Middle English Dictionary Entry
rēper(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | rēper(e n. Also (in surname) riper. |
| Etymology | From rēpen v.(1) & OE rīpere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A reaper, harvester; also fig.; (b) as surname and in place name.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ruth 2.2 : I schal go in to þe feeld & gederyn eris þat flen þe handis of reperis [L metentium].
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.14.32 : He hadde sothen potage..and wente in to the feeld for to bere to repers.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)41a/b : Metillus: a reper of corne.
- c1430(a1410) Love Mirror (Brsn e.9)96 : Abakuc..bare mete to his reperes on the felde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)430 : Repare [Win: Repar], hervystmanne: Messor, messellus.
- (1444) RParl.5.112b : Aboute Hervest labour..A man Reper or Carter iii d. by the day with mete and drynk.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.64vb : He shal take your sones & .. shal ordeyne of them trybunes and centuryons, erers and tylyers of his feldes & mowars & repers [L (Vulg. 1 Sam.8.12): messores] of his corn.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)4/103 : These noble repers, as good workmen and worthy their hyre, han al drawe and bounde up in the sheves and mad many shockes.
b
- (1311) Court R.Colchester 145 : Philip Ryper.
- (1327) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms37 : Mariota Reper.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10191 : Edmo. Riper.
- (c1436) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms37 : Will. le Reper.
- (1373) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.7354 : [A piece of land in the parish of Northiam called] Reperesland.