Middle English Dictionary Entry
lǒusī adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | lǒusī adj. Also lǒusẹ̄, lowyse, lusi. |
| Etymology | From lǒus(e . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Infested with lice, lousy; (b) of cloth: receptive to lice, breeding lice; (c) worthless, contemptible; (d) ~ thorn [cp. OE lūs-þorn in Birch Cart.Sax. 3.586, etc.], the spindle tree (Evonymus europaeus) [see Smith PNElem. 2.28].
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.195 : Coueytise..With an hode on his hed, a lousi hatte aboue.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2404 : Þar sal none oþer lig hir by Bot naked herlotes and lowsy.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.607 : And if thyn hen be louse [vr. lousy], ther is more.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)75b : A lowse: pediculus..pediculosus.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)222 : Lowyse:..pediculosus.
- a1500 PParv.(KC 8)314 : Lowsi: Pediculosus.
- a1500 Platearius CInstans (Cmb Ee.1.13)5/28 : Anoynte þerwyth an hed þat is lowsy [L: ex abundantia pediculorum], and anoynte hit in þe schede of þe here.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)292b/b : He [the wolf] infecteþ þe wolle of the scheep þat he sleeþ, and his bytynge maketh þe cloþ lowsy [L pediculosam] þat is y-made of þat wolle.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)295a/a : Wolle of scheep þat a wolf eteþ is infecte, and cloþ y-made þerof is lousy.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1467 : A lousy iogelour kan deceyue thee.
- c1460 Alas my childe (Dub 432)41 : By goddes passioun! lousy horeson, In a bettre tyme mightest þou neuer come.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)355/2 : Pes now youre blaberyng..what, lousy begchis, mow ye not se owre worthy prynsis..are gaderid!
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)368/360 : Fy on yon [?read: you] lousy doggys.
d
- (1285) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)458 : Lusythoren.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)369/9 : The tythis of ix buttis I-called Sydlyngis, liyng at the lowsy thorn.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1486 Sln.Bk.Hawking (Sln 3488)144 : Which metes ben good, and which ben nozt goode for…haukez…the larde of the Oxe is gode…And a pye is nozt for hit maketh a hauke lowsy, and Veneson is nozt.
Note: Additional quote(s)
Note: ?sense.