Middle English Dictionary Entry
rẹ̄d n.(3)
Entry Info
| Forms | rẹ̄d n.(3) Also rede, rehed, reid, ried(e, rid(e, rod(e & (chiefly WM & SW) reod(e, rud, (SW) roed, rued, (early) hreod & (error) yrede; pl. redes, etc. & (error) redelys; pl. or coll. red(e, rehed, riede, (early) reode, ræode; (in place names) redde-, ret-, rep-, ri-, rip-, rot-, ru-, ruthes-, radde-, rap-. |
| Etymology | OE hrēod; pl. or coll. hrēod; pl.dat. h)rēþum. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Any of various varieties of reed plant; ~ spir, a reed stalk; (b) sugar cane Saccharum officianarum; ?also, some other plant yielding a sweet substance [lst quot.]; (c) one or another species of a plant found in the Middle East and Central Asia; ?bamboo; ~ rishe; (d) ?a fragrant reed of some kind; ~ aromatic; (e) coll. or pl. reeds in clumps or beds; reedy places; ~ bed [OE hrēod-bedd]; ~ diche, ~ fen, ~ holm, ~ mersh, ~ pitte; (f) ~ sparoue, a common British bird that lives in reedy places; ?the reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus; ?the sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobænus.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 Hrl.978 Vocab.(Hrl 978)556/42 : Arundo, i. rosel, i. reod.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)392 : En estange crest arounde; In the pole growith reede.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.19.6 : Þe reed [L Calamus] & þe resshe shal welewyn.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)214a/b : A Reeod hatte arundo and is mene bitwene a tree and an herbe..and is smoþe wiþoute and holough wiþinne and is ynorisshed in marreys and waggiþ wiþ þe wynde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)219a/b : Som reed is ful of piþþe wiþinne and many knottes..and þer is smal reed þat..haþ þynne stalkis and ful harde and..nouȝt ful of knottes.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)11b/b : Canna: a rud. Cannella.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)102/28 : By þe aire þerfore and þe dwellynge..made colde wiþ spredynge of vyne leues and of wylowe leues, of rede leues and of resshen.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)426 : Reed, of the fenne: Arundo, canna.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.400 : Faat reed of mire, ygrounde & tempred tough, Let daube hit on the wough on vche aside.
- a1450 WBible(2) (Corp-C 147)Job 8.11 : Reed [Roy: Whether a rusche may lyue with out moysture, ethir a spier may wexe with out watir].
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)77b/a : Or ellis for þe rotis of Canne, þou miȝte take þe rote of reedis, þat is seid to drawen out boonys or yren or oþir siche wiþouten ony greuaunce.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)51/3 : That stomak is likened to a fire that brenneth but reedis [Caritate: rede spyris], lockers, and sotell wode.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)711/32 : Arundo: a red.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)214a/b : In pondis of ynde groweþ a reed, & out of þe rootis þer of þey wryngeþ ful swete sauour and licour.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)219a/b : Þer is oþer reed ful of sweete piþ and is schrud smale and ysode wiþ softe fuyre in a Caudroun for to he be þikke.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)258a/b : Sugure..comeþ of certeyn canes and reedes þat groweþ..faste by þe ryuer nilus, & þe Ius of þilke canes hatte Canna mellis, and of þat Ius is sugre y-made.
c
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5055 : Þe water was ful of longe reede.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)126/33 : In þat lake growen reedes [F arundines], þat ben cannes þat þei clepen Thaby, þat ben xxxti fadme long..And also of þo cannes þei maken houses and schippes.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)95/8 : Þare er also oþer redez [F kannes] of less quantite; and vnder þaire rotes men findes precious stanes of grete vertu.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)104/9-10 : On þase bankes þare growed redis wonder grete and hye. Of þase redes garte Alexander mak bates.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3832 : Þan comes þaim to a castell..made all of redis.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3858 : It was..Umby-thonred with a thike wod..all of þe Rede ryse.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4206 : He..Callid to his carpentars..Bad make him..a barge all of redis.
- a1500 *Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)121 : Nat fer from me in desert placis a floode to me appiered, whos hithes was clad with Riede of lx feete.
- a1500 *Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)178 : We sawe men..made..of the Rounde Reedis smale litel botis.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.43.24 : Þou boȝtist not to me with siluer a reed [WB(2): swete smellynge spicerie; L calamum].
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1344 : The piertre, the olyue..Wex gret..The amomum, the rede aromatyke.
e
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10064 : Summe heo gunnen wondrien, swa doð þe wilde cron..þenne his floc is awemmed &..hundes in þan reode mid reouðe hine imeteð.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10849 : Þat is a seolcuð mere..mid fenne & mid ræode [Otho: reode].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.67.31 : Blame þe wilde bestis of þe reed [WB(2): reheed].
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.134 : [A] reedholme [worth 10 s. net yearly].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6530 : A Beeste þere is..ycleped monoceros. Jn marreis and redes is his wonyng.
- (1439) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.513 : Also x acre of resshefen and redfen at Bregge.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)426 : Reed pytte, or fenne: Cannetum, arundinetum.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)302 : A Rede bede: Arundinetum, cannetum.
- ?a1500 Trin-C.LEDict.Suppl.(Trin-C O.5.4)561/4 : Acorsus: Redmerche.
- a1525(?1421) Cov.Leet Bk.31 : Allso the Red-dyche be enlargid of the breed he owithe to haue of ryght cours.
f
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)702/24 : Palustris, a redesparowe.
2.
(a) A reed stalk; ?also, a stalk of bamboo; also, the reed stalk as a material [quots.: c1350, ?1440]; staf of ~; (b)coll. or pl. reeds used to thatch buildings, cover timber or windows, light candles, etc.; also, coll. roofing straw [quot.: 1415-16]; ~ rope, ?a rope used for securing reed thatch to a roof, etc.; ?a rope made of reeds; ~ thak, reed thatch; (c) a reed stalk used in writing; a reed pen; (d) a reed stem used as a musical pipe; oten ~, a pipe made of an oat stalk; pipen in ~, to waste one's time, wait in vain; (e) ~ pipe, a reed pipe; -- mistransl. of L calamus in the sense 'reed pen'; (f) an arrow; ?also, a dart [quot.: c1400; this quot. may belong in (g)]; (g) an Instrument of the Passion; ~ spere (spir, yerde), kineyerde of ~, staf o (of) ~; (h) a reed or reedlike measuring rod; mesure of ~, ~ of mesure; (i) a Hebrew unit of length; bi (with) ~, as equaling a reed; (j) a sapling; also, a stalk, branch, or twig of a plant [1st quot.]; (k) transl. of L harundo: hobbyhorse, cane horse.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)342 : M. may a webbe warpe..On a stake of pere-tre..Wouyn thorue slay; Fait daronde et de leme; Made of yrede [read: rede] and of birche.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.81 : Of a gobet bytwene tweie knottes of a rede in Ynde me makeþ a boot.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)145b/b : A stork smytiþ oþir flappiþ wiþ hire byle and makeþ a noyse, as it were wiþ a cane oþir a greet reed.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)149/5 : Þe foorme of þe canne of þe lungis is as it were þe foorme of a cane, þat is to seie, a rehed, of þe which rehed þe fourþe partie were kutt awey in lenkþe.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6423-4 : Hij..han..Bot a litel hole in her chyn..Whan hij shullen notye ouȝt selcouþ, A rede hij putten in her mouþ, And hij souken by þe rede -- Jch wene it be mylk.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)11b/a : Canalis: holȝ as a rede.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)149a/b : Also, as it were a maner wulle þe whiche is founden wiþ inne þe rede..and þe lanugo of þe rede bi himsilf allone, when it maie be put in þe fistule, it sufficeþ wiþouten enye oþer exsiccatiue medicyne.
- (1431) Rec.St.Mary at Hill26 : Also iiij stavis of red clothid with damaske.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.967 : He wol with yuer or with reed deuyde Hem vppon iiij.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)277/20,22 : He gatt hym a long rede..& he put þe vpper end of þe rede in at a hole, & he spakk in att þe toder end.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)23b/a : Þei ben seid þe firste peire senewis, and þei ben holowȝ as a reed.
b
- (1355-6) Sacrist R.Ely 2167 : In j upteye, ij rederopes, j line.
- (a1395) Acc.Savoy in Archaeol.24313 : [Paid for] ml ml garb' de reede [bought for covering the said timber].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)219a/b : In þe north londe men thakken here houses wiþ reed wel and hongeþ often þe reed in here dennes to make hem hyly delicious.
- (1415) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2322 : Item, in una garba de redde, j d..Item, pro candelis.
- (1415-16) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103612 : Item, in tectura straminea vocat. rede empt..pro domibus.
- 1419 Liber Albus Lond.in RS 12.1337 : Item, si ascun mesoun..soit covert dautre coverture qe tilles, plumb, piere, et nemy par reed ou streyin.
- (1432) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)211 : Item, paie pur Reeds cariage et ij laborerez pur closyn de lez ij Gabyll Wyndousz et tut lezautresz Wyndous lattes et twygges et touz costes.
- (1432-3) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)226 : Also payd for þe settyng vp of þe Reed of our halle wyndous, Summa xx d.
- (1448-50) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)308 : Item, Payed to Richard Dekyn for rede j c demi and straw to couere þe walles and þe towr and caryage of þe sayde rede be water and by lande.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)63b : Þey þat haueþ wel swymmy[n]g hors, þey mowe [make] hem-selue scheues or fagettis or knycches or swathes, y-swaþed to gidre of drye reedis..and so drawe ouer liȝt cariage teyed to here hors tail.
- a1500 Hæc sunt Londonis (Trin-C O.9.38)p.178 : Hæc sunt Norwycus..Flynt valles, rede thek.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)219a/b : A writynge penne hatte Calamus scriptural..A reed it hatte, for in olde tyme men vsed to write wiþ reed.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)219a/b : Such reed is good to wryte wiþ.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)11a/a : Calamus: a rud or a pen.
d
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.11 : Also who wolde schoute to skorne, Ȝif I pipe wiþ an otene reed [L avena].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1031 : Men dede him worschipe..That he the ferste..Was which the melodie fond Of Riedes, whan thei weren ripe, With double pipes forto pipe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)334b/a : Pan..ioyned diuerse reedes and arrayed hem to songe.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1791 : Hym lyst..lete his brother blowe in an horn Wher that hym lyst or pypen in a red.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)8a/b : Aulex: a pip with reod.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1221 : Tho saugh I..Many thousand tymes twelve..That maden lowde mynstralcies In..many other maner pipe, That craftely begunne to pipe, Bothe in doucet and in rede [rime: brede].
e
- a1400 NVPsalter (Eg 614)44.2 : Mi tung rede-pipe [L calamus] mot maister be, Writer of swiftli writand.
f
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.77 : Þe childe losed and schette, and hitte þe charbuncle stoon wiþ a reed [vr. rued].
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.50 : 'Aue, rabbi,' quaþ þat ribaud; reodes [B vrr. rides, redelys] shotte at hus eyen.
g
- a1250 Lofsong Lefdi (Nero A.14)207 : Ich bide þe..bi þe þornene crununge, bi ðe kineȝerde of rode him of scornunge.
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)281 : Siðen ȝette buffetet and to dunet i þe heaued wið þe red ȝerde þat te was ear in honde ȝiuen þe on hokerringe.
- (a1333) Herebert My volk (Add 46919)30 : Kynges of chanaan ich uor þe boet, And þou betest myn heved wyþ roed.
- c1350 NPass.(Rwl C.655)138/1214b : Ȝit hii grette him wiþ god spede In his riȝt honde to hold a rede.
- ?a1425(?c1350) NHom.(3) Pass.(RwlPoet 175)1613 : Þai gederd thornes kene And made a corowne..With staues of rede þei sett it doune.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 15.19 : Thei, foldinge a corowne of thornes, puttiden to him..And thei smyten his heed with a reede.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 15.36 : Sothli oon..fillinge a sponge with vynegre and puttinge aboute to a reede ȝaue him drynke.
- c1390 Chart.Abbey HG (Vrn)359 : Þei token him a reod-spyr in his hond.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16622 : In his hand he sett a mikel staf o [Göt: of] rede.
- c1400 *Aelred Inst.(1) (Vrn)1106 : Þu miȝt not suffre..his riȝt hand þat made heuen and irþe be dishonest[ed] wit a ryed.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)147/21 : Þei ordeineden a reed in despit of his kindom.
- a1425 Symb.Pass.(Roy 17.A.27)41 : Crist had a stroke with a rede, Þer-with þe iewes brak his hed.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)6/3 : At Costantynoble is..the reed of the whiche the Jewes ȝaue oure lord eysell & galle in the cros.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)969 : For a rud þat him was ȝoue, He ȝaf vs a septre of þe reme aboue.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)2640 : Þeeves..Of his sydes perced þe blode Wiþ a reode scharpned kene.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Chr.Pass.(LdMisc 683)10 : Thynk and remembre vpon my bloody fface, The reed [vr. rood], the sponge, eysel meynt with galle.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)820 : Beholde the reed spyre [vr. speer], galle, and eysel fett.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.228 : The croos þat þe buschop berith in his hond betokenyth þe reed spyr þat þe knyȝtys tormentouris puttyn in þe hand of Crist in scorn for a ceptre.
- a1500 Swet Ihesus is cum (BodPoet e.1)p.59 : Thei..gaue hym a rede in scorne.
h
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.79 : He ȝaf me a red [vr. reid; F rosel], þat semed as it were a ȝerd, & seide to me, 'diȝtte þee & mete þe temple.'
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.184 : He..had a ȝerd of a rede of gold forto mete wiþ þe Cite.
- c1350 Apoc.(1) in LuSE (Hrl 874)p.187 : Þe reed of gold bitokneþ holy wrytt.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.21.15,16 : He..hadde a golden mesure of a reed [L mensuram arundineam], that he shulde mete the citee..And he mat the citee of the reed.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ezek.40.5 : In the hond of the man was a rehed [WB(1): ȝerd; L calamus] of mesure of sixe cubitis and a spanne.
- a1425 WBible(1) (NC 67)Apoc.11.1 : Reeid either mesure [Roy: And a mesure lijk to a ȝerd is ȝouun to me].
i
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ezek.40.5 : He mat the breede of the bildyng with o rehed and the hiȝnesse bi o rehed.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ezek.41.8 : Y siȝ in the hous an hiȝnesse bi cumpas, the sidis foundid at the mesure of a rehed in the space of sixe cubitis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ezek.42.16 : He mat..fyue hundrid rehedis.
j
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)47a/b : Also water distilled of þe midde ryndez of radicis & of cannez, i. redez [Ch.(2): braunches; L cannarum],& of flourez of sambuci is beste.
- c1450 NPass.(Add 31042)153/174* : Of those thre kirnells sprange thre redis ylike lange..and ane was Syder, an oþir was Sypris, the third was Olyfe.
- c1450 NPass.(Add 31042)156/269* : Moyses tuke thies redis thre, thay sygnyfiede the trynyte.
k
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.281 : Socrates schamed nouȝt to take a reed [L arundine] bytwene his þyes and pleie wiþ his smale children.
3.
In fig. uses, comparisons, and prov. sayings: as a type of unreliability, frailty, etc.; also of flexibility; ~ spere (spir, staf); helden (waggen, weven) also ~; trusten upon staf of ~ tobroken, trusten (lenen) upon windi ~, etc., to depend on someone or something unreliable; ben staf of ~ to, prove unreliable to (sb.).
Associated quotations
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)133/7 : Ne forbryte heo na þæt tocwysede hreod.
- a1350 Middelerd for mon (Hrl 2253)28 : Þat wole wihtstonden streynþe of þeo, is rest is reued wiþ þe reode.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 14.15 : Þe lord god of israel schal smijten, as a reed in water is wont to ben moeued, & he schal pullyn vp israel fro þis goode lond.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.36.6 : Lo! thou trostist vp on this staf of reed to-broken [WB(2): brokun staf of rehed], vp on Egipt, to whom if a man shul lene, it shal go in to his hond and therlen it.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.11.7 : What thing wenten ȝe out for to see in desert? whether a reede wawid with wynd?
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.12.20 : He shal nat breke to gidre a schaken reed.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.321 : Robard, waggynge as a reed [vr. rued], assented anon, and left his oost.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Gosp.(Phys-E)p.37 : Slic wordes..Sais crist..Of sain Ion, that stithe stode Igain fanding of werdes flode, For he no was noht lic..Til thaim that heldes als the rede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13120 : Wend yee þar þe rede to find Þat heildes waifand wit þe wind?
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)98/6 : Þerfore it were spedful in suche tempestes..þat is, of wickede coueitise..þat waggen men al aboute as þei were holewe redis, to don as Seint Bernard conseileþ.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.29.6 : Thou [Egypt] was a staf of reed to the hows of Israel, whanne thei token thee to hoond, and thou art broken to gidre.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1387 : Reed [vr. ried] that boweth down for every blast, Ful lightly, cesse wynd, it wol aryse.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)4 Kings 18.21 : Whethir thou hopist in a staf of rehed and brokun, Egipt.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)1.20 : Euyr sche was..lech vn-to þe reed-spyr, whech boweth wyth euery wynd & neuyr is stable.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)2279 : Hir maistri euer sal mesurd be, Thinkand on hir awn frelte, Lik to a rede in a forest, Þat bows with wind & wil not brest.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)19994 : A-nother lady I sawh ek ther, That lenede hyre on A red sper.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)20315 : Thyn answere..may suffyse..No mor than may a red [vr. reade] sper.
- a1500 Consideryng effectually (Cmb Hh.4.12)54 : Thus mouyd vnwarly I gan both banne and wary, Like vnto a Reede wavyng too and fro.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)47/31 : Thou shalt finde almost all lost what euere þou settest in creatures. Truste not ner leene not upon a windy rede.
4.
In surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.1.264].
Associated quotations
- (c1115) in Ekwall Dict.EPN365 : Redburna.
- (c1150) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)86 : Rudmerlege.
- (1184) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)257 : Rymer.
- (1200) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)86 : Rumerle.
- (1217) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)126 : Ruthesmerwait.
- (1235) EPNSoc.13 (War.)142 : Rotburn.
- (1237) EPNSoc.52 (Dor.)239 : Retpol.
- (1271) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames165 : Joh. de la Redewyke.
- (1280) EPNSoc.52 (Dor.)239 : Rappele.
- (1280) EPNSoc.52 (Dor.)239 : Rippele.
- (1280) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms83 : Henr. del Redelade.
- (1285) EPNSoc.52 (Dor.)239 : Reppole.
- (a1300) in Kökeritz PNWight20 : La Rydelake.
- (1305) EPNSoc.31 (West Riding Yks.)9 : Reidnesse.
- (1327) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms84 : Hug. del Rydleghes.
- (1330) EPNSoc.40 (Glo.)137 : Raddewyk.
- (1346) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)78 : Rodborne.
- (1370) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)32 : Rudbourne.
- (1385) in Sundby Dial.Wor.136 : Redemereley.
- (1428) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)78 : Reddeburne.
- (1444) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)126 : Rodemerethwaytte.
- (1464) in Ekwall PNLan.82 : Rydelehalghs.
- (c1471) in Kökeritz PNWight20 : Redebrigge.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)13b/a : Aungels..haueþ in hondes ryudes [vrr. ruydes, rehedes; L calamos], lynes, & mesures, for þey distinctith, metiþ, & weyeþ al men workes, goode & euele.
Note: New forms: Pl. rehedes, riudes, ruides.
Note: New subsense for sense 2. (See OED reed n.(1), sense 7.(c).)
Note: Gloss: A reed used as a measuring-rod.
- -?-(1303) Reg.Kellawe in RS 62.340 : Hæc sunt piscariæ de terra monachorum quas antiquitus habuerunt..Ad Winlaweton'..Bladone yar', duæ sagenæ quæ vocantur "Tol et pul," et quatuor stelnettes, duo rednettes.
Note: This quot. may not belong to this word. It is not clear what a 'reed net' would be: a net made (woven) from reeds or a net for casting among the reeds. In the unlikely event that the first element correponds to OED redd n.(2) (attested in the 16th century) and EDD red(d n.(2), 'fish spawn' etc., then the compound does not belong here, but needs a separate entry (and presumably means something like 'minnow net' or 'a net for catching small fry'.)
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1300 StJ.List Trees (StJ-C E.17)155 : Ouweroser: Redlag.
Note: New compound for sense 1.(f). (But this quot. may not belong to this word.)
Note: Gloss: ~ lag, ?grey goose, wild goose (Anser ferus).
Note: For the second element of this compound, see OED lag n.(6) = "?A flock of geese" (earliest quot. 1624); OED greylag n. = "the greylag goose" (earliest quot. 1685); SND lag n.(2) = "A call to a goose to be fed; a goose itself, specif. the grey-lag goose" (earliest quot. 1824). See also DOST ridlaik n. [rid- adj. = red; -laik = -lag as in 'greylag goose'] = "a species of wild goose" (earliest quot. 1578). AN roser (variant of rosel n.) = "reed; bed of reeds," so is unlikely to be equivalent to rid-, as P. Acker states in supposing that the ME word is the etymon for the early modern Scots goose name 'ridlaik'. (See P. Acker, "An Anglo-Norman-Middle English Glossary of Tree and Bird Names," Medium Aevum 62 (1993) 286-88). It is also noteworthy that AN roser n.(2) = "wild goose."
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. reed.