Middle English Dictionary Entry
baien v.
Entry Info
| Forms | baien v. |
| Etymology | OF baiier & abaiier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. abaien.
1.
(a) To bark; ~ at (sb.); (b) of a person: to shout (at sb.).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1142 : Braches bayed þerfore, & breme noyse maked.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)7 : Lowe & le chien baye: þe fox & þe hound bayeþ.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1805 : A kene curre..as bremely as he baies, he bitis neuir þe fastir.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)110/18 : The whyght brachett, that bayed at hym faste.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)286 : Then hys howndys began to baye.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)228/11 : Tho that haue the ouer-lippe vp-rerid..bene endeynous and euyl-sayeris, lykenyd to baynge houndys.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)21 : Bayyn or berkyn a-yene: Relatro.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.235 : Alle þe berdles burnes bayed on him euere, And schorned him.
2.
Of hunting dogs: bring (a quarry) to bay, hold at bay; also fig.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1603 : There watz blawyng of prys in mony breme horne..Brachetes bayed þat best, as bidden þe maysterez..þat were chef huntes.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1909 : Þer bayen hym [a fox] mony bray houndez.
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)21 : Synne to bay..On soules helle houndes slete.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)102 : Þe raches comun rennyng him by, And bayes him full boldely.