Middle English Dictionary Entry
organ(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | organ(e n. Also orgain, orgen(e, orgein, orgin, orgon(e, orgoin, orgoun, orgun, orgne & organt, (late) horkin; pl. organes, etc. & organe, orgon. |
| Etymology | OF orgene, organ(e, orguine, organe & L organum. Also cp. OE organ(e, from L. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A musical instrument, kind of stringed or wind instrument [sometimes difficult to distinguish from 2., to which some quots. here may belong]; singen bi ~, to sing with instrumental accompaniment; singen in ~, smiten in organes, play a musical instrument; singen in ~, play (sth.) upon an instrument; singere in ~, one who plays an instrument; ~ song, instrumental music; ~ of musike; etc.; (b) fig.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)150.4 : Herieþ hym in cordes and organ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.4.21 : Tuball..was þe fader of syngers in harpe & orgyn [Corp-O: orgon; WB(2): orgun; L organo].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 21.12 : Þei..ioȝen at þe soun of þe orgne.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 6.14 : Dauyþ smoot in orgnys [Corp-O: orgayns; WB(2): organs] bounden to þe shuldres, & he leep wiþ al his strangþe beforn þe lord.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Par.15.16 : Þei schulden ordeynen of þer breþern syngeres in orgnes of musikes [WB(2): orguns of musikis; L organis musicorum], þat is, in sawtres, & syngynge instrumentis, & cymbalis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Par.15.20 : Maazias & banaias in orgnys [vr. orglis; L nablis] sungyn priue thyngis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)333b/b : For al þat is perceyued by herynge is cleped sowne, as..lowynge of bestes, voice and gronynge of men, and smytynge of organes [L percussiones organorum].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)334a/a : Her ouer is armonia of organes [L armonia organica] þat comeþ of blaste whan certein instrumentis beþ craftiliche y-made and dueliche y-blowe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21310 : Þe first has bell, þe toþer timpan, Þe thrid has harp, þe firth organ.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)136.2 : In selihes in mide ofe ite Our organes [L organa] henge we yhite.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)191 : Orgnes [LinI: orgles], chymbes, vche manere glee, Was dryuen aȝein þat leuedy free.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1081 : For aungelles wyth instrumentes of organes and pypes..Aboutte my Lady watz lent.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.7 : Of gurles and of gloria laus gretliche me dremede, And how osanna by orgne [vrr. orgone, orgene, origene, organ] olde men songe.
- a1425(c1340) Rolle Psalter (LdMisc 286)136.2 : In the wylghis in the myddis of hit we hang vp our orgoyns.
- a1425 Adam & E.(3) (Wht)88/21 : Tubal..was þe fadir of syngers in harpe and orgon.
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.12 : Herie ȝe him in tympan & queer! herie ȝe him in stryngis & orgun!
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)249 : He and his scolers theyre wyttes dydde applye, With touche off strenges, on orgons eke pleyng.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)48 : Þyn vndeedly spouse schal take þe wyth ynne þe ȝates of endles lyf where heuenly organs schal sowne vn to þe by moost swete notes.
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Origo Mundi in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)1999 : Whethoug menstrels ha tabours trey-hans harpes ha trompours..organs in weth cymbalys recordys ha symphony.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Eliz.Spalb.(Dc 114)109/31 : Þis newe tymbrer settiþ her flesche for an harpe and hir chekys for a tymber..and hir handys and fyngers for a wrast, þat is, an instrument of organ-songe.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)8 : Jubal..was fader to alle hem that singe in the orgoun, or in the crowde.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)3.7 : This kynge Dauid, beenge in peace, made..diuerse organes and oþer thynges, in whom the diacones seide hympnes.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)22974 : I blowe myn horn..Myne orgones, I tempre ffor to pleye.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)58/14 : He mowe delyt hym wyth Instrumentz and maners of Organes whanne he ys ennoyed.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)131/36 : I wende..to haue herd in thyne halle tympanes and organes.
- a1500 St.Jerome (Lamb 432)337/35 : Sodenly tha[i] herd in heuen, in erthe and in the ayre innumerable voycis of moest swete songis, vnherd, vnspekable, and the sound of organys, symphanys, and of instrumentis of all musyke.
b
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)5/12 : Ȝyue vs trewe organ of redi eloquens to edifiyng of oure neiȝbour.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)240 : John Wiclef, the orgon of the devel, the enmy of the Cherche..the ydol of heresie, the meroure of ypocrisie, the norischer of scisme..was smet with a horibil paralsie.
2.
(a) Sg. & pl. An organ, esp. a pipe organ; a portative organ; also fig.; paire (of) organes, an organ; ?a set of organ pipes; blouen (pleien on, pleien at, singen on) organes, to play an organ; (b) ~ pleiere, singere of organes, an organist; ~ blouere, ?organist; ?one who works the bellows of an organ; ~ pleiinge, playing on an organ; ~ makere, an organ builder; ~ pipe, pipe of ~, an organ pipe; (c) pl. an organ employing steam pressure; water organes.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.134 : And whil the organs [vrr. Organes, orgens, Orgenes, Orgnes; Orgels, Orgles] maden melodie, To god allone in herte thus song she.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.245 : Organs [Higd.(2): Organes; L Organum] com first into Fraunce, i-send of Constantyn þe emperour.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4041 : His voys was murier than the myrie orgon [vr. organe] On massedayes that in the chirche gon.
- (1422-3) Acc.Abingdon in Camd.n.s.5198 : j par organes.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)21333 : In aiþer temple orgons and sang..mikel was herd of folk amang.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)369 : Orgone [Win: Organ]: Organum.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)249 : Þis witnessing..be maad bi speche wiþynneforþ..or wiþoutforþ not being speche..as ben outward bowing of vs silf to þee..outward felable baners, bellis, preciose vestementis, ymagis, liȝtis, swete songis, organs, and such oþere.
- (1447) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 11117 : Itm., a payre of old organes beyng in the chauncelle.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11266 : Þe Messe bygan sone anon..Of þo þat songe heye & lowe, & þo þat couþe orgnes blowe [F orgres soner], Inow þer was of menestralcie, & of song gret melodye.
- (1460-61) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 4101 : For mendyng of the orgyns, ij d.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57158 : For the caryinge off a payre off organs ffrom the Grey Freris to the water, and I payd hym ffor the caryinge home be water iij s. iiij d.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4918 : Itm, I wille yt eche man yt synggit prykked songe on ye day of my enterment at oure ladyes messe haue ij d. and ye pleyers at ye orgenys ij d. and eche child j d.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)96 : Vitalianus..ordeined song and orgones in the Cherch.
- (1466) in Cox Churches Derb.4.85 : And one payre of organes..another small payre of orgones.
- (1467) Acc.All Sts.Tilney33 : Item, cuidam puero joculatori ad orgon ad ffestum Pasche, xx d.
- (1467) Acc.St.John Peterb.in Antiq.51466 : Payd for j schepschyn to the orgons, precii iij d.
- (1474-5) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum19 : Item, in the amendynge of the Organys, xvi d.
- (1474-5) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1923 : Ite., we payd Jhon Dyer organt maker of Oxford for mendyng of the Organts & makyng the belyis new for owr part, v s. vi d.
- a1475 Herkyn to my tale (Brog 2.1)p.85 : The samun sanng the hy mas, the heyryng vas the clark; The porpos at the organs -- ther was a golly wark.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)89b : To syng or play on þe organnes [Monson: Organ]: Organizare.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)135/20 : Men..can harp and lwte and pley at orgynnis qwan þat he fyindyth hym-self tedius.
- (1492) Doc.Middx.in MELDD4154#20 [Acc.All Saints, fol. 27v] : Jt for mendyng of þe horkynys -- xiij s iiij d
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)150.4 : He settis orgyns that is made as a toure, of sere whistils, noght that ilkan sown bi thaim selfe, bot that thai sown all samyn in acordandist dyuersite.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1778 : Wyth harpe, fydele, and rote, Orgenes [Lamb: orgone noyse; LinI: Orgoyns vois; Ashm: Orgeynus] and mery note, Well mery þey maden alle.
- a1500 Lydg.JHare (Voss Germ.Gall.Q.9)68 : But woo is she that nyht shal be thi mate, Thyn orgons so hihe be-gynne to syng thi messe..That all the hogges that ben abouth lyggyng To syng with the they gyne them thedir dresse.
b
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)11b/b : Cantos: pipes of organes.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)73/24 : I fled syngars in kyrkis &..orgone playars [L ludentes in organis] I desird not to here.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)369 : Orgon pype [Win: Orgone pype], or pype of an orgon: Cantes, ydraula.
- (1446) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms232 : Will. Nyvell, organmaker.
- (?a1450) Stonor Suppl.6 : Þe orgon blower, ij d.
- (1464-5) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.523b : Item, of the comone money paied to the orgone maker for the orgonis; whiche the chirche owith to the towne, 18 s. 8 d.
- (1469) Acc.All Sts.Tilney36 : Item, pro le orgon player ad ffestum Pasche, xvj d.
- (1474-5) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1923 : Ite., we payd Jhon Dyer organt maker of Oxford for mendyng of the Organts & makyng the belyis new for owr part, v s. vi d.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)89b : Organe pipis: Aule, fistule organorum. A synger of organs or player: Organista.
- (1476) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms232 : Will. Hall, orgonmaker als mercator.
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.393 : The Condite rennyng wyne in iiij placez, and mynstralcy of Orgonpleyinge, and seint George havyng this speche under writtyn, [etc.].
- -?-(1431) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.96145 : Johannes Gyse, organemaker.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.73 : Þere is an orloge i-made by craft of honde, and water organs [L organa hydraulica] þat sowneþ by ayer and water.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)7.73 : At whiche churche be unto this tyme certeyne instrumentes of his makynge made by arte mechanicalle, and specially organes where the wynde brekynge up by violence of hoote water ȝiffethe wynde to theyme sufficientely.
3.
A sung melody; a descant or counterpoint; organum; ~ song, organum; ~ notes.
Associated quotations
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)191 : Þan were..more veyn iapis founden: deschaunt, countre note & orgon & smale brekynge, þat stiriþ veyn men to daunsynge more þan to mornynge.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)77 : Bi þer grete criyng of song, as deschaunt, countre note & orgene, þei ben lettid fro studynge & prechynge of þe gospel.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)91 : Þei don..here sacrifices..wiþ knackynge of newe song, as orgen or deschant.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)243/38 : The byrdys syngyth; the nyghtyngall shewyth his organe notis.
- a1500 PParv.(KC 8)501 : Treble of orgene songe [Hrl 221: Treblesonge]: Precentus.
4.
A part of the body of man or animal having a specific function, an organ; ~ of the lim, a limb.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)8b/b : A muscle forsoþ is an organe [Ch.(2): lymme; L organum] of mouyng, liquide.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)16b/a : Þe stomac or þe wombe is þe organ of þe first digestion.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)18b/b : Þe testiclez..bene þe principale organez [Ch.(2): membres; L organa] of mannes generacion.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)39b/a : Þe firste is be cause of grace of felinge in þe organes oþere instrumentes of a man þe whiche ben sensitiue oþer felinge [*Ch.(1): cencityue organez; Ch.(2): felyng membres; L sensitiuis organis].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)50a/b : Þis humor cristalline is principal and proper organe of vertue of siȝte, & alle þe toþer parties off þe yȝen and neruus opticus seruen to him.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)62b/a : Þe liuer is þe Organe and þe begynnyng of þe secounde digestioun.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2475 : Ȝe shulle fynd my body..As hole lygyng as euer aliue ȝe hit seye, Þe organys of þe lemys ouȝt-take..As felyng and seyȝt ys from hem take.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2480 : Alle þe remanent of my body as hole hit ys, Excepte þe organys of þe lemys þe whyche gouernede my wyttus fyue.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)17a/a : For beestis þat han noon heed han þe organ or þe instrument of alle oþere wittis in þe brest.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)22b/b : In þe secunde doctrine of þis chapitre, it is tretid of þe anothamie of the eeris and of þe organs of heerynge.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)23a/a : Thanne þe senewis þat ben organs or instrumentis of heerynge springiþ from þe brayn as it is seid aforn.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)27a/a : Þe tunge..is an organ of þe witt of tastynge.
5.
A tool, an instrument.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)13b/a : Þe creature in stede of armes defended man afore with handes & with resoun; Aristole seide wele þat he seid, 'þe hand afore organez & reson afore craftes.'
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)98b/a : And if þay may not conueniently wiþ her handez extend or strecch þe membre ybroken þat þai put about snarez or organez [Ch.(2): instrumentis; L organa], i. instrumentez..I trowe þat þo organez be tournez of tree with pilers, as seiþ Albucasis, or made to þe maner of spryngaldez.
6.
(a) In comb.: ~ gonne, a kind of firearm [cp.OD orgue]; (b) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1470) Paston (EETS)1.435 : Item, iiij gonnes lying in ij stokkes callid orgon gonnes, wyth ix chambirs.
b
- (1210) CRR(2) 653 : Robertus Organ.
- (1453-5) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.81161 : Et de 20 s. solutis Will. Organmaker pro emendacione de organis cum les belousse earundem.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. organ.