Middle English Dictionary Entry
rat n.
Entry Info
| Forms | rat n. Also rat(t)e, rotte; pl. rattes & (error) rattye. |
| Etymology | OE ræt; also cp. OF rat, rate & ML ratus; cp. MDu. ratte, rotte. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A rat; ~ trappe; rattes bait; (b) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.79].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.854 : He..preyed hym that he hym wolde selle Som poysoun that he myghte his rattes quelle.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.605 : What seye we of hem that bileeuen on dyuynailes..by chirkynge of dores or crakkynge of houses, by gnawynge of rattes [vr. rattye] and swich manere wrecchednesse?
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)293b/b : The Catte..haþ þat name mureligus for he is enemy to mys and to rattes [L muribus].
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.200 : Had ȝe rattes [vr. ratones] ȝowre wille, ȝe couthe nouȝt reule ȝowre-selue.
- a1425 May no man (CmbAdd 5943)18 : I-blessyd be such knappes that ȝyveth such smappes vnder my lady lappes to dryve awey the rattys, madame.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)165/15 : Þei eten houndes..Asses, Rattes, & mees, & all maner of bestes.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)1897 : Ȝef hyt [be] eten wyth mows or rat, Dere þow moste a-bygge þat.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)64 : Þere shal neither mows ne ratte gnawe the booke that is ywrete with þis enke.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)208 : Strawe aboue pouder þat ys ymad of rattes, tordes, & of guttys.
- (1457-58) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31246 : Paied .. for rattes beytte, ij s. ob.
- (1469) Acc.St.Michael Cornhill in Camd.102174 : Payed for iij rat trappes for the chirche, vj d.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13704 : I sawh a wekke, Old and hydous..Pyled and seynt as any kaat, And moosy-heryd as a raat.
- a1475 PPl.A(1) (Hrl 875)5.27 : Lest rattis hit eten [Trin-C: He..preyede pernel hire purfil to leue And kepte it in hire coffre for catel at nede].
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf f iv/b : A Grehounde shulde be..Foted like a kat, Tayled like a Rat.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)95/31 : Who hath eyen like a cat oþer a ratte, it is a signe of wodenesse and braynlesse.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)624 : Rotte [glossing:] rato.
b
- (1185) in Pipe R.Soc.345 : In reparatione pontium de Rat.
- (1189-99) Abbrev.Plac.Rich.I18 : Walterus le Rat.
- (1203-4) Assize R.Yks.in YASRS 4410 : Rob.Rat.
- (1222) Domesday Bk.St.Paul in Camd.6988 : Serlo le Rat.
- (1251) Close R.Hen.III520 : John Ratekin.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2857 : Nicholaus le Rat.
- (1310) Court R.Colchester 15 : Adam le Rat.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3213 : Willelmus le Rat.
- (1373) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.104 : Rattesalie.