Middle English Dictionary Entry
pẹ̄pe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pẹ̄pe n. |
| Etymology | ?Imitative; late ME ẹ̄ for earlier ī; cp. pīpe n.(1) 3.(e), and pīpen v.; but cp. F (16th cent.) pepier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The sound made by a mouse or bird; (b) ~ of chikenes, a flock of chickens.
Associated quotations
a
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)364 : A mouse on a tyme felle into a barell of newe ale..The Cate come beside, and herde the mouse Crie in the barme, 'pepe! pepe!' for she myght not come out.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.57 : Now, suete bird, say ones to me 'pepe' [rime: slepe].
b
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf f vii a/a : A Pepe of chykennys.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Sense (b) may belong to pipe n.(3), sense (a).