Middle English Dictionary Entry
māte n.
Entry Info
| Forms | māte n. Also maite, matth, matte. |
| Etymology | MLG |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Companion, friend, comrade; (b) fellow, creature; (c) naut. designating various crew members or officers of a ship: the mate of a ship; a bosun's mate; ?also, a shipmate, sailor.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1372 : Maumecet, my mate, y-blessed mot þou be, For aled þow hast muche debate.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)329 : Mate, idem quod felaw.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1576 : Ey, what deuyl, man..Woldyst drawe now to holynesse..Goo ageyn, þe deuelys mat.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)673 : Thay..been as worldly wise..as man vppon molde, and asmuche louen Mvm and þe monaye..For mayntenance and mede been þaire two mates.
b
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)56/915 : Þe fend..made a mouwe, þat foule mate.
c
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3653 : Thane the marynerse mellys and maysters of chippis; Merily iche a mate menys till oþer.
- (1445) LRed Bk.Bristol2.189 : What Maryner that steleth eny gode..and what mayte receyvyth eny suche by his knowlege schall lese xx s.
- (1485-86) Doc.Cely in ES 42 (PRO C.47/37 File 13 f.3)p.149 : To the bottswhayn and hys matte.
- (1488) Doc.Cely in ES 42 (PRO C.47/37 File 14 f.56)p.149 : R-- W--, master .., Rychard Tode, hes matth.