Middle English Dictionary Entry
baleine n.
Entry Info
| Forms | baleine n. Also blein, balene, balan, baloygne. |
| Etymology | OF & ML |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A whale; (b) the flesh of a whale.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)700 : Þe fis þat brac þi seyne, Hy wis hyt was som bleine.
- (1333) *MS Lord Treas.Remembrancer Mem.Rolls 105, m.157 [OD col.] : Circa capcionem..unius piscis vocati balayn..capti in costera aque de Humbre.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.13 : Þere beeþ ofte i-take dolphins, and see calues, and baleynes [L balænæ], grete fisches as hit were of whales kynde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)161b/a : Þe whale and balena is al one; and baleyne ben swiþe grete and huge..he þroweþ watres hier þan oþer grete fysshe of þe see, ffor balyn is to menyng oute castynge.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)103a : Þe see muskeles, þogh þei ben litel, ȝit doth þei grete esement ofte to þe grete baleyne or whaale.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)704 : Hic cetus, a whalle..Hec balena, a balene.
b
- 1419 Liber Albus Lond.in RS 12.1224 : Karke de baleyne, xii d.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)193 : Of eche samon, j d. Of eche quintal of balayn, iiij d.
- c1450 Brut-1431(1) (Eg 650)447/7 : Þe ryall seruyce to the Quene..ffirment with Baleyne.
2.
Whalebone, baleen.
Associated quotations
- (c1312) Will Durham in Sur.Soc.217 : Arcus de Balayn.
- (c1312) Will Durham in Sur.Soc.218 : j aketon rubeum cum manucis de Balayn xl s..Cirotecae de balayn xij d.
- (1322) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.7334 : j balista ad pedem de balayne.
- a1350 Most i ryden (Hrl 2253)53 : When y byholde vpon hire hond, þe lylie-white lef in lond best heo mihte beo; eyþer arm an elne long, baloygne mengeþ al bymong.
- (1337) Close R.Edw.III29 : [Crossbows of] balayn.
- (1394) Wardrobe Acc.Rich.II in Archaeol.62509 : Georgius Cordawaner..In vij paribus de pykes de baleyne emptis pro domino..v s.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)1217 : Al hard bycom his skyn Als eny balayn [vrr. baleyn, balyn] or horn to hewe yn.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3002 : Off balayn boþe scheeld and targe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4851 : In bole & in balan buskes he his fotes [L fecit sibi subtalares lineos].
- c1450 Eglam.(Clg A.2)p.52 : Hys [the dragon's] sydys hard as balayne was.