Middle English Dictionary Entry
pigmẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pigmẹ̄ n. Also pigmei, pigmeu; pl. pigmes, etc. & pigmei. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A pygmy.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.11 : Ȝif after þe trauaille of Hercules..a pigmey [L pygmæus] boskeþ hym to bataille..who myȝte þanne leue to laughe?
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.81 : Þerynne beþ men of a cubite longe, and beeþ i-cleped Pigmei [Higd.(2): pigmeis].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)188a/b : Pigmea is a Cuntrey in Inde..þerynne wonnen þe pigmeys, men of litil bodyes vnneþe tweye cubites longe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)188b/a : The pigmeys gendren in þe ferþe ȝeere and eelden in þe seuenthe ȝeere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)295b/b : Pigmei ben litel men of a cubite long.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)295b/b : Plinius spekeþ of pigmeis and seiþ þat pigmei ben armed in Iren.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.27.11 : Pigmeis that weren in thi touris hangiden her arewgirdlis in thi wallis.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)134/11 : Þer ben lityll folk as dwerghes & þei ben to so meche as the Pygmeyes [Man.(2): pigmez].
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)138/37 : All be it þat the Pygmeyes ben lytyll, ȝit þei ben full reasonable.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)395 : Pygmew: Pigmeus.
- c1450 When the son (Frf 16)361 : Sho wol them cure..With her swete byhold..fful euen and lytle of stature Al thogh sho wer of pygmeys nature.