Middle English Dictionary Entry
Māte-griffǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Māte-griffǒun n. Also mat grifone, mat de griffoun, mau de griffoun. |
| Etymology | AF; cp. ME māten v. & griffǒun n.(1). First element sometimes analyzed as māt n. & de prep., also as OF mal 'pain, harm, evil' & de prep. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The name of a portable siege tower used by Richard I.
Associated quotations
- [ (c1200) Chron.Devizes in RS 82.3402 : Rex Angliæ..fecit castellum ligneum..juxta muros Messanæ, quod, ad opprobrium Grifonum, 'Mategrifun' nominavit. ]
- [ (c1200) Chron.Devizes in RS 82.3426 : Rex Anglorum, moræ nescius, tertia die sui adventus in obsidionem construi fecit et erigi castellum suum ligneum, quod in Sicilia factum, 'Mate Grifun' nominaverat. ]
- c1330(?a1300) Rich.(Auch)116/104 : Ich haue a castel..Of timber made of Inglond, Wiþ sex stages ful of turels..It schal be hoten þe mate griffoun.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.157 : Þe Romancer, it sais R. did mak a pele, On kastelle wise alle wais, wrouht of tre..In schip he did it lede, to reise vp bi þe walle..he cald it mate Griffoun.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)2898 : Þere leet he pyȝte hys pauyloun And arerede hys Mate-Gryffoun [vrr. Mat-Grifone, Mau de Gryffoun], That was a tree-castel..To assaute wiþ many Sarezyn..Whenne þe castel was fframyd wel, Þey sette þerjnne a mangnel.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)2943 : Kyng Richard stood in his Mate-Griffoun [vrr. Maude-Griffoun, Mat-de-Griffoun], And sawȝ here dedes in þe toun: Whydyrward the Sarazenes flowen.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)6094 : Twoo grete gynnes, for þe nones, Kyng R. sente ffor to caste stones..Þe Mate-Gryffon was þat on, Þat was set vpon an hel, To breke doun tour and castel.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)145 : For he had a castel of tre, whech he cleped Mategrifon.