Middle English Dictionary Entry
Pict n.
Entry Info
| Forms | Pict n. Also piht, peiht, peight, peght, pohete, pehet, pehit, peit(e, pette & (early SWM) peoht, peut. |
| Etymology | OE Peoht, peht, piht (from L) & L Pictī pl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A Pict; (b) a Pygmy.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4948 : Rodric..brohte mid him þe Peohtes [Otho: Peutes], folc of muchele mahte.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4969 : He þa Peohtes ouer-com mid his fæhtes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.147 : Þei beeþ i-cleped Pictes [L Picti] by cause of peyntynge of woundes þat beeþ i-sene on hire bodies.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.159 : The Scottes were..somtyme confederat and wonede wiþ þe Pictes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.255 : Forgyvernus hadde an hondred Pictes out of Albania, þat is, Scotlond.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.361 : Columba..com out of Irlond forto preche to þe norþ Pictes..souþ Pictes were converted..by Ninianus.
- c1390 Vrn.Mir.Virg.(Vrn)139/7 : Out of peihtes lond þer came A kniht þat Rollo was his name.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)188b/a : Pictis, angles, and scottes sayled þider in oolde tyme.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)188b/a : Þey..clepede þe chief toune pictauium by þe name of pictes..and now þat tounne hat Peyters.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)225a/a : Þe rynde of þis tree [beech] is ful profitable and namely among þe north picttis.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)44/22 : Elga..ordeynede þo a grete power of Peihtes [vr. Pehites, peyteis] of Denmarc, of Orkeneye, and of Norwaye.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)47/7 : A Pohete [vr. pette] come to hym [Constantine]..in Message.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)47/11 : Þo Abide þere nomo but þe kyng & þe Pohete [vr. pihte].
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)48/10 : Vortiger..lete sende after a c knyghttes of Pehetes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4125 : Peghttes and paynymes..disspoylles oure knyghttes.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5678 : Marius had god folk ynow, & Peyt Rodryk smertly he slow.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5695 : Rodrik þe Peiht was ded.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5707 : Of two kyndes, Iris & Peiht, Sorewe & tene hit broughte on height.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5809 : Fulgence..felawed hym wyþ þe Peytes, Þat euere were ful of deseites.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)5816 : Fro Scotland in to Þurlewal, Peytes landes þey telde hit al.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7181 : Ylka Peight..seyde..Þat fforteger was more curteys Þan þe kyng.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)48 : Fiue moner of pepull here dwellyd þo..Pictis and Scottys and Hyrysshe also..Denmarkes..And þe Saxsones.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)115 : The Scottes and the Pyctes..bete and oppressid this lande.
b
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)93b : A peght or pigmei: pigmeus.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.149 : >Þe Pikkes occupied…þe norþside of Scotlond.
Note: New spelling pikkes (pl.)