Middle English Dictionary Entry
perrī(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | perrī(e n. Also peri, perrei(e, perreiȝe & perrẹ̄, pere(i & pirre, pirri & (errors) parre, pervi. |
| Etymology | AF perree, pirie; cp. CF pierrerie. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A jewel, kind of precious stone; also fig.; (b) jewelry, precious stones; also fig.; (c) a pearl; (d) a case or pyx; ~ box, ?a jewelry case, ?a jeweled case.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 Hrl.978 Vocab.(Hrl 978)559/17 : Lapis lazuli, i. pere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1397 : The sterre ellefþe is Venenas..Of Adamant is that perrie In which he worcheth his maistrie.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)156/44 : Haile, perre, patrearkis to gyde!
- (1435-6) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 7837 : Item, for sowynge of perres & of the ammyse & of the frontell to dyverse vestements at ii tymes, viii d.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)53 : Þanne of-saw he..þat semliche child..cloþed ful komly..In gode cloþes of gold a-greþed ful riche wiþ perrey and pellure.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3550 : He wan Hir chaar that was with gold wroght and perree [vr. perre].
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2936 : The fyr was couched first with stree..And thanne with grene wode and spicerye And thanne with clooth of gold and with perrye.
- c1390 Heil be þow Marie Moodur (Vrn)66 : Heil perle, of al perey þe pris.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)272 : Hit is a vilenye to a mon for to be curiousli arrayed vpon his hed wiþ perre & precious stones.
- c1390 RSicily (Vrn)237 : Þe angel welcomede þe messangers And ȝaf hem cloþes riche of pers..And al was chouched mid perre.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1135 : The cloth of gold and the Perrie He takth.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.344 : Ye wommen shal apparaille yow..nat in tressed heer and gay perree [vrr. parre, perre] As perles, ne with gold ne clothes riche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)187b/b : Sardinium..is bettir þan marbul and most profitable among perreye [L gemmas].
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)2.12 : Alle here fyue fyngris were frettid wiþ rynges Of þe pureste perreiȝe [vrr. perreye, perrye, perry, perre] þat prince werde euere.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1117 : Perle praysed is prys þer perre is schewed.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)730 : Þer is þe blys þat con not blynne Þat þe jueler soȝte þurȝ perre pres, And solde alle hys goud..To bye hym a perle watz mascellez.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.996 : Aboue, reysed was a se, Ful coriously of stonys and perre.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1106 : Sho..cled him seþin in..A girdel ful riche for þe nanes Of perry and of preciows stanes.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)9005 : Na mare comparyson may be made Bitwene þe cite of heven, wyde and brade, And swilk a cete made of gold and perre.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1201 : Upon a thikke palfrey, paperwhit..Sit Dido, al in gold and perre [vrr. perrye, perrey] wrye.
- (1434-5) Will York in Sur.Soc.3051 : Lego ecclesiæ parochiali de Chestirfeld..unam pixidem ornatam cum argento deauratam et fretted cum pervy [read: perry].
- ?1435 Lond.Chron.Jul.(Jul B.2)51 : The kyng, syttyng, took a coronall of Perry, and putte on his heede.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.2313 : His riche perre, his roial apparaile..Was brouht aforn hym.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)369 : Hir faxe in fyne perrye frette was in fowlde.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2461 : The schalkes..Buskes in batayle..Appayrellde with perrye and precious stones.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10042 : An helm he had on his hed..A riche corounal wiþ perre, al of brent golde.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)16b : Þer nys neyþer Gaynes of garnementis, gold ne siluer ne schining of precious perrey [vr. stones] þat makiþ oure enemyes sugettis ne obedient vnto vs.
- a1450 PNoster R.Hermit (Westm-S 3)19/23 : Noþer ȝaf he hem robes of skarlet ne of grene, keuerchefes ne garlondes wiþ perry frettid.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)124 : Me mette I was Withyn a temple ymad of glas, In which ther were..with perre moo pynacles..then I saugh ever.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3954 : Þai mett him full manerly..With presentes of pirre & many proude giftis.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)16488 : Þe chambers dyd þei dyȝt..of gold burnyscht bryȝt and pyrry couchyd full clene.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)409 : Þat simulacre of the sonne..stode ful strauȝt..Of goolde and perre ful riche withalle.
- c1470 Bible F.(Cleve-W q091.92-C468)81/9 : And tofore that sate Cayphas..in a cheire..garnisshid with..rubies..saphirs..and with much othir riche perree.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)1612t : The helme was dyght rychely With pipes of gold and ryche pery.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Horns (LdMisc 683)9 : Ryche attyres of stonys and perre..Shewe in dirknesse lyght where so they be.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)330 : Wondur rychely sche was cladde, In golde and ryche perre [rime: free, tree, blee].
- a1500 Rolle MPass.(2) (CmbAdd 3042)96 : Swete lord Ihesu, make me touȝ as metal aȝens temptaciouns, & precious as perre in to þe hiȝ degre of charite.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)443/162 : All that might excyte lecherye, perrelles and precyouse perrye, agaynst thy byddinge used I.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)394 : Perre, perle: Margarita.
d
- (1410) *Will Banham (Somerset Ho.) [OD col.] : Lego..uxori mee j perebox argenti.
- -?-(1411) Will in Som.RS 1652 : [I bequeath..one pix called] Pere.