Middle English Dictionary Entry
pīrā̆t(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pīrā̆t(e n. Pl. pīrā̆tes & (Latinate) pīrātī, & (errors) pyraces, perretes. |
| Etymology | OF pirate & ML pīrātus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A pirate, sea-robber; ?also, a fabulous boat supposed to sail under water [1st quot.]; (b) fig. a plunderer, despoiler; (c) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6174 : Shippes hij habbeþ yhote pirates [LinI: pyraces]; Jn þe water ben her gates. Hij ben made of hosyers..And bounden al wiþ touȝ rynde..So swifte vnder þe water hij rideþ So any shippe abouen glideþ.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3182 : She fledde þe contre, And of a pyrat taken in the see, To kyng lygurgus brouht In al her drede.
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)397/12 : Hyngwar and Vbba..dide here peyne To stuffe ther shippis with gret meyne, Lyk as piratis to robbe upon the se.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6818 : Pirrus..was a rouere and robbed on the se..Off such robbyng be sclaundre & be diffame This woord Pirat off Pirrus took the name.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.2096 : This noble Pompeie..Vpon the se wolde suffre no pirat; Wher-euer he cam, from hym thei dede flee.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)23963 : Thes ben the handes thre, which that theves (by assent) ar wont to vsen (of entent), I mene, pyratys of the Se, which brynge folk in pouerte.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)306 : Antonius..Emperour in þe cite of Rome..sawe howe þat pirati..scil. thevis of þe see, hadde taken the sone of a gret myȝty man, And brouȝt him in to þe prison.
- a1500 MSerm.Mol.(Adv 19.3.1)83 : He see all the perretes on the see.
b
- a1475 Asneth (Hnt EL 26.A.13)893 : Ha, cruell deeth..Thu are to alle creatures hidous to beholde, Thu pyllour, thu pirate, cesse of þi prise.
c
- (1254) R.Knight's Fees in Archaeol.Cant.12209 : Radulphus Pyrot.
- -?-(1210-12) Red Bk.Exch.in RS 99528 : Radulfus Pyrat.