Middle English Dictionary Entry
orix n.
Entry Info
| Forms | orix n. Also origen; pl. origes. |
| Etymology | L oryx, -gem. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An animal variously identified as a kind of wild goat or a creature similar to a dormouse or a water mouse; (b) a kind of bird similar to a guinea hen.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.14.5 : Þis is þe beest þat ȝe owyn to ete, oxe & sheep..orygen [L orygem].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.51.20 : Þei slepten in the heued of alle weies, as the vnclene beeste grened, þat is clepid orix [L oryx; WB(2) Gloss.: that is a beest lijk a water mous that slepeth al winter and lifeth aȝen in somer].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)294b/a : Orix..is acounted in þe lawe among vnclene bestes and is a beste liche to a water mous or to certeyn mys þat ben y-cleped glires..orix is a beste like to suche mys and it semeþ þat þe lettre of Isa. toucheþ þe same and acordeþ wiþ plinius and seiþ in þis manere: In egypte þey clepen a beste orix, [etc.].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)294b/b : Wilde geet..some be origes and hir heer groweþ and streccheþ toward þe heed..orix..is a wilde goot and in þis significacioun it is nouȝt take in Isay..and so orix is y-take for oon beste in deuteronomii and for an oþer in likenesse in ysa.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)294b/a : Iuuenal meneþ þat orix is a certein brid þat is most fatte..orix is a bridde liche to an henne of affrica.