Middle English Dictionary Entry
nǒuche n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nǒuche n. Also nuch(e, noche, noich & ouch(e, uche, oche, oiche & unche. |
| Etymology | AF; cp. CF nosche, nuche, noche, noische, from Gmc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A mounted gem or cluster of gems; a brooch or pin; a buckle, clasp, bracelet, or earrings ornamented with gems; a necklace; ?also, a ring; also fig.
Associated quotations
- [ (1322) Will de Bohun in Archaeol.J.2348 : Une Nouche dor ove iij greyns des Esmeraudes. ]
- (1317) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.124 : [One three-cornered fermail, called a] nuche.
- (1349-50) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)1.626 : [A bequest of a] nouche [to her daughter Petronilla].
- (1361) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)2.23 : [A brooch of gold called] ouche [worked with pearls].
- (1365) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.35 : [John, Count de Harcourt, came into court to prove that a certain gold] nouche [set with stones..was his own property].
- (1375) Doc.in Bentley Excerpta Hist.24 : Item lego Andree Tendale unum unche de auro.
- (1384) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.135 : [Two] oches [of gold].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Mac.10.89 : He sente to hym a golden lase [L fibulam], or nouche, as custume is for to be ȝouen to cosyns of kyngus.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52105 : Cuidam homini de Prucie eo quod inuenit vnum noche domini ibidem, iij s. iiij d.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.7066 : Ther wol he most his bodi schewe, His croket kembd and theron set A Nouche with a chapelet.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.743 : Eriphilem..for an ouche [vrr. ouch, nouche; a broche] of gold Hath pryuely vnto the Grekes told Wher that hir housbonde hidde hym.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)205b/a : Smaragdus is pris of alle grene stones..men in olde tyme ȝaf þerto þe þridde dignitees and nowches [Mrg: dignite after margarites & nowches; L post margaritas et vniones].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3474 : He..dide his honour..to þe Grekis liche, With many nowche & many Iouwel riche.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.141 : [One necklace called] nowche [of silvergilt].
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)8245 : Eche man..takes..Many a broche and many an oche To stike on hede and on pouche.
- (1431) Reg.Langley in Sur.Soc.17021 : Lego..filio meo..meum gladium et unum pilium de stramine cum uno ouche.
- (1434) Proc.Privy C.4.251 : Upon þe same coler are x owches, eche of hem wyth double flouers of gold garnysed.
- (1437) Proc.Privy C.5.62 : A nouche maad in manere of a man garnized with a fayre gret balas, v gret perles, j gret diamand.
- (1437) Will York in Sur.Soc.3061 : Lego Margaretæ, filiæ meæ, unum uche de auro.
- (1439) EEWills118/17 : I woll my sone Harry haue myn oyche with my grete diamond, and my Noych with my Baleys.
- (1449) Wars France in RS 22.1504 : In the same ouche is a crosse of Seinte George.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1350 : Every wal..and flor and roof..Was set as thik of nouchis Ful of the fynest stones faire..As grasses growen in a mede.
- (1454) *Invent.Gild Stratford (ShakMuseum 184, 187)184 : Item, j grete Masar..bounde wt silver and gildid, wt iiij owches; in ye bothym gildid, a grete owche in ye middis & gravyid wt a Crucifix, oure Lady, and seynt John.
- (1461) Paston2.243 : We haue receyuyd of John Paston..an nowche of gold with a gret poynted dyamaunt set vpon a rose enamellid white, and a nowche of gold in facion of a raggedstaff.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1196/18 : All they were arayed in whyght velvet..and the horse trapped in the same wyse down to the helys, wyth many owchys, isette with stonys and perelys in golde.
- (1472) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum6 : Item, ij ochys for a Byshoppes handes of the gifte of Mastres Hampton.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)688 : On hyr brest A nouche she bar.
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)62/22 : After this spake þe blessed virgyn..'cloth þe in his clothes and sett thin owch on thy breste; þat is, þe passion of my sonne.'
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)90a : An owche: limula, limule, monile.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)391/138 : A shete shall be youre pall..todys shall be youre nowche.
- a1500 *Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)461 : Oon more hier of stature þan x feete, blac of body, with houndis teeth, bisshop of that Oracle or praieng place, to vs appiered, of whom the earis perced and ouches and bies þerin hangyng, and clad was with skynnes.
- a1500 Pennyw.Wit(2) (Cmb Ff.2.38)50 : He boght hur bedys, brochys, & ryngys, Nowchys of golde & many feyre thyngys.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)297 : With ouches & rynges he was beset so The paleys therof shone as though hit had be day.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1419) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.72 : [The goods were valued by oath of John Palyng and John Patteslee, goldsmiths, as follows: One gold] ouche [set with a] baleis, [etc.].
Note: New spelling