Middle English Dictionary Entry
prē̆ssing(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | prē̆ssing(e ger. Also presing, preisinge. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Exerting pressure, pressure, compression; ?med. pressure on, or contraction of, the womb [quot.: a1450]; ~ iren, an iron for pressing clothes; (b) subjection to pressure to expel moisture; pressing to extract wine, oil, etc.; also, squeezing juice from grapes, etc.; also fig.; ~ place, a wine press; (c) ~ on, making entreaty to (sb.), urging; maken ~, to importune; (d) jostling or shoving of a crowd; pressing forward, pushing ahead.
Associated quotations
a
- (1343) *Reading Abbey Tailor's Compotus [OD col.] (Add 19657) : In Reparacione vnius pressynge yryn pro Scissore, viij d.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)86b/b : Also of drynes comeþ streitnesse of pipes and pressinge of þe longoun, & so folewiþ rouȝnes & hoosnes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)96a/b : Humours..stoppiþ sodeinliche weyes of pisse & wringiþ out by strengþe of pressinge [L compressionis].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)315a/a : Þough bitter þinges haue lasse hete þan scharpe þinges of sauour, it..greueþ more by pressyng and þrestyng.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)412 : Pressynge: Compressio.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)32/29 : Of greuaunce of þe marice, as is closynge or spredynge, of tentigo, of pressynge, of extraccioun of þe fetus.
- (1459) *Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls Bundle 34, no.1b [OD col.] : A pressynge yren.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)125a/a : Presse þe wounde wiþ a litil weke baþid in hoot wiyn & wringe out, þat if þer be ony mater wiþinne, it may be putt out wiþ þe pressynge.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Judg.7.25 : He slowȝ Oreb in þe ston of Oreb, zeb forsoþe in þe pressyngplace [WB(2): pressour; L Torculari] of zeb.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)237b/b : It renneþ þe better and þe clennere out of þe draffe in þe wryngyng and pressynge if þe beryes [olives] ben toforehond wel y-powned.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)256b/b : Þe lengere þe wyn after wryngynge and pressynge out of þe presse, þe more clere it is.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15901 : And in a pressour off gret peyne They kan ful offte A man dystreyne..Swych pressyng..Causeth, from a manhys Eye, The salte terys dystylle doun.
- a1500(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Add 10302)2304 : Lerne ye may nowe How liquour is in many maners fownde Owte of thingis that be on grownde; Som bi cuttynge, as terebentyne, Som with pressinge, as sydyre and wyne.
c
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6436 : But thou yeve me my Savyour At Ester, whanne it likith me, Withoute presyng [F faire presse] more on thee, I wole forth and to hym gon.
- a1500(a1400) Cleges (Adv 19.1.11)300 : I schall þe bette euery leth..Yf þou make more pressynge.
d
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1779 : Þorw boistous presing of þe puple there, The grete autere..Was meued fro his place.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)61b : It is nedful to be war þat þe scheltrun of þe oost..be noȝt to narwe yþrust by to hastyf preisynge [vr. preesinge] of þe foloweres.
- c1450 Siege Jerus.(1) (Add 31042)216 : Presynge of [Ld: Þe pope ȝaf pardoun to hem þat passed þer aȝens With processioun & pres, princes & dukes].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)43a/a : This maner of passion [aneurism]..beteþ as an arterie and in pressyng [Ch.(2): takynge; L premendo] yt goþ abacke or away and it turneþ agayne as a rupture.
Note: Additional quotation for sense (a).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1476-78) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.3233 : Paied for the preysing of the bokes of the Chirch, xvj d.
Note: It is difficult to be sure whether this expense is for 'pressing' the church's books (this word, sense (a)), or for 'appraising' the church's books (preisinge ger., sense 3.)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (BodeMus 187:Harvey)f.26v (2.4) : When os [read: on] haþe þe stone in þe vesie..þan is huge peyn & prichyng in þe schore, wiþ..grete difficulte in pyssyng, &..a brennyng in þe ȝerde, & wiþ herd wombe by cause of pressyng & þristing & constreinyng of longaoun.
Note: Additional quot., sense (a).