Middle English Dictionary Entry
Nicholas n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Nicholas n. Also nicholaus, nicolas. |
| Etymology | OE Nīcolāus (from L) & OF Nicholas; ult. Gr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Personal name; -- often replacing Nicol in later ME; also, name of a ship; (b) seint ~, St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra in Asia Minor; seint ~ chirche, chirche of seint ~, a church dedicated to St. Nicholas; seint ~ dai, feste of seint ~, St. Nicholas' day (feast day), December 6; seint ~ flesh-shameles, the meat market in St. Nicholas Parish, London; (c) seint ~ dai, feast of the Translation of St. Nicholas, May 9; (d) med. ~ vomite, one of the stronger emetics.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3272 : On a day this hende Nicholas Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2809 : He hihte Pope Nicholas.
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.71 : [The goods of Thomas Bole from the ship] Nicholas [of Plymmoth].
- (1418) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)95/1 : Nicholas Ketringham..here stont vp-on þe pillory.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.127/187 : These ben þe defautes..taken in þe wardemote a-fore Nicholas James, Alderman.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.347 : Also vij diacons were ordeynede, whose names be Steven..and Nicholas.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.337 : Nicholaus the firste [Trev.: þe firste Nicol] succedid Benedicte the pope.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.379 : Hit happede..this bischop to towche the hedde of a man Nicholas [Trev.: Nichol] by name.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Nich.(Hrl 2277)454 : For loue of him he wolde eche ȝer a seint Nicholas dai bi wone Of meni clerkes holde feste.
- c1300 SLeg.Nich.(LdMisc 108)31 : Gret pite hadde in is heorte þe guode seint Nicholas.
- c1300 SLeg.Nich.(LdMisc 108)329 : Þane gyv to seint Nicholas churche he bad with him gon.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.145 : Seint Nicolas was at þat synod.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.205 : Þere seynt Iohn bulde a cherche of Seynt Nicholas.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1704 : Seint Nicholas stant euere in my presence.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.149/287 : Jacob Tolvan atte Crane ny seynt Nicholas Flesshames.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)176/14 : Þe feste of seint Nicholas is wonte to be halowed byfore Cristemasse, & not in Maye þat was þen.
- a1450 In patras (Sln 2593)218 : In Patras, ther born he was, The holy buschop Seynt Nycholas.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)11/23 : Such a day ys Saynt Nycholas-daye.
c
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)175/31 : Þe same pardon þat was grawntyd þe befor-tyme, it was confermyd on Seynt Nicholas Day.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Mary Oign.(Dc 114)176/19 : Breþer of Oegines made a grete feste of his translacyone, And whan she come to þat place, she knewe..þat hit was seint Nicholas daye.
d
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)564/25 : The strongest is made with Nicholas vomyte [L vomitiuo Nicolai], whos fourme is þis: Take of tapsia, [etc.].