Middle English Dictionary Entry
nutte n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nutte n. |
| Etymology | OE nyt n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Use, usefulness; nought to nuttes, of no use, useless.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13428 : A he seide þat Bruttes neoren noht to nuttes, ah he seide þat þe Peohtes weoren gode cnihtes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)6/3 : Gyf þu strægncðe habbe, bruc þære to nytte.
Note: Quot. antedates word.
Note: New form: Also..nitte.
Note: New gloss (revise existing gloss thus): "Use, usefulness; also, profit, advantage; nought to nuttes, of no use, useless; brouken to ~, to make use (of sth.) to advantage."
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form sectionis or needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section: Also nitte; pl. nuttes.--notes per MLL