Middle English Dictionary Entry
majorane n.
Entry Info
| Forms | majorane n. Also maioran(ne, maioron, maieron, maǧeram, -eran, -eron, -iron, macheron, marjolane. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A plant of the genus Origanum; marjoram, sweet marjoram; ~ gentil, sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana).
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1433 : Bot nou the laste sterre of alle The tail of Scorpio men calle..The Calcedoine unto him longeth..Of majorane his herbe is grounded.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)256/10 : Make him a fumigacioun to his eere wiþ hoot water in which schal be soden maiorana & calamynte.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)43a : Magiron is an erbe of swete sauour.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)196a/b : Maiorana maior aure Sansucus maiorane hote and drye in þe secounde degree.
- ?a1425 Alphita (Sln 284)7 : Gall. et angl. maiorane [Seld: Amaracus, maiorana..inter omnes herbas maior est odorifera].
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f.12va : Amaracus, maiorane: it is sote in smel & amoratik [read: aromatik] for thing strike withal taketh þerof a sote smel;..be vertu of his aromacite it is confortatyf.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)387/10 : Purgynges for the hede with þe iuse or with þe decoccioun of maioran [*Ch.(1): samsuci; L sansuci], of celedoyne.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)319 : Mageram [?read: Mageran; KC: Mageron], herbe: Majorona.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)185/23 : Maiorana is an herbe þat men clepe maioron [vrr. maiorane, maiorana]..it haȝt sawour after cense, and it haȝt a quyt flour and a quyt stalke.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)189/6 : Organe..haȝt lewys lyk to macheron [vrr. maioranne, maieron].
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)45 : The hote sauge a yenst the cold palesye..Maioran, mynte, and rosemaryn.
- a1500 Sln.Herb List (Sln 1201)76 : Herbes fo[r] Savour and beaute..Mageron gentyle.
- 1532-1897(a1475) Ass.Ladies (Skeat)56 : With stayres going doun Inmiddes the place..And upon that, A pot of marjolain.