Middle English Dictionary Entry
menstrūe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | menstrūe n. Also menstreu(e. |
| Etymology | OF menstrüe & L menstruum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Med. & surg. The menstrual flow, menstruation; -- also used in pl.; time of ~, a menstrual period; (b) alch. one of three subtle substances used in various alchemical processes.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)55/17 : [Ne a womman] in tyme of menstrue [vr. menstrewe] ne loke not on þe sike man.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)189/14 : Pannus is a superfluite þat falliþ in a wommans face, & comeþ ofte in childberyng & also whanne hir menstrue [L menstrua] is wiþholde.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)266/8-9 : If þe cause come of retencioun of menstrue, þan þou schalt ȝeue hir medicyns for to bringe out þe menstrue.
- (a1400) *Barton's Urines (Sln 280)f.283v : Euery moneþ onys if a womman fare wele and she be not wiþ childe nor nuwe melche, she haþ a flux of blode & þat is cleput þe menstruwe.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)17b : Also that drinke makiþ one to pisse and clensithe menstrue, that is, womanys flouris.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)36a/b : Cancre as ofte tymez falleþ in þe pappez & glandilous placez &, namely, to wymmen when þai haue not menstruez [Ch.(2): here floures; L menstrua].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)94a/a : G[alien] seiþ..þat euery flux of blode is out of kynde suple except of mensurate menstruez.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)60/2 : Þe same [heavy] vryne also may betokne..in wymmen withholdyng of menstruez.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)67/33 : Bytwene it [matrix] and þe tetes beeþ melky and menstrual veynes contynued; wherfore Galien saide..þat Ypocras saide mylke to be a broþer to menstrues [L menstruo].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)322/26 : Þe fluxe of þe menstrues, i. moneth euelles..is onely ordeynede to þe helthe of all the kynde.
- c1450 WBible(2) (Bod 277)Is.64.6 : Menstrue, or vnclene blood [Roy: Alle oure riȝtfulnessis ben as the cloth of a womman in vncleene blood].
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)45/8 : And loke þat þou do in þi pessarie whanne þat þe menstruis ben at þe hiest.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)46b/a : The bloodlast of þat veyne þat is vndir þe greete too ys good for þe sijknesse of þe matrice, as for þe retencioun of þe menstrew.
b
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)43b : To vnderstond now mercuries three, The keyes which of this science be; Raymond his menstrues them doth call..In sonne and mone our menstrue is not sene; It not apereth but by effect to sight; That is the stone of whiche we meane..It is a soule, a substaunce bright, of sonne and mone a subtell influence.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)44b : Aurum potabile thus is made Of gold not comenlie calcinate but of our tincture..Out of the base drawen with the menstrue circulate.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. menstrue.