Middle English Dictionary Entry
ostrich(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | ostrich(e n.(1) Also hostriche, nostriche, ostric(e, ostrig(e, ostrugge, ostrik, hoistis & estrich(e, estrishe, esterige, estregge; pl. ostriches, etc. & ostric. |
| Etymology | OF ostruce, ostrice, ostriche, estruce & ML ostrica, ostrigius. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An ostrich; (b) in comparisons: foltish as ~, cruel as an ~; also, in prov.; (c) ~ (ostriches) ei, an ostrich egg; ~ ruf, an ostrich 'ruff' [see ruf n.(3)].
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)37/13,21 : Þe ostrice [Pep: Ostryk; Cleo: strucion] for his muchele flesch & oðer swuche fuheles maken semblaunt to fleon..ah þe fet eauere drahen up o þe eorðe. Alswa fleschliche anker..hire fet eauer ase don þe ostrices þat arn hire lustes Drahen to þe eorðe.
- (a1377) Wardrobe Acc.Edw.III(2) in Archaeol.31379 : Discus..in fundo vno scuch nigro cum pennis de ostrich.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.34.13 : It shal ben þe..leswe of ostrichis.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)150b/a : The Ostryche [L Strutio]..haþ a body as a beest and feþeres as a foule.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)259a/b : Some haueþ but feble mynde as þe strucio, þe ostrugge, and culuere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)275b/a : Cameles wexeþ balled as men doþ and as þe ostrigge.
- (1402) *Acc.Exch.K.R.43/6 [OD col.] : Albis pennis destrich.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Lev.11.16 : Thes ben that ȝe shulen not eete of bryddes..alle of crowe kynde into his liknes; an ostriche [L struthionem], and a nyȝt crowe.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mic.1.8 : Y schal make weilyng of dragouns and mournyng as of ostrigis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Job 30.29 : Y was the brother of dragouns and the felow of ostrigis [WB(1): the half beste, half foul].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Job 39.13-14 : The fethere of an ostriche is lijk the fetheris of a gerfawcun..which ostrige forsakith hise eirun in the erthe..God hath priued hym fro wisdom.
- ?a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Job (Cld E.2)30.29 : They..forȝaten me as an ostrige forȝetith his brid.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)372 : Ostryche, byrd: Strucio.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)121 : A brid that hatteth an ostrich [F otruce]..whiche hath the fetheren aboute him and algates flee may he nouht.
- c1450 WBible(2) (Bod 277)Job 39.16 : The ostricche [Roy: He is maad hard to hise briddis].
- a1475 Heart & Eye(3) (Lngl 258)645 : Two foules whiche Ostrigges men call Bare on high in the eire in letere Of gold..Venus, the goddes of loue.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)90a : An Ostryche: fungus, strucio.
- a1500 Discip.Cler.(Wor F.172)67 : Sumtyme he allone walkyng bi the stretis biholdyng..hostriches and hors of bataile.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)701/36 : Hic struccio: a nostryche.
- ?a1500 Trin-C.LEDict.Suppl.(Trin-C O.5.4)585/22 : Vel an Estrich secundum quosdam [glossing Dict.: Fungus, a ffynch].
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lam.4.3 : Þe doȝter of my puple cruel as an ostrich [WB(2): ostrig] in desert.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)85/22 : Therfor þese neophites ar for to proue, þat Sathanas transfigur not him-self in-to an aungell of lith; þat þe wolf do not on his bak a schepis wolle; þat þe ostrich tak not þe wengis of an hauke.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)190/21 : Man..is hardy as a lyon..rebelle as a kyng, obeyng and meke as a pekok, foltysch as an ostrych.
c
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.Barlaam (Vrn)456 : Þer is in my body A Margeri ston..Grettor þen an Ostriches eiȝ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325a/a : Ostriche eiren beþ grettest, rounde, & ful white wiþ harde schellis and werissh sauour and heuy smelle.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)325a/b : Ostriches eiren beþ y-honged in churches for lightnesse, for þey beþ so grete and seldom yseye.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)458/15 : Take..of þe schelles of an estrisshe eye.
- (1480) Doc.Cely in ES 42 (PRO C.47/37 File 15, f.52v)p.134 : An hoystys ruyffe. Idem, an blake ffedyr.
2.
(a) A representation of an ostrich in engraving, jewelry, etc.; (b) her. the figure of an ostrich on a shield.
Associated quotations
a
- (1458) Will York in Sur.Soc.30226 : A covered white pece with an estregge in the bothom, pounsed.
- -?-(a1394) Q.Anne in Archaeol.31360 : Item, i coler de la livere de la Roigne que Dieux assoile ove un Ostriche..en les founcez dedeins le ditz hanape et coverecle steiantz deux Ostriches blanks.
b
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.9 (Hrl 2169)177 : [Six pieces gules and silver with] iij ostryc rowsyng [in the gules]. Adam Goodale, sergaunt of armys.
3.
A cup made of the shell of an ostrich egg.
Associated quotations
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52194/2 : Clerico buterie..per manus eiusdem pro j ostrich empto ibidem, xij gr.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52241/26 : Pro iiij ciphis de ouo, j ostrich.
4.
Mistransl. of the French: a goshawk.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)157/8 : He hath of certeyn men as þough þei were ȝomen þat kepen bryddes as Ostrycches [F oustours], Gerfacouns, Sparehaukes, faukons gentyls.