Middle English Dictionary Entry
mixen n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mixen n. Also mixne, mixon, mixerne, mexen & (in place names) mix(e-, mixse-, muxe-, mice-. |
| Etymology | OE mixen |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Dung-hill; a pile of refuse; also, in proverbs; (b) as a term of abuse: a foul creature; (c) in surname and place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.41].
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)35/368 : Ich [Belial] hit am þe reafde þe riche Iob his ahte, swa þet he weolewede of wontreðe i þe mixne.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)74/14 : Me seið þet curre [Nero: coc] is kene on his ahne mixne [Nero: mixerne; Recl.: dunge hyll].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.911 : Holy writ may nat ben defouled namoore than the sonne that shyneth on the mixne [vrr. mexen, myxen; donge hill].
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6496 : For whanne I see beggers quakyng, Naked on myxnes al stynkyng..I entremete not of her fare.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)627 : Myxon [glossing: starquiliniumque].
b
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)989 : I am comyn..Messenger to þis myxen [?read: myx]..To mele with this maister-man.
c
- (c1130) EPNSoc.23 (Oxf.)230 : Mixeberia.
- (1202) in Ekwall Dict.EPN333 : Eldemixne.
- (1213) EPNSoc.23 (Oxf.)230 : Myxeburi.
- (1220) EPNSoc.23 (Oxf.)230 : Muxeberi.
- (1242-3) EPNSoc.23 (Oxf.)230 : Mixseberi.
- (1284) EPNSoc.32 (West Riding Yks.)115 : Mixhynden.
- (1333) Sub.R.Stf.in WSAS 10116 : Henr' Othe Mixene.
- (1350) EPNSoc.41 (Glo.)155 : Mixenhull.
- (1428) EPNSoc.23 (Oxf.)230 : Mixeburi. Mycebury.