Middle English Dictionary Entry
musk n.
Entry Info
| Forms | musk n. Also muske, musce, musca, musco, musche. |
| Etymology | OF musc & L muscus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Musk, the fragrant secretion from the preputial musk sac of the male musk deer, dried and used in medicinal preparations and as perfume [sometimes the substance is erroneously described as a humor formed in apostemes in various animals]; (b) some kind of sap or juice obtained from various plants; ~ of trees, ~ of the water lemke; (c) ~ ball, an ornamental receptacle for musk; (d) ?error for must, q.v.
Associated quotations
a
- (1394) Will York in Sur.Soc.4203 : Unam pixidem de argento cum muske.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)213b/b : It is y-do in liquour þat best aloes was y-sode Inne, wiþ musk [L musco] to make it haue ful good smyl.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)217a/a : Of box beþ boxes y-made to kepe Inne musk and oþer spicery.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)311b/b : Þe odour is ful good and swete as it fareþ in mirra, in musca, and in ambra.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)185/5 : It wole bicome al into an oynement, & make it haue a sote smel wiþ musco, & herwiþ anoynte his heed.
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)122/8 : Muscus est quedam humiditas que in apostematibus quorundam animalium reperitur in Yndia..anglice, muge..i. musche.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)644/22 : Muscus: muske.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)137a/b : Aloes..sinapis, musce, camphore..be þer made pillulis with wyne.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)196b/a : Musk is þe moistnesse of postummes off certeyne bestis.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)458/13,16 : Vse þe grene collirie..and after þat the confeccioun of muske [L muscati]..Take..þe schelles of an estrisshe eye..vnpersede perles..two greynes of muske..Braye ham and vse ham.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)349 : Muske: Muscatum.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)29/10 : For watir aromatyk. Take notemuge, and clowegillofir..and musk..of alle þese make powdir.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)83/8 : If he haue þrist, drynke he a syrupe of roses, and ete electuary with musk.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)61b : Muske in pigmentes and other spices mo In vertue multiplyeth.
b
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)153b/a : Þe crummes of brede soþen in wyne & meddelde wiþ þe muske of trees soþen in þe same wyne heleþ euerye ranclynge.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)159a/b : Þer ben oþer repercussiues þe whiche be not verreilye stiptik..liuer wurte, peny wurte, popie, muske of þe water lemok.
c
- (1423) RParl.4.219 : i Muskball d'or.
- (1452) *Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls Bundle 31, no.2b [OD col.] : A muske ball of sylver and overgylt.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4935 : To my lady Walgrave my muske bal of gold, with perle and lace.
- (1474) Paston (Gairdner)5.217 : She..fforbad me nott but that ye sholde have the kepyng off hyr muskball.
d
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)199/1 : If his herte quake, þan ȝeue him tiriaca maior wiþ a litil musco [L musto] ouþer hoot wijn.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)16b/b : As of muske [*Ch.(3): muste; L musto]..bi boilyng bene made 3 substance, So of chile in þe lyuer bi decoccion be made 3 substaunce.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)406/10 : Avicen counseilleþ þe plastre þat is made of pome garnates soden togidre wiþ muske in þe whiche be medlede als mykel of lapdanum.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)87/3 : Pomendambres…garnysht of mugles and alle othir precious sauours of muskis recensitiues and restoratiues.
Note: New spelling
Note: Gloss.: n.pl. (first example of pl. OED 1570).