Middle English Dictionary Entry
loppe n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | loppe n.(1) Also lop(p, lob. |
| Etymology | OE loppe, lobbe 'spider'; ?the sense 'flea' by influence of ON; cp. Dan. loppe, Swed. loppa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A spider; ~ web, a spider's web, cobweb; (b) a flea; (c) pl. the flies of the fourth plague of Egypt; (d) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.26].
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)38.15 : Þou madest his soule to stumblen as a lob [L araneam].
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)89.10 : Our ʒeres shal þenchen as þe lob [L aranea].
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[1.3] 76a : Thy Ryet schapen in maner of a nett or of a webb of a loppe.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[1.19] 82a : From this Cenyth..comen a maner croked strykes lyk to the clawes of loppes [vr. a loppe].
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[1.21] 82b : The Ryet of thyn astrelabie..is schapen in maner of a nett or of a loppe webbe.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2819 : Riʒt as lop-webbys, flyes smale & gnattes Taken, and suffre grete flyes go, ffor al þis worlde, lawe is now rewyld so.
- c1450 My ladyes (Frf 16)72 : At revell for to se yow hoppe..Ye lade long sydyde as a loppe.
- a1500 Mandev.(3) (Rwl D.99)440 : Also in that abbeye cometh neuere noo fleis, nother flies, ne loppis, nor non of othir swiche vnclene wormes, nor non othir verymyn.
- a1500 Mandev.(3) (Rwl D.99)441 : Neuere aftir that tyme they sawʒ neuere flee ne flie ne loppe ne non of such manere off corrupcioun.
b
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)13/16 : Þe lopp..said..'hur flessh was fatt & tendre..& furste when I began..to bite hur, sho began to cry..So þat I was fayn to lepe oute of þe bed.'
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)75a : A lopp: pulex.
c
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)85/293 : Grete loppis ouere all þis lande þei flye, That with bytyng makis mekill blure.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)1743 : God send the faurt veniance..grett fleand loppes [L muscæ] ouer all the land.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)74/306 : Grete loppys, ouer all þis land thay fly.
d
- (1198-1212) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)293 : Loplane.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 1318 : Thom. Lop.
- (1332) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 18175 : Johannes Loppe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1450 PPl.B (Corp-O 201)5.197 : Lappe syʒd it semede [Ld: He was bitelbrowed…with a hode on his hed…And in a tauny tabarde…Al totorne and baudy and ful of lys crepynge.
Note: New collocation, prob. for (b)