13 : Y bequthe..a russet kyrtell furred with lambe.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11197 : Oþer pelure ynowe þer were; Þe names of þem y ne wot what are, Lomb or boge, conyng or hare.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)220/1 : Make a bote of blak lam from be-nethe þe kne vp-ward and ley þe wol syde to þe legge warde.
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.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)36/9 : Monie cumeð to ow ischrud mid lombes fleos & beoð wedde wulues.
- (1385) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.21 : Lamfell.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.452 : O clere, o weleful auter, holy croys, Reed of the lambes blood ful of pitee, That wesshe the world fro the olde iniquitee.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester9 : Lambsel [read: Lambfel] ye dos. yorwzout the zer, j d. and iij quart.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6075 : Þis lamb [Frf: lambe; Göt: lambis; Trin-C: lombes] blod..On airer post þer hus to smer.
- (1430) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.21 : [A] pak [of] Irys lamfelles.
- (1433) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)170 : Þe said furres of Bogee shuld be wroght of hole Skynnes; þey ben kutte in foure and medled some with legges some with lambfurres.
- (a1450) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.12063 : If eny of the same craft sell eny olde furre for newe, or put lambe fell or porcion of lambfell in furris.
- (1458) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1299 : Gotfell, schepfell, ne lamfell.
- (1459-60) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100320 : Pro emendacione..unius parcell. muri apud le lamcote..Et sol. pro tectura apud de lambecote.
- (1467-8) RParl.5.616b : The biyng and shippyng of eny Wolles, Wolfelles, Lammefell, Shorlyng or Morlyng.
- (1474) Let.Bk.Lond.L (Gldh LetBk L)117 : Item, c Morkyn', and lamb Felles, iiij d.
- a1475 In place (Hrl 3954)162 : His lomeber blod our bale may bete, Of qwom spac Moyses þe prophete.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)78/23 : Meene metys engendrys noght bolnynges ne superfluytes, as lombe fflesh, motoun and Capouns.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.325 : The parliament..graunt hym the ix lambe flees & shaue Of the commons..The ix lambe flees & shaue graunt was two yere.
b
- (1242) Doc.in Cooper Margaret162 : Consuetudines..ripseluer, wedelode, eylode, auerseluer, lambseluer.
- (a1300) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 244 : Lamgafol.
- (a1300) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 281 : [At Littlebourne, Kent, a half sulung gives] ad lamselver vj d.
- (1342) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.26 : [100 sacks of] lambwoll [and] peltwoll [and] cobwoll.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)285b/a : His [a kid's] wolle is more longe and rough þan is lombe wolle.
- (a1400) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 2103 : Lammessilver.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)139/2 : I boond al þe heed wiþ a boond, & aboue I leide a lambis skyn.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)229 : A burnet cote..Furred with no menyver, But with a furre rough of her, Of lambe-skynnes hevy and blake.
- (1429) RParl.4.352a : That these saide Lambeswolle, shorlyng and scaldyng, hav passed afore this tyme in fourme of poundage aboveseid; and that a nail of Lambeswolle is at the value of ix d. or x d.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)191 : Of eche c of lambrys skynnys, bogee, conyns, foxis, cattyn, and of alle other maner skynnes passyng out of the lond.
- (1442) RParl.5.61a : That ther be put in noon of thoo Worstedes, eny Lambe woll, nor Pell woll.
- (1452) Proc.Privy C.6.118 : They and thair successours..shal mowe..bye..lambeskynnes and calves skynnes.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)3.2.49a : This..haue be feyned religiows ypocrites with here disgised clothes, þat had the lambe is skyn upon hem selffe be semyng with owt, but withinforth thei were ravisshing wolffes.
7.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.13]; (c) as the name of an ale-house.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1130) Chart.Hen.I in EHR 14 (Cleo C.7)429 : Suetman Lambesheved.
- (1159) in Pipe R.Soc.159 : Ædwardus Lamb.
- (1201) Fine R.King John114 : Willielmus filius Lamb.
- (1226) Close R.Tower 2116 : Robertus Lomb.
- (1246) Close R.Hen.III387 : Willelmus le Lomb.
- (1270) Pat.R.Hen.III436 : John Lamb.
- (c1273) Hundred R.Tower 2654b : Agnes Lambesheved.
- (1279) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms65 : Joh. Lambegrom..Lambergrom.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2135 : Rogero Lambe.
- (1327) in Ewen Surnames Brit.164 : Lambsheued.
- (1327) in Sundby Dial.Wor.31 : Lomherde.
- (1327) in Sundby Dial.Wor.210 : Loump.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3253 : Johannes le Lom.
- (1332) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms65 : Le Lompharde.
- (1334) Close R.Edw.III239 : William Blaklambe.
- (1380) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms65 : Steph. Lambhierd.
- (1390) Doc.Oxf.in OHS 734 : Johannes Lambehythe.
b
- (c1100) in Wallenberg PNKent200 : Lamburherste.
- (1168) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)171 : Lamlega.
- (1188) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)70 : Lambewat.
- (1199) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)22 : Lambhith.
- (1201) in Mawer PNNhb.& Dur.131 : Lambeley.
- (a1216) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.481 : Apud Lambelandes: due acre versus orientem.
- (1245) in Sedgefield PNCum.& West.160 : Lamberig.
- (1275) in Sundby Dial.Wor.31 : Lameraie.
- (1296-7) Acc.Cornw.in RHS ser.3.68187 : 4 1/2 ac. terre de remanenti de Lambhousflat.
- (1297) in Mawer PNNhb.& Dur.131 : Lampton.
- (1314) in Mawer PNNhb.& Dur.131 : Lambeton.
- (1316) in Sundby Dial.Wor.31 : Lamberheye.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6671 : At lamhupe [read: lamhuþe; B: lambheþe] he was ded.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.69 : Þey were translated to Lambhyþe [Higd.(2): Lambithe] faste by Londoun.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.176/31 : And j dj. acre In North-halfe lambecotestrete.
- a1500(c1345) Cart.Boarstall in OHS 88222 : Lambescotefurlong.
c
- (1453) Acc.St.Margaret Southwark in BMag.32488 : Receuyd for the beryall of the Wyfe at the Lambe, vj s. viij d.
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 ~'