Middle English Dictionary Entry
pilgrim n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pilgrim n. Also -gram, -grem, -grum, pilegrim, pilgerim, pilegrin, pillegrim, (errors) pygrymes & pelgrim, -grem, pelegrim, peilegrim & pulgrim. |
| Etymology | OF peligrin, pellegrin, vars. of pelerin. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. pelerin.
1a.
(a) A person who travels to a holy place; a pilgrim; also fig.; (b) pilgrimes wede (wedes, clothes, clothing) the clothing of a pilgrim; ~ staf, a staff carried by a pilgrim; appareillen in pilgrim(es wise, to dress as a pilgrim; (c) a crusader; (d) one who journeys about to preach, a missionary; (e) in proverbs.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)15342,15346 : Þe pillegrim him talde al þat he wolde..Brien..saide þat he wes pelegrim, ah pic nefden he nan mid him.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)2470 : Te engles..biburieden hit i þe munt of Synai..from þeonne as ha deide twenti dahene ȝong, & ȝet ma, as pilegrimes, þet wel witen, seggeð.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)178/21 : Oðer pilegrimes gað muche swinc to sechen ane sontes banes, as sein Iames oðer sein giles.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)1154 : Heo..dronk to þe pilegrym.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)2322 : Þe Abbod..þe patria[r]ke of Ierusalem he tolde..So þat forþere in þe ȝere it was wel onder-stonde, Þo pilegrimes [Hrl: Pelegrims] þudere comen out of Engelonde.
- c1300 SLeg.Jas.(LdMisc 108)349 : Seint Ieme..seide..'Ȝwi hast þou mine pilegrim [Hrl: pelgrim] bi-traid?'
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)125/2652 : Þat oþer dragoun is fliȝt nome To seinte Peter is brige of Rome..And who þat nel nouȝt leue me, Wite at pilgrimes, þat þer haþ be.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.26 : Pilgrymes [vr. pilgremes] were they alle That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)7.94 : I wile worsshipe þerewiþ treuþe..And ben his pilgrym [C: pulgrym] at þe plouȝ for pore menis sake.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)109/26 : Sche was a pilgryme purposyng be þe grace of God to SeyntIamys-warde.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3475 : He sees there commande..A renke in a rownde cloke..With scrippe ande with slawyn and skalopis inewe, Both pyke and palme alls pilgram hym scholde.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)41/20 : The prelat of the monkys shewith the relikys to pilgrymmys.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)160/30 : Almyghti God..shewyng how mekull þe labur & expensis of pylgramys plesis hym..sufferd þatt..þe devull come vnto hym.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)97/12 : Ponthus did vpon hym the pylgreme govne, his hatt, and his hosen.
- c1470(?1458) Wey Jerus.(Bod 565)p.15 : Now have I told yow of the placys all That pylgremys sekyth, both gret and small.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)644/28 : This knyght was a grete pylgryme, for every thirde yere he wolde be at Jerusalem.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.2388 : This pilgreme was nedy, egir, and importune And efte soones chaunged arraie, coloure, and clothe.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)514 : Þer sche fond many schyppys stonde, And oon was of þe Holy Lond, Pylegrimys to lede.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)176/36 : And they sawe þe man..haue a-bowte his necke a skrippe and a staf in his hande, as he hadde ben a pilgryme of Seynt Jame.
b
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)6.4 : Hy a lede mette Aparailid as a paynym in pilgrim [vrr. pilgremes; palmeres] wyse. He bar a burdoun..An hundrit of ampollis on his hat seten, Signes of synay & shilles of galis And many crouch in his cloke & keiȝes of rome.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.228 : Cleophas ne knewe hym nauȝte, þat he cryste were, For his pore paraille and pilgrymes wedes [C: pilgrimes cloþes].
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)198/15 : Bryng hedur þat lord of ours þat late seld hys pylgram clothyng.
- a1475 PPl.A(1) (Hrl 875)7.95 : Pilgrimstaf [vr. pykstaf; Trin-C: I wile worsshipe þerewiþ treuþe in my lyue, And ben his pilgrym at þe plouȝ..My plouȝpote shal be my pyk].
c
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1700 : Kyng Richard is a pylgryme, Croysyd into þe Holy Lande.
d
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)15066 : Ȝe are of so fer contre And als pylegryms so seme ȝe, Vs þys newe lawe to preche.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7484 : We, for to drye our penaunce, With hertes pytous and devoute Are commen, as pylgrimes [F pelerin] gon aboute; Wel nygh on fote alwey we go..And thus bothe we ben sente..to yeve ensample and preche also.
e
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.225 : Þat piler, pilgrims and palmers, þat faste con liȝe, clepeþ it Seint Petris corn hepe.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.227 : Pilgryms ful of lesynges clepeþ þis arche and piler Seynt Petres nedle.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)prol.46 : Pilgrimes & palmeris pliȝten hem togidere For to seke seint Iame & seintes at rome; Wenten forþ in here wey wiþ many wise talis, And hadde leue to leiȝe al here lif aftir.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.4772 : Pilgrymes may gon ful ferr in ther passage.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)2123 : And, Lord, this hous in alle tymes Was ful of shipmen and pilgrimes, With scrippes bret-ful of lesinges Entremedled with tydynges.
1b.
A traveler, wayfarer; also fig.; also, a wanderer, wandering beggar.
Associated quotations
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)35/5 : Munekes, kanunekes, ancres, and eremites..forlateð fader and moder..Swa doð pilegrimes ðe lateþ her awen eard and fareð in to oðre lande.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)107/19 : Ða heane & þa pilegrimes [L peregrinorum] ealre ȝeornest beon underfangene.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)178/9 : Þe gode pilegrim halt eauer his rihte wei forðward.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)2024 : Þe while hi speke so, Oure lord him-sulf as a pilgrim þer ȝeode þo.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)253/28-9 : Þe ilke þet is pilgrim and ine oncouþe contraye huer byeþ manye þyeues an robberes þet aspieþ þe pilgrims..ham lokeþ moche þet hi ne ualle ine þe honden of þyeues.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 12.4 : Whan forsoþe amaner pilgrym [L peregrinus] was comyn to þe riche man, he sparynge to taken of þe sheep & of his oxen þat he ȝife a meteschipe..tooc þe sheep of þe poere man.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.27 : And ȝif a pilgryme kneleþ þerto, anon he schal be al fresche.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2041 : The kyng..syh comende ayein his char Two pilegrins..Thei..bede Som of his good par charite.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)139a/a : Myst lettiþ weyfaringe men & pilgrymes, for in grete mystes weyes ben vnknowe & vncerteyn.
- a1400 I sayh hym (Mert 248)8 : I Come vram an vncouþe londe as a sely pylegrym, þet ferr habbe i-souȝt.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)35/7 : Alle sal man comunlike recaiue, And men of religiun and pilgrims.
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)842 : Thei [the Premonstrutensians] made here place; þei made a grete hostel In whech pore men, pilgrymis, and alle nedy Were refreschid.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)1929 : A Priores aw to be prest Forto resaue ilka gude gest..Namely, þam þat er pilgrams knawn.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)38/22 : Þan a pilgrem tolde hym þer he was.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.112/11 : We haue Decreyd..the church of Barton with þe pertinencis..in-to þere owne vses to þe susteynyng of powre men and pilgrymys.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.TWoe (Hrl 2255)30 : Fy on pompe and fy on worldly pride, Whiche bien but pilgrymes passyng to and froo.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)328/99 : Hic venit ihesus in apparatu peregrini. Pylgrymes, whi make ye this mone?
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)329/118 : Art thou a pilgreme thi self alone, walkand in contry bi thyn oone?
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)11836 : He shal shewe him..Þe sixte time to pilgrimes tweie Þat shullen wiþ him to a castel wende.
2.
(a) An alien, a foreigner, a stranger, a sojourner; an exile for the Christian faith [quot.: c1384]; ben ~, to dwell as a foreigner or sojourner; taken ~, receive (a foreigner) as a guest; (b) as adj.: alien, foreign; (c) an unorthodox doctrine; as adj.: unorthodox.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)86/34 : Hi..wylneþ þane dyaþ ase deþ..þe pylgrym his contraye.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)68.11 : Ich am made strange to my breþer and pilgrime to þe childer of my moder.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.16.10 : A man..kynrede of macedo & alien fro þe blood of persis..A pilgrym is taken of vs.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.19.16 : He was of þe hil of effraym, & a pilgrym dwellide in gaba.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.26.3 : Rest þou in þe lond þat I schall sey to þe, & be pylgrime in it.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)3 John 5 : Moost dere, thou doist feithfully what euer thou werchist in to britheren and this thing in to pilgrimys [WB(2) Gloss.: here pilgrimes ben seid feithful men, whiche the vnfeithful men castiden out of her citees for the feith of Crist].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)152b/a : And a welle..comyneþ and partiþ of him self als wele to pilgrimes and strangers as to men of cuntre.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6835 : To pilgrime [Göt: pilgerim] and to vncuth þou ber þe wit þi dedis cuth.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Gen.47.4 : We camen in to thi lond to be pilgrymys [Roy 1.C.9 adds: that is, to dwelle for a tyme].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)9a/b : Barginus..a pilgrim of anoþer cuntre.
- c1425 *Wycl.Concord.(Roy 17.B.1)109b : Pilgrimes ȝelden witnessyng to þi charitee.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)398 : Pylgreme:..proselitus.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3631 : Þe seuene dedys of mercy, whoso hadde vre To fylle, þe hungry for to geue mete..Þe pore or þe pylgrym hom for to fette.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)278 : A Pilgrame: peregrinus..extraneus, exoticus.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ruth 2.10 : Whennys to me þis þat I fynde grace beforn þi eȝyn þat þou deyne to knowe me, a pilgrym womman?
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Zeph.1.8 : Y shal visite..vpon alle that ben clothid with pilgrim or straunge clothing.
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.13.9 : Nile ȝe be ledd a wey with dyuerse techingis, and pilgrym, or straunge [vrr. pilgryms or strange; pilgrimis streyng forth fro bileue].
3.
Fig. A man or soul as an alien, a sojourner, traveler, or pilgrim; esp. one whose home or destination is heaven, etc.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)179/6 : Hwa is þenne skerre..þen pilegrimes? þet is to seggen, þen þeo men þe..gað untrusset..toward heouene.
- ?c1335 Lollai lollai (Hrl 913)25 : Child, þou ert a pilgrim in wikidnis ibor; Þou wandrest in þis fals world.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)257/1 : Þet is þe cite of paradis þet þe guode pilgrims zecheþ.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.38.13 : Lord..a comeling I am anentis þee & a pilgrym [L peregrinus] as alle my fadris.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Heb.11.13 : Thei ben pilgrymes and herborid men vpon the erthe.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2848 : This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo, And we been pilgrymes [vr. Pelgremes] passynge to and fro.
- c1390 Hilton ML (Vrn)281 : Seint Poul seiþ þat, as longe as we are in þis bodi, we are pilgrimes fro vre lord, þat is, we are absent fro heuene in þis exile.
- a1400 DCChrist (Roy 17.B.17)61 : Þou flesshe..þou wonnes in þi cuntrey, & þo soule, pilgryme & flemyng, is herberwid with þe.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)175/5 : As alienys and pilgrimes absteyne ȝou fro fleshly lustis þat fyȝten aȝen þe soule.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)85/33 : Euery citizen of þe heuenli countre is a pilgrime of þis world for al tyme of þis present lijf.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)86/17,24 : Prestis ben pilgrimes þat studien holi writ..þou doist feiþfulli what euer þou doist to oure briþeren & namli in to pilgrimes þat prechen þe gospel.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1379 : We duelle here als aliens, To travail here in þe way our lyms, Til our countre-warde als pilgryms.
- ?a1425(c1390) Chaucer Truth (Benson-Robinson)18 : Forth, pilgrim [vr. pylgrum], forth!..Know thy contree, look up, than God of al.
- ?a1450 Sel.Rosarium Theol.(Cai 354/581)80/30 : Euery man is a pilgreme.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)983 : For erþe is nouht our eritage..But we ben pore pilegrimus put in þis worde.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)207 : Heere endeth the romaunce..which is maad for good pilgrryme, that in this world swich wey wole holde that he go to good hauene.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.TWoe (Hrl 2255)6 : To erthly pilgrymes that passen to and froo, Fortune shewith..How this world is a thurghfare ful of woo.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)38.17 : Ay, i am passand til the and pilgrym fra my cite of heuen, bot i thynke ay thidere..some ere pilgryms with the deuel..and til him thai ga.
4.
Astrol. A planet which occupies none of the positions in the zodiac that could heighten its influence.
Associated quotations
- a1500 *MS Ashm.3375b : And whan a planet hath none of thes 5 digniteis, than he is clepid a pilgryme.
5.
(a) The name of a drinking cup; (b) in the name of a horse; (c) as surname and place name.
Associated quotations
a
- (1328) Mazers in Archaeol.50179 : Ciphus parvus qui dicitur pylegrim.
b
- (1348-9) in Beltz Garter383 : Cursor..Bayard Pilgryme.
c
- (1251) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.1313 : Radulphus Peylegrim.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 1533 : Godefrido Pilegrim.
- (1297) Visit.St.Paul in Camd.n.s.5524 : Willelmus Pilgrim.
- (1302) Close R.Edw.I562 : John Pylgrym.
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.197 : [A vacant plot of land in the west part of the town by] Pygrymesput.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)644/30,33 : Bycause he used all his lyff to go in pylgrymage, men called hym deuke Aunserus the Pylgryme. And this deuke had a doughter..bycause of her fadir..called Alys le Beall Pylgryme.