Middle English Dictionary Entry
proinen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | proinen v. Also proine, proigne & proune, prune(n, prwne, pruinen & prene(n; sg.3 proineth, etc. & preineth, praineth; p. prouned & proigned. |
| Etymology | OF poroindre (pr.pl.3 poroignient, puroign-, pouroygnent) & pröoignier, proignier (cp. MnF (Norman dial.) progner). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a bird: to trim the feathers with the beak, preen; -- often refl.; (b) ?to trim the feathers of (a bird); (c) refl. of a person: to dress or groom oneself carefully, preen, prink; fig. his lordshipe..~, preen himself on his lordship, be proud of his own governance.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 Susan.(Vrn)81 : Þe popeiayes perken and pruynen [vrr. prunyn, prenen] for proude.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.2203 : Into an Egle he gan transforme And flyh and sette him on a raile..there he pruneth him and piketh.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.Bishopswood (Ashm 59)27 : Flourra..caused foolis..Hem for to proygne every morowneydge [read: morwenyng].
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Say.Nightingale (Trin-C R.3.20)7 : Fowles..gane hem proygne and droughe hem to þeyre rest.
- c1450(c1400) ?Clanvowe Cuckoo & N.(Frf 16)76 : They pruned hem and made hem ryght gay, And davnseden and lepten on the spray.
- c1460 Chaucer TC (Hrl 1239)2.64 : The swalowe proigned [vr. Songe; Robinson: Proigne] with a sorowful lay.
- a1475 *Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)23b : Whan sche hath cast, latt hyre stand in þe sonne A whyle, þat sche may proyne hire & beke hire & bew hir.
- a1475 *Hrl.Diseases Hawk B (Hrl 2340)35a : Þat sche may prune hir & beke hir & bew hir.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking in Studia Neoph.16 (Hrl 2340)11 : Draw her vnto the house till she be dry; And afterwardes put her oute agayn to prowne and spalch herself.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf a vi/a : The termys that belong to hawkys..The vi, youre hawke proynith and not pikith, and she prenyth not bot whan she begynnyth at hir leggys, and fettheth moystour like oyle at hir taill.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.64 : The birdis..said..'We proyne and play without dout and dangere'.
b
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)154/88 : I xal prune [alt. to: prycke] þat paphawk [alt. to: paddoke] and prevyn hym as a pad.
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2011 : Damyan..kembeth hym; he preyneth [vrr. prayneth, proyneth, prunyht, pruneth] hym and pyketh; He dooth al that his lady lust and lyketh.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)11006 : He may neuere God wel queme Ne his lordship in honour prene Þat spareþ wickednesse to shende.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1486 Sln.Bk.Hawking (Sln 3488)143 : And after þe bathing, set hure on þe faire gresse, oþer on a faire perke in þe son, and then she wol prwne hure and pilth hure.
Note: Additional quot. for sense (a).