Middle English Dictionary Entry
ōk(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ōk(e n. Also oc, oek, hok(e, hokke, nok(e, wocke & (chiefly N) ake, akke, nake & (chiefly early) ac, aik & (errors) eoke, boke, ob, oe & (in place names only) ak, hac, ach, agh, age, aike, auch, hock, ox, rok, ech, hech, nech, eike, acum, oken. |
| Etymology | OE āc, sg. dat. ǣc, pl. dat. ācum & ON; cp. OI eik. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The British oak Quercus robur; also, the evergreen or holm oak Quercus ilex; (b) in Biblical sources: various species of oak; (c) oak wood or timber; (d) oak leaves; (e) appel of the ~, an oak gall; polipodie of ~, oak fern; scale of an ~, oak bark, used as an astringent; tre of ~; ~ of herte, herte of ~ [see herte 1c. (d)]; etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)545/15 : [Querc]us uel ylex: oc.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)510 : Gogmagog was a geant..A gret ok he wolde braide adoun, as it a smal ȝerd were.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)119/2512 : His clob was to ȝeue a strok, A lite bodi of an ok.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)649 : Pruner, creker, et chene: Plumtre, bolastre, and hookus.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1793 : Þei drow hem to a dern den..& hedde hem vnder an holw hok.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4561 : He smyt her þorȝ an ok.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2921 : The names how the trees highte:..ook, fir, birch, asp, alder, holm, popler.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.405 : Austyn..gadred bishopps and doctoures of Britouns to gidres in a place þat hatte Austinus ook, þat is, Austyn his strengþe.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)47/372 : Ooþur maister hedde he non But okus and beches.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.159 : This naked swerd..Thurgh out his armure it wol kerue and byte Were it as thikke as is a braunched ook.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)230a/b : Ilex, ilicis, is a maner ooke, a tre þat bereþ mast.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)243a/b : The Oke hatte quercus..and is a faste tree and a sadde and dureth long tyme, with hard rynde..and bereþ fruyte þat hatte accherne.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.18 : Bechis & broode okis [vrr. hookys, akes] wern blowen to grounde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1962 : Like þe bowes of a braunchid oke Was al his heer & his longe berde.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)33b/a : Ilex:..a nake.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)52a/b : Prinus: a ȝonge hoke.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.186 : Sum tyme, it [lightning] cleveþ grete okes in sundir.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)115a/a : Entre þe pacient in to a bath, And be he froted with acete & grene mosse of an oke.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)176 : Overal..Were trees..Ech in his kynde..The byldere ok, and ek the hardy asshe.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)370 : Sir Eglamour vndir an ake Till on þe morne þat he gun wake.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1096 : Bullenekkyde was þat bierne and brade in the scholders, Brok-brestede as a brawne with brustils full large, Ruyd armes as an ake with rusclede sydes.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)3952 : Alle the feelde Demed veryly of that stroke That there had be ffalle a grete Ooke [vr. eoke].
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)4271 : Than lete he flee To his enemy so grete a stroke, As thogh ther had falle an Oke [vr. a wocke].
- c1450(?a1405) Lydg.CBK (Frf 16)73 : Ther saw I eke..Asshe, firre, and oke with mony a yonge acorne.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)237 : And as he neghet bi a noke, Þe King sturenly him stroke, That both his brees con blake.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)499 : In þe forest as i con wake, Atte þe anturus hoke Þer mette me this knyȝte.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)2420 : The cipres is plenteuous there As okis in Engelonde beth here.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)140 : In these dayes was Arthures body founde in the cherch ȝerd at Glaskinbury in a hol hok.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)481/31 : A stronge myghty horse stood..ityed to an oke.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)174/186 : Erbe, gres and tres stronge..ȝa, þe grete myghty Okys with my dent I spylle.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.85 : Barrokeschire, takenge that name of hit of a bare oke [L nuda quercu] in the foreste of Wyndeshore, where men of that province were wonte to mete.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)2408 : His Creste is a noble lond, A Gyaunt with an hoke in hond.
- a1500(1449) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)98 : We, of oure grace especiall, have granted unto John Barham x oks for tymbre, to be taken in yor outwods of Kenelworth, of our yefte.
- a1500 When nettuls (BodPoet e.1)p.269 : When nettuls in wynter bryng forth rosys red..And okes ber dates very plentuosly..Than put women in trust and confydens.
b
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)826 : Quor abram wunede, ðor wex bi An ok ðat was of gibi.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1873 : Diep he is dalf under an ooc.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 18.9 : Whan þe mule wente in vndir a thicke ook [L quercum] & a gret, þe heuyd of hym [Absalom] cleuede to þe ooc & hym hangid betwen heuene & erþe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Josh.24.26 : He took a ful greet stoon & putte hit vndyr an hook þat was in þe seyntuarie of þe lord.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.1.30 : Whan ȝee shul ben as an oek, the leues fallende doun.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)602 : Olde Abraham in erde onez he syttez Even byfore his housdore, under an oke grene.
c
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)483 : Fet de tey ou de chene: Made of claye or of hooke.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4553 : Þe axe ful on a stilp of oke.
- c1390(1377) Death Edw.III (Vrn)57 : In-to þat schip þer longed a Rooþur, Þat steered þe schip..Þe Roþur was nouþer Ok ne Elm.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)127/11 : Of þo cannes þei maken houses and schippes..as wee han here makynge houses and schippes of oke [Man.(2): akez].
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)170a/b : Take psidie balaustie pouder of roten oke ana; it consoudeþ olde sores.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)109/34 : The firste [help]..is a spounge dipped in þe lye of asshen of þe vyne tre, of fyge tree, and of oke.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.100 : Putte aske of ook or vyne aysel amonge.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)772 : He fande þe Rede Knyght lyggand..Besyde a fyre brynnande Off byrke and of akke.
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1351 : We payde for iiij postis of Oke i d. ob.
- (1448) in Willis & C.Cambridge 28 : All the bord the wich shall be of oke that to the seid flores and steires shall resonable nede.
- (1449) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 872 : To Roberdd Watyr for a bord of hokke..ij d.
- (1451) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 494 : For costs doyn abowt the oke boffte from hyde wode, xx d.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2625 : Fir and cipresse and the pynappul tre Therfore is good..And ook is holden good in this cuntre.
d
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2290 : A corone of a grene ook cerial Vpon hir heed was set.
e
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)37b : Ypocras byddith to take juis of þe leke and þe appill of þe oke [L (Macer): galla] and þe floure of rikylle myrr and wyne and make þere-of a drinke.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)35/5 : And þer es a tree of ake þat þe Sarzenes callez Dyrpe.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)74/8 : Afterward be þer done suffumigacion or fomentacion of gall, or of þe rynde of a grene oke or dry.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)81/1 : Tak þe barke of þe grene ake & do a-waye þe vttereste, [etc.].
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)224/711 : For wound þt is opyn & will nat hele..take a scele of an oke & like [read: loke] þat it be welkyd & touge and wete it.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)104/18 : Take bardona, polipodie of hoke.
2.
In proverbs and proverbial phrases.
Associated quotations
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4240 : He vel adoun as a gret ok þat bineþe ykorue wer.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1594 : He..sturdy as an oke, Sat in his sadel.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.4178 : She sat stille as any oke.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1335 : An ook comth of a litel spir.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1389 : Reed that boweth down for every blast Ful lightly, cesse wynd, it wol aryse; But so nyl nought an ook whan it is cast.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Amos 2.9 : He was strong as an ook.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)22237 : Euer he stod als A gret ake.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)22252 : Als A grete ake þoru windes blaste..Þis geante fel doune bifor his fotes.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.96 : These ookis grete be nat doun ihewe First at a strok, but bi long processe.
- c1475 Prov.Wisd.(RwlPoet 32)108 : Wyth grete wyndis fallyþe gret okis.
- (1477) Paston2.436 : It is but a sympill oke þat [read: þat is] cut down at the firste stroke.
- (1477) Paston2.436 : I harde my lady sey þat it was a febill oke þat was kut down at the first stroke.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)922 : With hym he broȝt a fowll geaunt..Greet as an ok.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1261 : J haue y-seyn grete okes Falle for wyndes strokes; Þe smale han stonde stylle.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)161/35 : Whyle an hooke is a yonge Spyre, hit may be wonde into a wyth, but when hit is a wixen tree, an hundrid oxyn vnneth hit may bowe.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)3004 : Ther may no man stonde hys stroke, Thogh he were as stronge as an noke.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)3688 : For no man at the firste strok Ne may nat felle down an ok.
3.
In cpds. and combs.: ~ appel, an oak gall; ?also, an acorn [quot.: ?a1450, 1st]; ~ fern, oak fern (Polypodium vulgare); ~ rinde, oak bark; old ~, ?seasoned oak; okes bord, oke(s lef, oke(s tre.
Associated quotations
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.117 : Ilke a brother be redy wit othir, to go to ye kirke wit is brethere wit a garlond of hoke Lewes.
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)50/12 : Diapton, pollipodium idem. g. polipodie, ae. oefarn [vr. ocfarn].
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)66/7 : Filix quercina, pollipodium idem. g. feugre, angl. obfarn [vr. okfarn].
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)147/27 : Polipodium quercinum, filex quercina, felicula idem, inuenitur in rupibus et arboribus..habet maculam sub foliis; angl. okfarn.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6405 : Þe face hij han playne and hard, Als it were an okes [LinI: oken] bord.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)50a : Mistilte oþer arbuste growith vpon okys tre and oþer treys.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)66a : Polipody oþer oke verne, for he is like vnto verne þat growith vpon okys.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)98/27 : The secounde entente is fulfilled wiþ..oke ferne [*Ch.(1): polipodio] and wiþ soche þat hauen to purge blood.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)120/8 : Take of þe rootes of oke farne.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)363 : Oke tre: Quercus, ylex..Oke appul: Galla.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)13/34 : Tak stalworthe ayselle in a vesselle of bras & jewse of ake appills & do þam alle to-gedir.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)27/7 : Tak ake appills & stampe thaym with oyle of rose & lay it on þe bolnynge.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)183/27-8 : Þis herbe beryth apples in tyme of ȝere, and þe apples growyn in þe lewys ryth as hok apples [vrr. ackernes; þe akere] growyn in hokys lewys.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)208 : Item amore chef: schaue þe hed, & wasche hyt in water, & after ward in þat þese herbes ben soden ynne Maydenher, okrynde & horsehoue.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking in Studia Neoph.16 (Hrl 2340)10 : Take Verne Rotes that groweth on okys and boke [read: hoke] appuls and stamp hem and yeue hym þe jus therof..and he shalle be hole.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)77b/b : And also wodebynde..drawiþ wonderfully..And þe same doiþ Oke ferne.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)2a : An Ake Appyll: galla.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)46a : Oke fferne: polipodium & cetera vbi braken.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)80/20 : Take oke-appul and drye it well and make pouder þer-of.
- a1500(?a1400) MS Sln.282 in Alphita (Sln 282)p.4 fn. : Pomum quercinum, galla, scicidon, alapsa, an[gli]ce, an oke appel.
- a1500 PParv.(Add 37789)363 : Oold ook: Ilex.
4.
(a) In surnames; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.1-2].
Associated quotations
a
- (1247) Feet Fines Oxf.in ORS 12146 : Simon del Oke.
- (1265) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.230 : Richard Attenok.
- (c1275) Deed St.Peter Glo.(2) in BGAS 3822 : Wm. de Okeholte.
- (1278) Close R.Edw.I470 : John del Okes.
- (1292-1301) *in Pilkington Surn. : William Aykheved.
- (1296) in Fransson Surn.206 : Rob. Okman.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1070 : Willmo. aten Oke.
- (1313) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)2.230 : Roger of the Okes.
- (1319-20) Rec.Crondal in Hamp.RS 3421 : Willelmi atte Oketre, et Ricardi atte Oke.
- (1324) Pat.R.Edw.II65 : Richard atte Okslade.
- (1327) Sub.R.Stf.in WSAS 7234 : Johannes atte noke.
- (?1327) in Ewen Surnames Brit.178 : Atte oclone.
- (1331) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.180 : [William] atte Noke.
- (1333) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames141 : Adam atter Hokebench.
- (1361-2) Doc.Thaxted in Ess.ROP 3377 : John Nok.
- a1385(1353) Cust.Chichester in Sus.RS 3170 : John Ocwode.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.115 : For sum tyme I seruide symme at þe nok [B: atte Stile] And was his prentis ypliȝt.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)190 : Als goode was Jacke Robyn as John at the Noke, for alle were as hyghe as pygysfete.
b
- (1162) EPNSoc.2 (Bck.)191 : Radenhech.
- (1180) in Bowcock PNShrop.82 : Cristesech.
- (c1200) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)118 : Aiketona.
- (1233) EPNSoc.28 (Der.)389 : Mathlac.
- (1235) in Ekwall PNLan.121 : Acton.
- (1238) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)160 : Hac.
- (1260) Inquis.PM Hen.III in Archaeol.Cant.3249 : [Item, land which is called] Okolte [renders at Easter and Michaelmas 40 s.].
- (1266) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)237 : Auchton.
- (1271) in Bowcock PNShrop.82 : Cristesach.
- (1277) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)82 : Hoddeshock.
- (1285) EPNSoc.23 (Oxf.)233 : La Hoke.
- (1296) Name in LuSE 3517 : Acum.
- (1298) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)237 : Ayketon juxta Elreton.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)109 : Shirokes.
- (1305) EPNSoc.28 (Der.)389 : Mattelok.
- (1332) in Ekwall PNLan.121 : Aghton.
- (c1340) in Sundby Dial.Wor.87 : Cloppedhoke.
- (1354) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)118 : Eyketon.
- (1369) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)36 : Okmill.
- (1393) Doc.Thaxted in Ess.ROP 3340 : [One acre of meadow called] Okelondemade.
- (1396) in Ekwall Dict.EPN236 : Halyok.
- (1397) in Wallenberg PNKent27 : Nokholt wood.
- c1425 Liber de Hyda in RS 45250 : These ben the four half-plowlond markys..from Sandhyrst to the Kyngys ac-holte, from the acholte to Gysyngehyrne.
- (1428) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)332 : Oxstede.
- (1440) EPNSoc.2 (Bck.)191 : Radenage.
- (1468) EPNSoc.23 (Oxf.)233 : Noke.
- a1500(c1294) Cart.Boarstall in OHS 88181 : Iuratores dicunt quod foresta de Bernewode incipit apud Goseacrehevede..et sic usque le hoke de Okewode apud Shortrudyngesende, [etc.].
- a1500(c1325) Cart.Boarstall in OHS 88222 : Nokehegge.