Middle English Dictionary Entry
pers(e n.(1) & adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | pers(e n.(1) & adj. Also perce, piers. |
| Etymology | OF pers, perce, piers. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Blue, bluish; purplish; blue-grey; ~ bleu; (b) as noun: one such color; cloth of such color; a kind or quality of cloth; ~ bleu.
Associated quotations
a
- (1414) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.2 : [5 cloths of] ray, [the field being] piersblewe.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2573 : And þe raynbow, grene, red, and pers, Signifieth þe changis ful diuers Þat ofte falle in werre and bataille.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.594 : Sondri floures, white, red, and pers..Vp-on her stalke gynne droupe & fade.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)67 : The ground..hath hewes an hundred payre Of gras and flouris, ynde and pers [F perses], And many hewes ful dyvers.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)1730 : A ryche robe vpon his bak Was [read: Whos] colour..was nat stable..Now blak, now white, now Iawne and rede, Now grene and perse.
b
- (1281) Doc.in HMC Rep.6 App.582 : [He feloniously..took away one gown of] pers blew [in which his wife was attired].
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.439 : In sangwyn and in pers [vr. perce] he clad was al Lyned with taffata and with sendal.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.617 : A long surcote of pers [vrr. Peers; pers blewe; blew] vp on he hade.
- c1390 RSicily (Vrn)234 : Þe angel welcomede þe messangers And ȝaf hem cloþes riche of pers, Furred al wiþ ermyne.
- (1414) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.3 : [5] doseins [of] persblewe, [3] doseins [of] asure blewe.
- (1418) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.41 : [5 yards of scarlet and 5 yards of cloth of] persblieu.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1662 : Sche koude..in wynter with flouris fresche of hewe Araye þe erþe With many colour..Of white and rede, grene, ynde and pers.
- (1459) Invent.Fastolf(2) in Paston Letters (Gairdner)3.176 : Item, ij hodys of perce blewe.
- (1465) Paston2.315 : The Capteyn..toke a-wey..j govne of fyn perse blewe furryd with marterns.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1443) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 828 : For strawe of the perse, vi s. viii d.
Note: This quot. removed to persoune n.(2)