Middle English Dictionary Entry

barken v.(1)
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Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
To tan (hides) with an infusion of bark.
2.
(a) To form a crust or scab; (b) ?to peel or splinter.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1500 Rwl.C.506 Artist.Recipes (Rwl C.506) 174/13 : To make red basyn of a calue skyn ibarkyd, take .iij. vnce of madyr, and .ij. vnce of vermelon, [etc.].
  • ?a1525 Dc.54 Artist.Recipes (Dc 54) 271/1 : To make red basyn of a calf skyn barked. Take .iij. vnce of madyr, [etc.].
  • Note: Postdates sense 1.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.85vb (2.14) : Vryn grene and litle seiþ noȝt but deth, and namely if it stynke. Or if þou tak a drop þerof & put it on þi nayle or on þi fyngre or on þi honde, it blecheþ and barkeþ þe place.
  • ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.85vb (2.14) : If þe vryn be grene and mykel in quantite, and it stynk noght ne bark noght, and þerwiþ his age be gode, ȝit þer is hope.
Note: Additional quots, ?prob. sense 2.(a). Editor's gloss: 'becomes rough, forms a crust or scab'.