mop and moppe - Middle English Compendium

Middle English Dictionary Entry

mop(pe n.

Forms	mop(pe n. Also mōpe.
Etymology	Origin obscure; perh. akin to LG mop, mops 'simpleton; pugnosed dog', Du. mop, mops 'pugnosed dog' -- unless these are derived from English.

(a) A fool, simpleton; a worthless person; (b) as adj.: foolish; (c) ?a derisive gesture; (d) a little child, baby; also, a doll; (e) as surname.

c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)59/1280 : Þer was a burgeis..Þat wolde spouse no neþhebours schild, But wente fram hom as a moppe wild.
c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)418 : Mekeliche þou suffre chidyng of fool oþer of moppe.
c1390 Psalt.Mariae(1) (Vrn)52 : Haue merci on me, mope [rime: hope].
a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)21 : Þis mopp þat merres our men, kalles him god sun of heuyn.
a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)299/196 : Thus mop meynes þat he may marke men to þer mede.
c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)620 : He made þe moppe so lewed To leue men to lerne þe lawe.
c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1146 : Thay leden men þe long waye..And maken moppes wel myry with þaire madde tales.
c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.276 : With deyntes y-doublid and daunsinge to pipis, In myrthe with moppis, myrrours of synne.

c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)59/1282 : He let his negheboures child for o vice, And wente fram hem als moppe and nice.
c1390 Disp.GM & Devil (Vrn)170 : Ouur-al maiȝt þou comen and go, Whon a Moppe dasart schal not so.

a1475 Burgh Cato(1) (Hrl 4733)690 : Moppe [Rwl C: Riht As thou deprauyst hym, behynde thy bakke, Riht so wol men make the a mowe and a knakke].

(1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)342 : Moppe, or popyne: Pupa, pusio.
a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)115/467 : Hayll, lytyll tyn mop, rewarder of mede!
a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)139/724 : Hayll, lytyll tyne mop! of oure crede thou art crop.