Middle English Dictionary Entry
bakke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bakke n. Also bak, bake & balke (?for blake). |
| Etymology | Cp. OSwed. natt-backa, Dan. aften-bakke goatsucker & Icel. leðr-blaka bat. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A bat; ~ wing.
Associated quotations
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Trin-C O.2.21)710 : Bakke [vrr. bak, ?balke; glossing chaufsorriz].
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)812 : Chaufsoris: Bak.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.2.20 : For to worschipe moldewarpis and backis.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)40b/b : Membrana: a bak wyynge & parchemyn.
- a1500(?c1414) ?Brampton PPs.(1) (Sln 1853)p.31 : As a backe, that flyith be nyȝt, I am withdrawyn fro all goodnesse.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)109a/a : An vnguent..of vespertilionez i. bakkez.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)71/16 : Þan come þare flyande..bakkes, grettere þam [!] wilde dowfes, and þaire tethe ware lyke men-tethe.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)5/21 : Take moure egges & þe blode of a bak.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Cock (Hrl 2255)43 : No bakke of kynde may looke ageyn the sunne.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Cock (Hrl 2255)84 : The owgly bakke wyl gladly fleen be nyght.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)723 : Minerva men worschipen..And bringen hure a niht-brid, a bakke or an oule.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)22/21 : Þe enuyous may not see good bi oþere..no more þan a bake [Ayenb. 27: calouwe mous] may suffre to see þe schynyng of þe sonne.
- c1450 in Owst Lit.& Pulpit199 : These backes hath febull yȝen, as philosofres seyn. And the cause is..ther siȝthe passeth into here wynges.
- 1451-1500 Tundale (Wagner)1244 : Þe fendes..hade wynges longe and brade: As bake wynges were þai made.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)15618 : A Bakke at mydday Fleth, and yet may se no syht.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)761/31 : Nomina avium fferorum..Hic vespertilio, Hec lucifuga: a bake.
2.
Some kind of insect that shuns the light. [See ML blatta].
Associated quotations
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)10a/b : Blato: a backe.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)7b : A bake:..blata.