Middle English Dictionary Entry
milch(e adj.
Entry Info
Forms | milch(e adj. Also mielch & melch(e. |
Etymology | OE; A *-melce, WS *-mielce, in þri-milce, þri-melces monaþ. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a woman: having milk; ~ womman, a wet nurse; also, a woman who has lately given birth; (b) of a cow or other beast: giving milk, fresh; ~ cou, a fresh cow; also, a milk cow; ~ beste, a fresh cow; (c) of a plant: juicy, sappy; (d) of a country: flowing with milk, rich; (e) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.37].
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)362 : Þat child wolde souke, and it nuste ȝwam; Þare nas no milk a-boute, ne no mielch [vr. melche] wumman.
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)202 : He..tok it his douhter..for sche was melche and couþe þeran; Sche bad it souke & it nold, for it was neiȝe ded for cold.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)318b/a : Some melche wommen [L lactantes] bledeþ menstrual blood whanne here blood is swiþe moyste.
- (a1400) *Barton's Urines (Sln 280)f.283v : Many of þese grete wymmen þat biþ melche synnyþ, þat wil not wiþ[al], als Gode wille, gif her oune children souke.
- (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.
- ?a1450 Add.Mir.Virg.(Add 39996)347/37 : A litel bifore þe Emperesse Delyuered of a childe wes, And was melche al newe.
- a1500(?c1400) Gowther (Adv 19.3.1)110 : Þo duke comford þat duches heynde, And aftur melche wemen he sende, Þo best in þat cuntre, Þat was full gud knyȝttys wyffys.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Kenelm (LdMisc 108)228 : Fair and round heo was, And swyþe Mielch [Hrl: ful of mulc] al-so..For þare ne was no oþur kov þat half so muche milk ȝeoue.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)385/44 : An hinde þer com gon, Wilde and swuþe milch wiþ alle.
- a1350 SLeg.Bridget(2) (Ashm 43)142 : Melche [Corp-C: Twelf gode kun hure moder hadde, þat muchel were echon].
- (1424) EEWills57/33 : I wul my wyf haf half my mylche kye.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)9a/b : Bassaris: a melche cow.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)337 : Mylche cowe: Bassaris, vel vacca mulsaria.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)37/21,22 : Þe tythe of þe pasture to þe drye beestys owȝte to be payid as wel as to þi melche beestys..ȝif þou paye tythe for leyse to þi mylche-beestys.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)12/16 : Take þe melke of a cow þat ys noȝt ryȝt melche and þat hauyþ no calf of xii monþe.
c
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.1080 : Hem [plants] that beth melche in ver novelles grene Beth nought to fede.
d
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2788 : Nu am ic ligt to fren hem ðeðen, And milche and hunige lond hem queðen.
e
- (1163) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)16 : Melcheburne.
- (1220) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)16 : Melchburne.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)16 : Melcheheg.
- (1316) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)16 : Melchebourne.