Middle English Dictionary Entry
bās n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | bās n.(1) Also base, bace, (early) bærs. |
| Etymology | OE bears, bærs; early ME *bā̆rs, whence with loss of r, ME bās and MnE bass. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A fish of the perch family; perch, bass.
Associated quotations
- c1175 Stw.57 Gloss.(Stw 57)412/49 : Scardo: Bærs i. perche.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)62 : A greihounde shuld haue a longe hede and somdeel greet imakyd, in þe maner of a bace [Gaston de Foix: luz; L lucius 'pike'].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)20 : Bace: fysche.
- (1443) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2238 : Magister Tregoran dedit piscem vocatum base et..a tenche of the see.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)574 : Base, Perche, rooche, darce, Makerelle..by þe bak splat þem in þe dische liynge.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)72 : To dight bace, molet or breme, drawe them at the belly.