rek and reke - Middle English Compendium

Middle English Dictionary Entry

rēk(e n.(1)

Forms	rēk(e n.(1) Also reike, rike, (early) hreac & (in names) rikke, rec-, reg-, rak-.
Etymology	OE hrēac

(a) A heap, pile; a stack of hay, sheaf of grain, etc., a rick; pese ~ [see pese n.3. (b)]; (b) in surnames; (c) in place name.

c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)540/46 : Aceruus, hreac, uel hupel.
a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)349,351 : Car une moye [glossed:] reke [vr. a mowe] est dit en grange..Moiloun [glossed:] reke [vr. stak of hay] apelez ceo qe est en feyn.
(a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.22.6 : Ȝif fyre gone oute, fynde eeris, & catche þe rekis [WB(2): heepis; L acervos] of corn..he schall ȝelde þe harme þat tyndiþ þe fyre.
a1400(a1325) Glo.Chron.B (Trin-C R.4.26)820/10,13 : Þo let he nime tynder..& teide hit to þis sparewen, & flowen an eue In rekes and hous..& sette afure rek [vr. reke] & hous & barnde al þane toun.
a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)6b/a : Archonius: a reke or stak of corne.
(1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)428 : Reek [vr. reyke; Win: reeke], or golf: Arconius, acervus.
(c1465) Stonor1.68 : The chirchemen of Dudcote wer in bargenyng off a ryke off weete for the..help off the chirch..it was the Doctor wille the parissh shuld by the straw off the reke.
a1500 Chartier Quad.(2) (Rwl A.338)182/2 : Þe burgeses..asche vs why we..chase nat owre enemyes like as men myght chase dovis from a pese reke [CQ(1): peese feeld; F pesiere].
1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)4/100 : The grettest clerkes..with their sharpe sythes of conning al mowen, and mad therof grete rekes and noble.