Middle English Dictionary Entry
quiver n.
Entry Info
| Forms | quiver n. Also whiver. |
| Etymology | OF quivre, wirre, vars. of cuivre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A quiver, an arrow case; also, a case for a bow [quot.: ?c1475]; (b) fig. the female pudenda; (c) ?an item used in the cooper's trade.
Associated quotations
a
- (1322) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.7334 : Hec est indentura..de quibusdam bonis..videlicet..ix quivers cum quarellis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Gen.27.3 : Take to þi armez qwyuer [WB(2): arewe caas; L pharetram] & abowe, & go forþ out.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)10.2 : Þair bowe þai bent, Þair arwes in a quiuer sente, Þat þai schot.
- (1411) in Rec.B.Nottingham 286 : ij arc[us] cum qwyver et sagittis, xvj d.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.3462 : He was a good archer And bare a bowe stif & wonder stronge..His arwes wern..In a quyuer trussed wonder ner By his side, ay redy to his honde.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)654/9 : Hec feretra: qwywere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)421 : Quyver, for to putt yn boltys: Pharetra.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2375 : My bow..& my bright qwyuer, Arowes and other geire atled I anon.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57359 : Item, the same day my mastyr paid to the said fflecher for a gret quyver wyth a lokke, xx d.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)139a : A Whyver [Monson: Whywer] for bowes: Architesis.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)10.2 : Thai redid thaire aruys in qwyuere..that is, thai haf redy in thaire hertis venymouse wordis and sharpe.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)792/26 : Hoc calamustrum: a quiver.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.26.15 : A doȝter not turnyng awei hirself..aȝen alle arewe shal opene quyuere or arewe caas [WB(2) Gloss.(Cld): that is, schal schewe hir schamefast membris to ech that axith; mannus ȝerde is clepid an arowe at Ebreys].
c
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)807/20 : Cuperus cum suis instrumentis..Hoc aquiscium: a quyver.