Middle English Dictionary Entry
rabīt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | rabīt(e n. Also rabet, rabight. |
| Etymology | ML rabītus; also cp. ON: cp. OI rabītr; both words prob. shortened from L Arabicus adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
An Arabian horse.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)209/4475 : Sire Gii lep on a rabit [vr. rabyght].
- c1330(?c1300) Reinbrun (Auch)p.644 : Heraud lep on arabyte, Þat was meche & noþing lite.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)2337 : In the worlde was not theyr pere; Dromedary, nor destrere, Stede, rabyte [vr. rabet]..That ran so swyfte.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3377 : Off gold weel twenty mennys lyffte Were layd on mule and rabyte [rime: samyte].
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1320 : He..Ridis euen þurȝe þe route..Be rawe of þar rabetis he ruschid to þe erthe.
- c1450 *Bk.Marchalsi (Hrl 6398)11b : Þe rabites be good of Alisaundir and of Cartage.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)1078 : Þe geaunt..com doun..Wyth sper and scheld..An oo rabyte [rime: smite].
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)2202 : Then came the dewke..Armed on a rabete wyght.