Middle English Dictionary Entry
bastā̆rd n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bastā̆rd n. Also basterd. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. bast n.(2).
1.
(a) A nobleman's (or a noblewoman's) son born out of wedlock; a 'natural' son [who had substantial rights under the law]; (b) as an epithet of a noble.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)9/124 : Som squier..Had itold þemperice Al of þemperoures sone [born of an earlier marriage]..hire schildre scolde be bastards And he schal haue al þe wardes..Of þempire.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.269 : A bastard, or he þat is i-gete of a worþy fader and i-bore of an vnworþy moder.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.1911 : Heir was non left of the roial lynes, Sauf thretti bastardis born of concubynes.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)26 : Bastarde comyn of fadyr and modyr genteylle: Spurius, spuria.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)8072 : A bastard jn non manere Kyng of that lond ne scholde neuere be.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)10a : A Bastarde, Bastardus..nothus ex nobile patre, spurius ex nobili matre.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)18/5 : After the deth of the duke more than thre houres was Arthur begoten, and thirtene days after kyng Uther wedded Igrayne, and therfor..he is no bastard.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)her.e viii/a : Sych a bastard is forbedyn to bere the hooll armys of his fader for the reuerans of his blode, bot his faderis armys he may bere.
- a1605(a1447) Lond.Chron.Hrl.540 (Hrl 540)295 : The bastard of Clarence wt strengthe gat his fathar's body..at Cantorbury, besyde kynge Henry the fourthe, his fathar.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)375 : Þe churche of Redinge, þat i-founded was and a-rerd þoruȝ henri þe oþur kingue..willames sone bastard.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7071 : Uor he was so ibore Out of spoushod, me clupede him william bastard.
- c1330 SMChron.(Auch)1933 : After him regned seynt edward, knowdes sone bastart.
- c1330 SMChron.(Auch)1977 : William bastard þat þis lond wan He regned here.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.125r : After him regned Alfrid bastard his brother -- this though he were elder than Egfrid yut for his bastardie was he putte fro the regne.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)16 : [King Harold] shulde have wedded Duke Williams bastard doughter of Normandye.
- -?-(a1461) Doc.in HMC Rep.3 App.280a : Therof delivered he to the Bastard of Orliaunce letters patents made in the kynges name.
2.
(a) Any illegitimate son (or daughter); also as an epithet; (b) in names.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3027 : Sarra..sceud abraham: 'yon bastard, Do him a-wai þat he ne has partd Wit mi sun of our heritage.'
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7041 : Septe first þai heild bastard.
- a1425 Benj.Minor (Hrl 1022)166 : Rachel..made gret ioy of þes two basterdese born of Bala, her maydene.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)7.92 : Many of ȝow ne wedde nouȝt þe wommen þat ȝe with delen, But as wilde bestis..worchen, And bryngeth forth barnes þat bastardes men calleth.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)6.65 : Shold no clerk be crouned bote yf he ycome were of franklens and free men and of folke ywedded. Bondmen and bastardes and beggers children..by-longeþ to labour.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)12/18 : Whoso weddeth oftere þan ones, here children ben bastardes.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)246 : Horcop, bastarde: Manzer, spurius, spuria, pelignus, peligna.
- c1450-a1525 Falm.Squire (Leonard)33 : If þou a bastard borne be..thow þou were þe emperourys sone..To þe ordyre of prest þou may not come.
- (c1471) Will York in Sur.Soc.45180 : This basterd of myne.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)169/14 : All hys ryht..in the yerde londe..þe whyche is callid a yerde of bastard.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)169 : I am now sekir þat thow art his lawfull sone, and the othir too bethe bastardes.
b
- [ (1223) Pat.R.Hen.III479 : William le Bastard. ]
- [ (1250) Close R.Hen.III326 : Peter Bastard. ]
- [ (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1065 : Alec. Bastard. ]
- (1314) Close R.Edw.II109 : [Son of] Gilbert Bastard.
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.155 : Seint Mari bastard, þe Maudlein is sone.
3.
Something that is not genuine or pure: (a) a crossbreed or mongrel; (b) a wild shoot or sucker (of a plant); (c) a spiced or fortified sweet wine; (d) one who perverts the truth or Scripture.
Associated quotations
a
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking (Hrl 2340:Haslewood)25 : A Bastarde with a terselett for a lorde.
- a1500 *MS Rwl.D.328173a : Ther ben grehowndys and bastardys..And loundes and lomores Spaynellys and rechys [etc.].
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)254a/b : Suche spray beþ y cleped bastardes and vitulamina passynge oute of kynde.
c
- ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)434 : Conynges in grave..coloure hit with saunders and saffron and bastarde.
- (1443) Doc.Trade in BRS 778 : v pipes of Bastardes.
- (1449) Shillingford153 : In iij quartes vini bastard..xij d.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)37 : Take Perys..draw hem þorw a straynoure & lye it with Bastard.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)53 : Commodytes..commynge oute of Spayne..raysyns, wyne, bastarde and dates.
- (1465) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103640 : Pro 1 Barello de Bastard.
- (1473-4) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.526a : For one potelle of bastarde 5 s.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)119 : The namys of swete wynes y wold þat ye them knewe..Bastard, Tyre, Ozey.
d
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)90 : Here thou blaberist togedir falsenes and trouthe; ffor a bastarde is he that holdith aȝenes the sothe.
- a1500(a1400) Wycl.FHC (NC 95)347 : Many freris, as bastardis to goddis lawe, tellen iapes or lesyngis and leeuen þe gospel.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)her.leaf b i/b : The bastarde of fixall shall bere his faderis cotarmure counturtreuys [?read: countrareuys, i.e. contrariwise], that is to say, what so euer he berith in his felde he shall bere in the colowris dyuerse and no more.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)her.leaf b ii/a : All the bastardis of all cotarmuris shall bere a fesse. Sum call hit a bastoun of oon of the .iiii. dignites of colouris, excepte the bastarde of the fixiales and the bastarde of the brethyrne of the cheue blode where theritaunce is deparded to euerych brothir elike moch theys bastardis shall adde more bagy to his armys or take a way a bagy of armys.
Note: New subsense for sense 1.(a).
Note: Gloss: Her. 1.(a) a noble bastard, or possibly a descendant in the bastard line.
- a1500(a1451) Commodities Eng.(LdMisc 593)554 : Owte of the kynges londe of Portyngale and Algarbe cummythe grete merchandyse as: 1 Mete oyle, 2 Woll oyle, 3 Salte, 4 Osseye, 5 Ryptage, 6 Bascarde, 7 Capike, [etc.].
Note: New form: Also..(error) bascarde.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 3.(c).
Note: Revise form section: Also bastarde, bastart, basterd, (error) bascarde; pl. bastardes, etc. & bastardese.--notes per MLL