Middle English Dictionary Entry
orfrei n.
Entry Info
| Forms | orfrei n. Also orfrai, orphrai, orferai, orpharẹ̄, offrei & orefreis, (error) norfys; sg. gen. orfraies; sg. & pl. orfreis, orfreies, orfrais, orfraies, orfraeez, orfries, orffras, orphares, orfrēes, offres. |
| Etymology | OF orfrois, orfroi, orfreis, orfraiz, orphrais, orffras, orfray, offrey. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Rich embroidery, braid, or fringe, esp. of gold; an embroidered or ornamental border or band, orphrey; richly embroidered cloth; decorative trappings.
Associated quotations
- [ (1128) Will Durham in Sur.Soc.22 : Unam casulam indici coloris cum largis orfrays. ]
- [ (1257) Will Durham in Sur.Soc.25 : ij tunicis de eodem Panno cum pluribus orfrays et liliis deauratis brudatis. ]
- [ (1446) Will York in Sur.Soc.30117 : Lego..j vestimentum..in le orfray ejusdem Ave Maria. ]
- (1318) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100374 : It., j di. pannus de auro pro orfrays.
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)5 : Þe arsouns were gold pur and fin, Stones of vertu set þerin, Bigon abouten wiȝ orfreis.
- (c1330) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100518 : In 2 Vestimentis integris cum tunicis et Dalmaticis, 1 capa, 4or peciis Orfrayes, 2 frontell. et 2 zonis emp., 49 s.
- (1377) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)2.206 : [He also leaves two pairs of] Orfreys.
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.168 : [A] cope [of red] baudekyn [with] orfreys [of golden stags worth 10 £.].
- a1400 Þo oure lord god (Mrg M 957)p.320 : Sche had ymaked here a hod wyt orefreys aboute.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.117 : A hede þat was of smyten, þat þis squier fond Priue, þat non suld witen, in an orfreis it wond & sette it on a spere, in an orfreis vnbiwened.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)179 : A mule..Was ybrouȝth to þe quene, Myd many belle of syluer shene Yfastned on orfreys of mounde.
- (1412) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)19 : Lego eidem capelle Sancti Andree unum aliud par vestimentorum de rubro cerico deaurato cum uno albo, orphray de cerico.
- (a1422) Doc.St.Alb.in RS 28.5 pt.2 (Cld E.4)328 : Duo paria cum offrey aurifriata cum capitibus.
- (a1422) Doc.St.Alb.in RS 28.5 pt.2 (Cld E.4)357 : Item, unus apparatus simplex de rubeo serico stragulato, cum orfreys de auro.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)562 : Of fyn orfrays [F D'orfrois] hadde she eke A chapelet.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1076 : Richesse a robe of purpur on hadde..With orfrays leyd was everydeell.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)153/15 : The secounde thousand is all clothed in clothes dyapred of red selk all wrought with gold & the orfrayes [F orfrais] sett full of gret perl and precious stones.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)368 : Orfrey of a westyment: Aurifigium.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)902 : Sir Arthure..Armede hym in a acton with orfraeez full ryche.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2142 : With wyghte wapynez of werre, thay wroghten on helmes..with flyschande speris, Freten of orfrayes feste appon scheldez.
- c1440 Thos.Ercel.(Thrn)62 : Hir payetrelle was of jrale fyne; Hir cropoure was of Orphare.
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1213 : A sute of Blew imbroudyd wt gold wt Antlopp & byrdes of gold, the orffrayes wt crownys and sterres of gold.
- (1449) Will Brugco in Nichols Illust.132 : Item, I bequethe..l chesible diacones, for decones, orfrees of white clothe of gold powdred with garters, and two casse corporasses.
- (1449) Will Brugco in Nichols Illust.134 : The orfreyez wrought wyth the nedel with ymages.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5269 : Þe bild was all of brent gold, þe beddis of þe same, Piȝt full of pentests & oþire proude stanes, Of Onycles & orfrays & orient perles.
- (1455) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15150 : Item, a sewte of Vestmentes..with oone cope of Blewe velvett powdered with flowres of gold, and the orffras of stoole worke.
- (1459-60) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 4101 : To the clerke for rep[er]yng of and settyng on of a norfys.
- (1463-4) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2560 : Et pro ryppynge et suppocione orfries et lavacione ijrum albarum, ij d.
- (1467) Will York in Sur.Soc.45159 : Lego..unum viride vestimentum de clath of Colan, habens orfray de rede clath of golde.
- (1467) Will York in Sur.Soc.45160 : j vestimentum..habens in suo orfray ex parte dorsali crucifixum.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)86/23 : And he sate afore his couch..And about that ther was a full riche counterpoint of cloth of gold..with lettirs Ebraicis writen in the bordure of the orfreys with grete and orient perlis.
- (1472) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum6 : Item, j cope of blew velvet, And the passion in the orfrayes ther of of nedill worke.
- (1484-85) Acc.Ashburton in D&CRS n.s.156 : [Paid for] le offres [of the chasuble,] 10s. 4d. .. [For] canvas & bokes [for] le offres, le stoole, le abe & le amys, 2 s.
- (1485-86) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.32156 : Paid to the clerkes for sowyng on of orfrayes.
- 1618(1440) Invent.Cumberworth in Peacock EChurch Furniture182 : One vestment of white silke wth a read orferay.
- -?-(1459) Will in Som.RS 16189 : [My two copes of the same cloth made with] orphares [well embroidered].