Middle English Dictionary Entry
mīnǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mīnǒur n. Also miner, (error) mvner & (in surn.) minnor. |
| Etymology | OF minëor |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
One whose military function it is to undermine fortifications, tunnel into a town, etc.; also fig.
Associated quotations
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)123 : Ne may no Mynur hire vnderwrote, ne neuer false þene grundwal.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5155 : Mynours ȝude & mynede þe wal, þe heȝe tour to maky hym fal.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2465 : Myn is..The fallyng of the toures and of the walles Vpon the mynour or the carpenter.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.179 : Richard had minoures [F minours] þat myned vndere þe walle; A pece with a grete cours at ons felle doun alle.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1218 : Ac Alisaundre quyk hete his hynen Vnder her walles forto mynen..Þerewhiles þe myners [LinI: mynoris].
- c1432 Bishop Notes in PMLA 49 (Cmb Dd.14.2)459 : Þe wynnyng' of louers, hit was wunne by a sawte; þe mvners breke vp in þe myddel of þe town.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.1581 : But Lucullus..Tenclose ther enmyes dide ther besi cure: To his mynours gaf anon in charge Aboute the siege to make a dich ful large.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)3431 : Mynours þey hadde ynowe, & sleye, Þe wal to perce & vndermye.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)35b : Þei had euere-more wiþ hem mynours to vndirmyne þe walles of toures and townes.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)97b : Suche watery diches ben grete letters to mynoures.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)2926 : Kyng Richard..Callyd in haste hys mynour, And bad hym myne vp to þe tour.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1107 : Whan Tytus nold no trewe to þe toun graunte, With mynours & masouns myne þey bygonne.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4774 : Mynours then mightely the moldes did serche, Ouertyrnet the toures & the tore walles.
- c1450 Royal SSecr.(Roy 18.A.7)37/38 : If þou assayle castelle or towne, loke that thou haue Engynes and Gonnes gret plente to breke the wallis and the yatis, and good crafty mynoures.
- c1453(c1437) Brut-1436 (Hrl 53)540/32 : Carpenters, Smythes, pavylers, mynours, Armerers, Gunners.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)904 : Mynours that can go sure Vndir the dich, and al the wal demure Or brynge in thoost.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)81a : A Mynowr: Arapagator.
2.
One who mines for metals, digs for hidden treasure, quarries stone, etc.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2121 : On of hem seith that he mette Wher he a goldhord scholde fette..this Emperour..bad His Mynours forto go and myne.
- (1395) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.55 : [Certain workmen, called] mynours, [of a mine in a field called] Fenhomfeld [near Newcastle upon Tyne..have raised a dyke called] Watergate.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)171a/a : Þe pylers [in mines] fallen..and mynours ben yfallen and yshent.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10731-3 : Mynurs..make yn hyllys holes, As yn þe west cuntre men seke coles. Þys mynur soȝte stones vndyr þe molde, Þat men make of syluer and golde.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)prol.101 : I sauȝ..Masonis, mynours, & manye oþere craftis.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)151/383 : Oþer mynours þeder fore For to seke þem syluer-ure.
- ?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Prov.(Cld E.2)2.4 : With so greet enforsing, as an auarouse man sekith money, and as a mynour sekith gold hid.
- (1429) J.Boys in Nrf.Archaeol.15147 : At afternone ij lod of ston, paying viij d. to ye myner to here owyn place.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)2018 : The clerkys take mynours anoon, And to the piler thay goon; Thay bygune to dygge faste.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1532 : He [Priam]..Gate masons full mony..Qwariours qweme..Mynors of marbull ston & mony oþer thinges.
3.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1212) in Fransson Surn.181 : Adam le Miner.
- (1327) in Fransson Surn.181 : Rich. le Minnor.
- (1340) in Fransson Surn.181 : Margery Mynur.