Middle English Dictionary Entry

nekke n.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Forms nekke n. Also nek(e, nec, neck(e, (early) necca, hnecca, (infl.) hneccan, (error) hnencca & nakke, nak(e & (K & SE) nikke, nicke, nhicke, (error) nihcke; pl. nekkes, etc. & nekken, nikken.
Etymology OE hnecca

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
(a) The human neck; from the ~ to the to, from fot to the ~, from neck to toe; all over the body; to the ~ ward, toward the neck; fallen in otheres ~, to tumble together in a crowd or heap; sitten in ~, be glum; slep upon the ~, sleeping flat on one's back; (b) ~ hole (pit), hole (pit) in the ~, the depression over the jugular notch at the base of the neck; ~ sor, cramp or spasm of the neck; ~ coler, a collar; (c) in proverbial sayings.
Show 49 Quotations
1b.
The neck as the part of the body: (a) on which burdens are carried or yokes, chains, etc., are worn; fig. the part of the body with which one shows submission or resistance, or bears responsibility, trouble, etc.; mid stondinge ~, with an unbending neck; proud, not humble or submissive; setten fot upon (in) ~, treden on ~, treden ~ under fot, to stand or tread on (someone's) neck, subdue or vanquish (sb.); (b) on which cloaks, hoods, collars, etc., are worn, or around which necklaces, shields, weapons, medicinal herbs, charms, etc., are hung; (c) on which embraces are given; (d) on which a sword is laid to dub a knight; ~ heriinge, a blow on the neck delivered when dubbing a knight.
Show 66 Quotations
1c.
The neck as a vital part of the body: (a) to be attacked and injured in fighting and killing, or from which the head is severed; ~ dint, a blow to the neck; beden ~, to offer (one's) neck to an executioner; (b) breken (bresten, tobreken) ~, breken ~ on sunder (in twein), todisten ~ atwo, writhen ~ in two, to break (someone's or one's own) neck; kill or die by breaking the neck; (c) in hanging: the part of the body to be strangled; hongen bi the ~; (d) as equivalent to life itself; unto nekke(s, completely, utterly; have thou mi ~, put me to death; leien ~, to stake (one's) life.
Show 46 Quotations
2.
(a) The neck of an animal or a bird; also, the neck of a statue of an animal; ~ bondes, ?some part of the collar or harness used in hitching animals to a cart; (b) in proverbial saying.
Show 25 Quotations
3.
Something resembling a neck: (a) anat. a vein, duct, or any narrow connective part of a bodily organ; ~ of the bladdre, bladdre ~, the neck of the bladder; ~ of the matris, matris ~, the vagina; (b) the narrow part at the top of a bottle or pot; ?narrow part of an arbalest.
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4.
In surnames.
Show 3 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)520 : Lett ws com well owr neke-verse.
  • c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)619 : Myscheff ys a convicte, for he coude hys neke-verse.
    • Note: New cpd. (See verset n.; also Skeat vol.2 p.184 note on verset)

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. neck.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1a.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. neck pit.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1a.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. neckhole.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 3.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. bladder neck.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 3.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. matrice neck.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 3.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. neck of the bladder.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 3.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. neck of the matrice.

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