Middle English Dictionary Entry
raiment n.
Entry Info
| Forms | raiment n. Also rameunt, raimen. |
| Etymology | Shortened form of arraiment n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Clothes, clothing; also, an article of attire; (b) a cloth covering for a bed or an altar; (c) ornament, adornment.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 Macaron.Serm.(Bod 649)2:225 (p.67) : Videbis raymen cum tribus liripipiis magnis and wastful cloþinge, feminas cum longis caudis et amplis cornibus.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)23/46 : Let eueriche of vs all enserche wel hys owne consciens, & loke vor he hanat prowd in rameunt, in beryng, or ell en any vertu þat God haue sent hym.
- c1475 Body Pol.(Cmb Kk.1.5)53/4 : The chapelett..was a propir rayment that they vsed at that tyme like as we may say a mytre.
- a1500 RSicily (Cmb Ff.2.38)285 : All men wondurde fro whens he came, So well hys rayment sate hym one.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)27 : Bedclothe, or a rayment for a bed: Lectisternium.
- (1458) Will York in Sur.Soc.30227 : Sir Thomas desireth..that thai delyver to the forsaid William..alle the rayment of the awters of the birds of velvet, with the vestement of the same sorte.
c
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)371/7 : Þe rayment of þis cytee is pite & mercy, for þe tyraunt of riches which vside cruelte is pullid awey þennys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)422 : Rayment, or arayment [KC: ornament]: Ornatus, ornamentum.