Middle English Dictionary Entry
aumbre, -er n.
Entry Info
| Forms | aumbre, -er n. Also aunbre, aumer, ambre, -er. |
| Etymology | OF a(u)mbre & ML ambra (from Ar.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Ambergris, or a perfume made of it; grei ~, ~ oriental.
Associated quotations
- [ (1345-9) Wardrobe Acc.Edw.III(1) in Archaeol.3171 : xxv lb. ambre. ]
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)8/5 : Ambra is a spicerye Of gret pris, smelleþ swotelye: Þerof is called þis name ambrose.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)161b/a : Þe whale hath grete plente of sperme and..superfluite þerof fleteþ..and if it is ygadred and ydried it turneþ to þe substaunce of ambra [L ambre].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)173b/a : R[ecipe]..grey ambre [L ambre grise]..be þer made vnguent.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)58/13 : Ambre orientale.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)232 : Y felt so gret swetnesse Through my chambre..as hyt had ben..Ful of avmber oriental, Of Aloe, and of muske newe.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)68.14-15 (v.2:p.16) : 'Ambrosius' of 'Ambra' .. Dirivied is, which is to seyn the aumbre of God..; Aumbre is redolent .. And so was Ambrose in his werkis Ful wele savourid.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)194/2 : Alexaundre made him to be reised with aumbre & with muske.
- a1550 *Norton OAlch.(BodeMus 63)2001 : Pleasaunt odours engendred be shall of cleane and pure substaunce and fumygalle, as it appereth in ambre, narde and mirre.
2.
(a) The fossil resin amber; bright ~, whit ~; (b)~ bedes, amber beads; ~ colour, amber color; ~ yelwe, deep yellow amber.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1261) *Wardrobe Acc.Hen.III (PRO) [OD col.]1.m.1 : Reddunt compotum de vno pomo de aumbre cum apparatu auri. ]
- (1365) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.327 : [A pair of] paternosters [of] aumber, [10 shillings].
- (1419) *Will Bury155a : I be qweþe..also a peyr bedys of avmber langettes, with a broch and a crucyfix of syluer.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)130/27 : He hath abouten his nekke ccc perles..knotted as Pater Nostres here of Amber [Eg: in maner of bedes of laumbre; OF en guise de Paternostres daumbre].
- (a1430) Invent.Randolf in Archaeol.61173 : A Ryng of Aunbre with a bede knyt with a threde..A litill box of Aumbre with a litill covercle of the same.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)19 : Awmyr or ambyr [vrr. awmbyr, Avmur or aumbry]: Ambra.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1666 : A tabill atyret, all of triet yuer, Bourdurt..with bright Aumbur.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6203 : Philon the fre kyng..Hade a chariot full choise..And the whelis full wheme, all of white aumber.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)6079 : Awmber ryche and fyn, Pulshed ful clene out of the Myn.
- a1450 I have a gentil cok (Sln 2593)18 : His eynyn arn of cristal, lokyn al in aumbyr.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4915 : I beqwethe to my lord Abbot..my bedys of white ambyr.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4916 : Item, to..eche of hem, a peyre bedys of ambyr.
- (1471) Will York in Sur.Soc.45193 : j par precum de awmer.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2682 : But liche a fool he hym silf doth quite, Þat awmber ȝelwe cheseþ for þe white.
- (1449) Will York in Sur.Soc.30156 : Item I bequeth to William Dedik a peir of awbur bedis.
- (a1500) in Singer Cat.Alchem.1.155 : Water of saturne whyte yn colour and postea cum igne forcior veniet aqua solis lyke ambre colour.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)4a/b : Ambura = a umber.
Note: New spelling
Note: Add. 33534: an vmbre