Middle English Dictionary Entry
mastī̆f n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mastī̆f n. Also maistif, masti, mestif, (?error) mastis; pl. mastifes, etc. & mastives, -eves, mastewys. |
| Etymology | Blend of OF mastin & mestif; also cp. ML mastīvus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A large and powerful dog used for hunting, mastiff; ~ (masti) hound, one of the kinds of alaunt [quot.: York MGame 65]; watchdog; ~ in bocherie, large dog kept by butchers.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.187 : Houndes and masteves [vr. mastyves; L mastivi] beeþ i-slawe in alle þe forestes of Engelond.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.189 : He smot..þorgh þam..als grehound or mastif.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)4 : First I wil begynne at Racches and here nature..aftir at greyhoundes..at Alauntis..at spaynels..at Mastifs that men callen curres..And aftir at small curres that fallen to be terryers.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)65 : Alauntz of þe bochere..byn called greet bochers houndis..þei byn good for þe batyng of þe bole and huntyng of þe wild boore..And whan men lat soche mestifis renne at þe boor, þei taken hym in þe thik spoyes.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)68 : Mastif is a maner of houndes..þei byn of cherlich nature and of foule shape..Also of maystifs and of alauntis þer ben many good for þe wilde boor.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)83/5 : Þare er ratouns als grete as hundes..þai take þam with grete mastyfes [F grantz mastius], for cattes er to smale to take þam.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)329 : Mastyf hownde (or mestyf, infra): Spartanus.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)334 : Mestyf hownde, idem quod mastyf, supra; et spartanus, umber.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)321 : A mouthe as a mastis hunde, vnmetely to shaw.
- c1450 *Dogs in MS.Arms 58 (ArmsAr 58)f.1 : There beth grehowndys and Bastordes, mene Mastewys, Alondis and lymowrys, spaynelle[s] and Recchys, kenetis and terrourys, bocher hondis and dongehylle curres, and smale poupes ffor lady chambers.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)129 : Thow seye neuere in thi lyfe mastyf ne bicche in bocherye that so gladliche wolde ete raw flesh as j ete it.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)620/2 : Vmbrus: a maystyf, or a blodehunde.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)286 : Mestyfe hound: Spartanus, vmber.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)16 : Every man kepyng the scout wache had a masty hound at a lyes, to berke and warne yff ony adverse partye were commyng to the dykes.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)230 : A Mastis: liciscus.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)600 : It wer a monstre a-geyn natur..That a gret Mastyff shuld a Leoun bynde.