Middle English Dictionary Entry
mersh n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mersh n. Also mershe, merch(e, mers(s(e, merse, mersc, mersk(e, merish, marsh(e, marsk, maresc, (error) morsh. |
| Etymology | OE mersc, merisc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. mareis.
1.
(a) Marshland, wet meadowland; a marsh or a meadow; (b) ~ contre, ~ lond, marshland; ~ man, one who lives at or in a marsh; ~ silver, a rent on marshland; ~ wei, a road by or through a marsh; (c) in place names and surnames [see Smith PNElem. 2.39].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)304 : Wenestu þat haueck bo þe worse, Þoȝ crowe bigrede him bi þe mershe [vr. mersche].
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)251/20 : Þe ilke welle ne uelþ naȝt þane fanc, ne þe erþe, ne þane merss of þise wordle.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.41.18 : Seuen oxen fro þe flode to gyþers steyeden vp..þe which in the pasture of þe marsch [vr. mershe; WB(2): marreis; L paludis] þe greene lesewes cheseden.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.51.32 : The mershis [WB(2): mareisis; L paludes] ben brend vp with fyr.
- (1405) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.31 : Of a mersch wit appurtenauntz in Bliburgh.
- (1405) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.32 : Sir Roger schal graunte to the forsaide Baillies..al the Mersch, Stones, and Sond that lien..fro the Eld hauen of Donewych to the newe hauen at Walberswyk.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)20 : Whan he may fynde no Ryuers, þan he draweþ hym..to grete morsshes.
- (a1422) *Anc.Pet.(PRO)117.5842 : Castell and maners with Knyghtz feez, avowesons of..fisshynges, mores, maresces, meduwes.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.176/6 : Anoþer rodde of londe, the which lieth In the Mershe In a telthe, þe which Is i-callid longefurlonge.
- (1470) Will York in Sur.Soc.45184 : To the warke of Seynt Petre of Burgh in the merssh, c s.
- (c1475) Doc.in Bk.Brome (Brm)150 : All owre londes, tenementes, rentes..torvedollys, merchys [L mariscos], with all hys pertynences.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)796/17 : Hoc marescum: a merche.
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1098 : For neah ælc tilð on mersc lande for ferde.
- (c1300) Chart.in Capes Hereford Cath.172 : Et extendit se a via que dicitur le Merswey.
- (1306) Close R.Edw.I476 : [A yearly rent called] Mershsiluer.
- c1405 Chaucer CT.Sum.(Elsm)D.1710 : Ther is in yorkshire..A merssh [vr. mersshy] contree called Holdernesse.
- ?c1450 *Horse(1) (Dc 291)136a : Every hors that ys foilyd in the mountayns..ys better þan tho that be foylyd in marsh contrey.
- (1462) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.492a : For a lytill turbut bought off a mershman, 3 d.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)21044 : I fond A Maryssh, or elles a merssh lond..off ffylthes ryht habounde.
c
- (1180) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)154 : Mersk.
- (1194) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.5189 : Godardus de la Merse.
- (1204) EPNSoc.28 (Der.)274 : Kinoldemers.
- (1207) Fine R.King John444 : Robertus de Mersc.
- (1235-6) Bk.of Fees462 : Willelmus de la Mersse.
- (1248) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)444 : Lamerch.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2873 : Isabell ate Mershe.
- (1285) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)154 : Marske.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1022 : Robro Mersman.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2131 : Johanne de Merske.
- (1307) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)441 : Smethemers.
- (1327) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames231 : Rob. atte Wildmerssh.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3188 : Richardus Merischman.
- (1374) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.568 : Thomas of the Mersh.
- (1387) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.94 : [John, servant of John Kent..was killed on the bridge of] Hasardesmerssh.
- (1388) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.49 : [A parcel of meadow called] Waymersch.
- (1388) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.53 : [20 acres in the meadow called] le Marshe.
- (1392) Court R.Hastings in Sus.RS 37128 : Alice Mershman.
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.180 : [An] inclus' [called] Roundemerssh.
- c1425 Liber de Hyda in RS 45250 : Fro Kyngys nether-holt..to the byschopys merche; fro the byschopys mersch to Hegmere.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 5256 : Petrus Marsheman.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 5267 : Johannes atte Mershe.
- (1428-9) Rec.St.Mary at Hill71 : To herry mershe for v dossen candell for þe chirche.
- (1448-9) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 93177 : Iohannes Bynam de Mershbaldone.
- (1457) EPNSoc.28 (Der.)274 : Kilwalmerch.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 ?Scrope Ribot First Monks (Lamb 192)71/39 : The folk of myn herytage dwellynge aloon in the mersche [L in saltu].
Note: Ed.: "mistranslation of saltu (forest)".
Note: ?New sense.