Middle English Dictionary Entry
ban n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ban n. Also banne & bāne, bayn(e, beyn. |
| Etymology | OE geban(n & OF ban. The OF word (from Gmc.) was Anglicized both as bān and as ban. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A proclamation or edict of an overlord; also, a summons by proclamation; crien (blouen) the ~; (b) one of the banns of marriage; asken (crien, greden, spiren) the ban(n)es; (c) a proclamation of a forthcoming performance of a play, a prologue; crien the banes, ban crier.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 S.Leg.Faith(1) (LdMisc 108)19 : Is bedeles a-boute he sende To crie a-boute in eche strete, Ȝif men miȝhte ani finde Cristine men oþur womman..Þe banne was þus icried.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3881 : Of þis rounde table is ban [B (Pep 2014): bayne] aboute he sende, þat ech a witesonetyd to carleon wende.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11967 : Þere it was despepled, þe edit ywis; Þat was þe ban of kenigwurþe, þat was lo þis, Þat þer ne ssolde of heiemen deserited be none.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2252 : Herkenes nowe..wich a cri has be cried..þe bane is so maked.
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)80 : To weche selynge lat crye þe bans [vr. banes; F crie li ban] þorgh þe town þe þridde day by-fore þe selynge.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)95 : At þi banne we haf broȝt, as þou beden habbez, Mony renischche renkez.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)16.391 : Anon the kyng let the banes Crye Thorwhe Al his lond..That Al his lond Cristendom Scholde take.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)166 : Al þe werld myn nam is ment, al a-bowtyn my bane is blowe.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)485 : Than was the ban cried [F li bans cries], that eche man sholde go on whiche part that he wolde.
b
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)69/1947 : Me schal maky þe cryes At cherche oppe holy dayȝes þre Byfore þe poeple þryes..erþe þe banes [be] y-gred [etc.].
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)203 : Do ryȝt as seyn the lawes, Aske the banns thre halydawes.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)60/27 : Alle preestys þat..solemnysen ony matrymonye, wythoute þe banys askyd.
- a1500 Form OMatrim.(Add 30506)5 : I aske þe banes betwen I de B and A de C; ȝif any man or woman kan sey or put any lettenge of sybrede, wherfor they may not ne owght not to come togedere be lawe of holy chirche, do vs to wete.
- ?a1500 Forms Notice (Yk-M 16.M.4)p.xvi : I spyrr ye beynis off ye forsayde N and N; iff yr be any man can tell us any lettyng or impediment [etc.].
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)22 : Bane of a pley: Banna, coragium.
- (1467-8) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.524a : Paied in exspences of oure bane cryars of oure play 20d.
- (c1470) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.525a : Paied to the pleyars of Stone, crying the banes here 3s. 4d.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)8a : A Bayn [vr. bane] of A play: preludium, proludium.
2.
(a) A troop of warriors summoned by their overlord; (b) bane cruces, crosses marking the boundary of the territory subject to the edicts or laws of a certain ruler [cp. OF banlieue].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)390 : Þar aȝte men [boþ] in worre..Ich folȝi þan aȝte manne, An flo bihiȝte in hore banne.
b
- (1228) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.7451 : Cruces Attelstani quae dicuntur bane cruces.