Middle English Dictionary Entry
losenǧe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | losenǧe n. Also losange, losonge, lozenge, -inge, lossenge, lassenge, lesenge, -inge, lessenge, -inge & losangle & losin, losein, lozein, loisin. |
| Etymology | OF losenge, losange, lasenge; les(s- forms perh. influenced by ME lesing , var. of lē̆ching. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A rhombus or diamond-shaped object or pattern, frequently used as an ornamental motif; (b) her. a lozenge [some quots. in (a) may belong here]; (c) cook. a diamond-shaped cake or wafer; a dish featuring such wafers.
Associated quotations
a
- (1320) Chart.in Capes Hereford Cath.186 : Stolam cum manipulo de losongis de perlis.
- (1330) Invent.Edw.III in Archaeol.10242 : Ciphus arg. deaur..aym. extra in losengis de armis Anglie & Francie.
- (1345-49) Wardrobe Acc.Edw.III(1) in Archaeol.3125 : Ad fac. j robam..cum volucribus & losenges textis de auro.
- (1385) Doc.in Dugdale Monasticon 81366 : Item, una parura pro tuaillis altaris gobonatis de armis et lozingis..duae parurae pro albis..gobonatis de armis et lozingis bluettis, de perlis in auro.
- (a1422) Doc.St.Alb.in RS 28.5 pt.2 (Cld E.4)356 : Una alba habens paruras cum losenges de rubeo et albo serico, in rubeis losenges habens crucem de argento, in albis vero de auro.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)313 : Losange, or spancle: Lorale.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)467 : Spangele, or losangle [Phil: losange]: Lorale.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1317 : And somme corouned were as kynges, With corounes wroght ful of losenges.
- (1452) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1282 : In brede ij of the Bemys shalbe xij inche inbowed with lozinggys.
b
- (a1327) in Gough & Parker Gloss.Heraldrys.v. 'lozenge' (p.382) : Sire Gerard de Braybrok, de argent a vij lozenges de goules.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)893 : Nought yclad in silk was he, But all in floures and in flourettes, Ypaynted al with amorettes And with losenges and scochouns.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.4 (Hrl 2169)229 : [Gules seven voided] losengys [of gold].
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)205,206 : He bar a smal ganfanon of two smale losenges of goules, and the feelde of golde..and the grete baner..was of iiij losenges full of crownes of golde.
c
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.21 : Take obleys oþer wafrouns in stede of lozeyns.
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.30 : Loseyns..take flour of payndemayn and make þerof past..and make þerof thynne foyles as paper..take Chese ruayn..and lay þeron loseyns isode as hoole as þou miȝt.
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.46 : Cast bynethen and above as losyns.
- (a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)p.61,62 : Loseyns in Fyssh Day. Take Almandes..and waische hem..drawe hem up with water..alye it up with loseyns.
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)455 : Take sugre plate or gynger plate..and kutte hom of losenges, and plante hom in the voide places.
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)82 : Losinges [HCB(1): Lesynges] de chare. Take..porke..and grynde..and..yolkes of eyren..reysons..ginger..sugur, and medle al this to-gidre..make therof ij faire cakes and.. kutte þe Cakes..in maner of losinges [HCB(1): lesyngys]; And then make faire bater..and close þe sides of þe losinges [HCB(1): lesyngz]..and..fry..hem.
- c1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(2) (Hrl 4016)97 : Make fyne paast..and faire thyn kakes; and kutte hem like losenges.
- c1450 Dc.55 Cook.Recipes (Dc 55)97 : Lesenges Fries.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.40 : Loysyns..lay þer in Þy loseyns abofe þe chese..Þose loysyns er harde to make.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)58 : To mak lossenges fried in lent, make a paiste of pured flour knodden with faire water, sugur, saffron, and salt; then mak a thyn foile in lossengis..and fry them in oile.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)80,81 : Lessingis on fische dais. To mak lessenges on fische dais tak almondes..mak a thik mylk with..water and alay it upe with lossinges.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. lozenge.