Middle English Dictionary Entry
lurdan n.
Entry Info
| Forms | lurdan n. Also lurdane, -dain(e, -den(e, -dein(e, lordan(e, -den, -dein(e, lourdein. |
| Etymology | OF lordin |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An evildoer, wicked person, criminal; (b) as a term of abuse: good-for-nothing, rascal; (c) a spiritless person, lazy person; coward; (d) a low-born person, an ill-mannered person, an ugly person, a fool; (e) an unfortunate wretch.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.48 : Þe feende..waggeþ þe roote..And shakeþ hit; ne were hit vnder-shorede, certes hit sholde nat stande; So þees lourdeines litheren þer-to þat alle þe leues fallen.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Barlaam & J.(Hrl 4196)240/1127 : Þis lurdan þan þe kyng þus leres: 'Sir, do down all his officers.'
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1345 : Þese lotly lordeynys, awey þou lyfte, & cum doun & speke with Schryfte.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)57/28 : I hafe..felashippid me with thevis & lurdans, & slayn many a man.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7817 : Þa lurdans þat did him þis schame..come..To sla his men.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)174/179 : All myghty god hath sent me here ȝon lordeyn to Sle with-owtyn dwere.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)224 : A Lurdane: vbi a thefe.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)145 : He puttithe oute the v kniȝtes, scil. þat is to seye, ynwittes, and spoylithe hem of good vertues; and so sum of hem beþe thevis, & some lurdaynes [vr. ravenours].
- a1500 RSicily (Cmb Ff.2.38)77 : Lurden, what doyst þou here? Thou art a þefe, or þefeys fere.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)686 : Lastyuyous lurdeyns & pykers of males.
b
- c1390 NHom.Devil Phys.(Vrn)86 : Allas..þat euere I com to þat abbay, ffor bi no maner may I wynne Of þe lordeyns [Phys-E: lurdanes] þat wone þer Inne.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13660 : Þai scott him als a dog Right vte o þair synagog. 'Herd yee þis lurdan,' coth þai, 'Hu he wald lere vs nu vr lai!'
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.188 : 'Haddestow be hende,' quod I, 'þou woldest haue asked leue.' 'Ȝe! leue lordeyne,' quod he, 'and leyde on me with age.'
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.163 : And bit [read: but] hus knaue knele..He lokeþ al loureng, and 'lorden [vrr. lordein, lurdein]' hym calleþ.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)5/108,115,117 : Owte! on þe Lucifer, lurdan! oure lyghte has þu lorne..We! lurdane, þu lost vs..Owte on ȝhow! lurdans, ȝhe smore me in smoke.
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Pass.Christi in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)2585 : Kemer y, ty plos lorden!
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11729 : Vp stert A lordan of þer law..and þis sayd hee..'he says noȝt sothe, þat sall ȝe see.'
- (c1450) Boothe be ware (CotR 2.23)p.229 : Hit is a shrewde pole..That drownythe the dowghty..And alle is for the lordane lovithe no pere.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)41/183 : Haue I slayn cayme?..þou stynkynge lurdeyn, what hast þou wrought?
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)358 : You ypocritis..losells, lurdans, lowdelye you lyne!
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)205/31 : Ther is a lurdan ledyr I wold not shuld dysmay you, A bowtt; A prophete is he prasyd, And great vnright has rasyd.
- c1450 Eglam.(Clg A.2)319 : All ȝyf þe lordan had lost his syȝt, Þus he fyȝtys with þe knyȝt All þe day full ȝare.
c
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.9 : Sibriht..as a lordan gan lusk; A suynhird smote he to dede vnder a thorn busk.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.102 : Cursed caytyue! kniȝthod was it neuere To mysdo a ded body..Þe gree ȝit hath he geten..And ȝe, lordeynes, han ylost, for lyf shal haue þe maistrye.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)313 : Lorel, or losel, or lurdene: Lurco.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)317 : Lucare: Lurco. Lurdeyne, idem est.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)538 : For litill I shall take a-wey all the armes that thow haste..and leve yow in myddell of the felde like lurdeynes.
d
- c1380 Vncomly in (Arun 292)2 : Un-comly in cloystre, i coure ful of care; I loke as a lurdeyn and listne til mi lare.
- (c1431) Let.Hen.VI in Archaeol.23342 : To robbe, reue, and dispoille..alle men of estate..as yei purposed to haue do in oure fadres daies, and of ladds and lurdains wolde make lordes.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)911 : Summe lord or summe lordeyn lely schal loute to be pyth with perlys of my proude penne.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)3150 : Gode men..of visage ben blithe..And louely þei ben of sight..Þe wicked of yuel wille þei be And lourdeins one to see.
e
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)220/17 : Onone as þe lurdans in þe cetie felid savur of sodyn flessh, þai ran in-to þe howse & askid hur parte.