Middle English Dictionary Entry
mī̆cher n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mī̆cher n. Also mucher, mocher, mecher. |
| Etymology | ?OE *mȳcere; cp. ME mī̆chen . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A sneak thief; petty thief; pilferer; ?also, a loiterer, suspicious character, one who skulks about.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)79/22 : Þis world nis bute a wei to heouene oðer to helle, & is al biset of hellene mucheres [Nero: muchares; F vthlaghes] þe robbið alle þe golthordes.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6541 : Unnethe that he nys a mycher [F lierres] Forsworn, or ellis God is lyer.
- a1425 Christ.Belief (LoC 4)6/202 : Þai bette him naked wid knotty scourges als a mychere, þai band him als a theefe.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)27/4 : Nouȝt so, but it [poverty] kepiþ þi place fro mochers and þeues.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)336 : Mychare: Tapax [read: Capax].
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)827 : In alle þe tyme of his regnynge, Theff ne mycher forsothe þere nasse.
- ?a1450(?c1400) Wycl.LFCatech.(Lamb 408)53/826 : Who brekys þe seuynt comaundement? Mechers, Robbers..Why mechers? for þey stelyn priuyly.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3541 : I, Porrus..To þis michare out of Messedone þis mandment I write. Þou, Alexander..Þou litill thefe, þou losangere, þou lurkare in cites.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)107 : For to slepe when oþere men wakithe, as dothe thevis & mychers.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)258/12 : On galus ye be maide full tame, Thefys and mychers keyn.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)283/150 : Ther is nothyng me so lefe As murder a mycher and hang a thefe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)371/144 : Of Wraggers and wrears a bag full of brefes Of carpars and cryars, of mychers and thefes.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)687/1 : Hic circumforarius: a mycher.