Middle English Dictionary Entry
nāke adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | nāke adj. Also naken & (in surn.) nak(ke. |
| Etymology | From nāked adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Without sufficient clothing, bareheaded, naked; (b) destitute, poor, ill-clothed; ?also as a surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)454/198 : Ane pouere Man he mette nake, þat no schroud him nadde a-boue.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2744 : Þe Sarasyns dude his helm a-doun & maked is hed al nake.
- c1400 PPl.C (Vsp B.16)21.51 : Naken [Hnt: nailede hym with þre nayles, naked on þe rode].
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)7214 : Kyng Thoas herte be-gan to qwake, He wende to be hanged al nake.
b
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 1698 : Adam Nak.
- (1301) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 2155 : Galfrido Nakke.
- a1450 Castle Love(1) (BodAdd B.107:Horst.)1652 : When I was nake [Sajavaara: naked], ȝe ȝeve me clothyng.