Middle English Dictionary Entry
ringen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | ringen v.(1) Also ring(e; p.ppl. i)ringed. |
| Etymology | From ring n.; for sense (a) cp. ON: cp. OI hringa and for sense (c) cp.OE ymb-hringan, p. -hringde. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To provide (sth.) with rings, attach metal rings to; affix a ring to the nose of (a swine); also, adorn (sb.) with finger rings; also, ppl. ringed as adj.; (b) ringed not to wide, of mail: made of rings not so large as to allow penetration; (c) to encircle (sb.), surround.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)3.12 : Ich lokid..And sauh a womman..wonderlich riche cloþed..On alle hure fyue fyngres rycheliche yrynged [A: were frettid wiþ rynges].
- (1419) Will Heryng in SIANH 1166 : I beqwethe Jone, my woman..ij sponys of syluer and a lytyl candelestykke and a ryngyd basyn.
- (1446) Invent.Lytham in Chet.n.s.6080 : j himer of yren, j thyxall, j Shave, j ele to ryng Swyne.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)106b : Eyþer blade of þis tonges is rynged and in either ryng a roop.
- a1450 Forest Laws (Dc 335)241 : If thei haue ony specialte of a certeyn nombre of swyn to go in the forest, ye shul do vs to wete whether thei be rynged or no.
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.64 : On his armys, rynged nat to wyde, Þer wer woiders frettid in þe maille With cordis rounde.
c
- a1500 Bevis (Cmb Ff.2.38)623 : Let us alle aboute him rynge [vr. gon] And harde strokys on hym dynge.