Middle English Dictionary Entry
balteren v.
Entry Info
| Forms | balteren v. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. Dan. baltre, boltre move about, etc., & ODan. bolte roll about; cp. also MnE (Yks. dial.) balter. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To move about clumsily; totter, hobble, tumble about.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)103 : Þay ben boþe blynde and balterande cruppelez.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)459 : Þenne watz þe gome so glad of his gay logge..So blyþe of his wodbynde he balteres þer vnde[r], Þat of no diete þat day þe deuel haf he roȝt.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)782 : He [the bear] baltyrde, he bleryde, he braundyschte ther-after; To bataile he bounnez hym with bustous clowez.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)4402 : As a best þat was blynd he balturd furth þem by.