Middle English Dictionary Entry
mirt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mirt(e n. Also mirta, mirtha & mirtus. |
| Etymology | L, from Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Myrtle, a shrub of the genus Myrtus; ~ tre; baie of ~, ~ baie, fruit of ~, mirtes baie(s, sed of ~, myrtle berries; (b) myrtle berries; ?also, the leaves of myrtle; med. a concoction containing the berries (?or leaves) of myrtle.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))2 Esd.8.15 : Bringeth..braunchis of myrt tree and bowis of palmys.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.41.19 : I shal ȝyue in wildernesse ceder and thorne and myrt tree [L myrtum] and oliue tree.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.55.13 : For the nettle shal growe the tre that is clepid myrt [L myrtus].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Zech.1.11 : Thei answerden to the aungel of the Lord, that stode bitwixe places wher myrtis [WB(2): mirtis] wexen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)234b/b : Mirtus is a litel tre and ofte groweþ in see clyues..vergil spekiþ of þe brode cloues of mirtus and of..þe cleues of mirtha and the grees clepeþ it mertice..dias meueþ þat myrtus is a litel tree, as it were a schrobbe, and groweþ nameliche by þe see syde.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)34a/b : For þe better drawyng out take þe skyn fro aboue & with tongez after þe quantite of þe excrescence in þe fourme of a mirte lefe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)128b/b : Put in..cotoun to þe fourme of a mirte lefe.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)86/11 : Be þe hole made..to þe schappe of an olyue leef or of þe leef of myrtus.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.297 : Ther..crownis..wer wrouht Of mirtis branchis, which..corupte nouht.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.568 : Thrusshis feede..yef hem..The seed of mirte if that thow maist hit gete.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.407 : In Ianus oyl confecte of mirtis bay is.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.414 : Now mirtite wyn is maad of mirtis bayis. Thre sester bayis broke in x of wyn.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.566 : Of mirte and laures bayis To make or tyle a semynary, day is.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.1094 : In this mone ek mirtite is to make. Six sester old wyn do to mirtes bayis v pound, & hem to geder al to shak.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.324 : The bay of myrte agrest [L myrti agrestis].
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)244/4 : Take þe frute of myrte and let hym ete it or yef hym þe juce to drynke.
b
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)15/16 : Nim myrta and leȝe hy on huniȝe and nym þanne ða myrta and leȝe to ðan eaȝean.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)234b/b : Plinius seiþ þat som mirtus is white, and som is blak, and eyþer is byndynge, but þe blak more And is..y-take aȝeins bledynge..Jerom seiþ þat mirtus haþ good smylle and rotyeþ nouȝt, and mirtus..conforteþ wery membres.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)317b/a : Wiþ mirtus and wiþ oþere herbes of good smelle and odour.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)74b/b : Þer passed out miche blod, but galien helped him with a medicine made of ffraunke encense & aloes & saunke dragoun & mirte.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)82/30 : Tak sawge & comfery & mirt, of ilkan a handfull..&..mak dely poudir.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.417 : Wrynge out the mirte & clense hit [the wine].
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)81/29 : It nedys to him þat ys dronkyn of wyn..þat he haue weleyghes and myrt and with sandell confyt ennoynt his body.