Middle English Dictionary Entry
Mahǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Mahǒun n. Also mahun(e, -hon(ne, -hound(e, -honde, -hount, -houm, -hum, -hombe, -choun, mauhoun. |
| Etymology | OF mahon, shortening of Mahomet. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A pagan god, false god; also fig.; (b) in oaths and asseverations; (c) a representation of a pagan god, an idol; (d) the devil; (e) a monster.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)27321 : Ure drihten heo bilæueð, and to Mahune heo tuhteð.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)187/101 : Mahun, ȝware is þi miȝte? Schal þes þef with is wichchinge aȝen þi power fiȝte?
- c1300 SLeg.Kath.(LdMisc 108)269 : He let..smiten of heore heuedes..ase Mahones fon.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)28/606 : Anoure þe god, so i schel myn, Boþe Mahoun and Apolyn.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4929 : Mahoun, þow art myswent..Wyckede god, þou dost amys.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)2039 : Þan saide þe geant..'Mahown, loued be thi myght!'
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)49.51 : We han foure Goddis..Mahownd and Termagaunt..Iubiter and Appolyn.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)8751 : The sawdan..That..leeveth on Machoun [vr. Mahombe] and Appoloni.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)147/35 : We undirstande, Mahounde is god werraye.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)244/39 : Ye men that vse bak-bytyngys and rasars of slanderyngys, ye ar my dere darlyngys And mahowns for euermore.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.52 : In a caverne..lay..a grete dragon Wham alle that landes folk held god and thare mahon.
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)344/141 : Bi þe fei þat ich owe to mahun, an-oþur it schal gon!
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)931 : It is sschame, bi god mahon, Þat oure folk goon þus a doun.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7458 : I suld him sla, bi sir mahun [Frf: seint Mahoun].
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)147/15 : Be all-myghty mahounde [rime: renoune, bowne], To dede I schall hym dryue!
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)154/92 : Be mahound, dyngne duke of helle.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)1400 : He swer, as Mahon schuld hym spede.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)251/238 : Now by mahownes bloode! Ther will no mete do me goode To he be hanged.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)259/44 : By mahowne..Those prowde wordes shall I neuer forgyf.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)230 : Heo nom þene mahum [Otho: mahun]..þe Eneas..brohte from Troie.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10185 : Þa nomen anlicnes þe mahun [Otho: mahunes] weoren ihatene..heo heom letten swalen inne swærte fure.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2538 : Flo[rippe] drow a ridel..þat stod be-fore þe frount; þan sawe þay þar Sir Ternagan & eke hure god Mahount.
- c1440 St.Chris.(Thrn)513 : A sarazene..Þat was a mayster þam amange..Þat kepare was of þaire Mahowne.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)235 : In her temple..Þe mahound & þe mametes to-mortled to peces.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)17224 : Ley doun thy skryppe and thy bordoun And do homage to my Mahown!
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)20 : He hurlyd owt hor ydols..And chaungit..hor nomes..Mahon to Saynt Margrete oþer to Maudelayne.
d
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.82 : I..wisshed..Þat disshes a[nd] dobleres..Were moltoun led in his maw and Mahoun amyddes!
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)19.151 : Somme Iewes seiden whith sorcerie he wrouhte, And þorwe þe myghte of Mahon and þorw mysbyleyue.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.295 : Þow, Astrot..Brynston boilaunt..out-casteþ..Sette mahon at þe mangonel and mulle-stones þroweþ.
e
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7758 : Ther met hym þis Mawhown [a centaur] þat was o mysshap.
2.
The prophet Mahomet.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.224 : Oure lawes swete That vs was taught by Mahoun [vrr. Mahoum; macamete], oure prophete.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.340 : What sholde us tyden of this newe lawe But thraldom..For we reneyed Mahoun [vrr. Mahon, Mahonne, mahound] oure creance?