Middle English Dictionary Entry
nēve n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | nēve n.(2) Also nef(e, neffe. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI hnefi. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The clenched hand, fist; ?also, a handful [quot.: c1475].
Associated quotations
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1917 : So longe haueden he but and bet With neues under hernes set, Þat of þo sixti men and on Ne wente þer awey liues non.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2405 : Hwan godard herde þat þer þrette, With þe neue he robert sette Biforn þe teth a dint ful strong.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6682 : If tua flites and þat tan Þe toþer smite wit neue [Frf: nefe; Trin-C: fust] or stan..Þe smiter sal quite his lechyng.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15785 : Þai stert þam forth..Wit maces and wit neues [Trin-C: fustes] smert.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)159/2023 : With his nefe [vr. fuste] he smote hur..Þat hur nek brake.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1537 : A fust..on þe parget, purtrayed lettres..Baltazar blusched to þat neve.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)103b/a : Be þer put in þi fist or þi nefe [Ch.(2): fyste; L pugnus] or fyngers or þe summyte of þi shuldre vnder þe armehole.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)103b/b : Rogerine..putteþ not bot þat of þe nefe & of þe fote.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)2087 : To Perceuell a dynt he ȝefe In þe nekk with his nefe.
- a1450 PPl.B (Cmb Dd.1.17)17.166 : Neef [Ld: My fust is ful honde yfolde togideres].
- a1450 PPl.B (Cmb Dd.1.17)17.186 : Neeue [Ld: þe fyngres..folde shulde and þe fuste make].
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)268/370 : Dose noddil on hym with neffes That he noght nappe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13889 : He nolpit on with his Neue in the necke hole.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)149 : My selfe was þer in Batelle & faughte; Myn neffes were bolnede dayes aughte.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)567 : Rowlande claghte vp his noble schelde..& helde it one his nefe.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)111/16 : He gatt..ane ox..& with his neve he slew it.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)514/25 : He..began to..rap on þe burd with his nefe.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4684 : With þair neuys and with þair staues Apon þair breste þai baterd.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)84b : A Neffe: Pugnus, pugillus, pugilla.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)1634 : The thefe..put the hafte in Florence neeve For sche schulde haue the wyte.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)241/407 : Ther is noght in thi nefe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. nieve.