Middle English Dictionary Entry
bastǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bastǒun n. Also baston, -un. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A walking stick, staff; (b) fig. a blow with such a stick.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15827 : Wit þair bastons [Göt: bastunes; Trin-C: staues] bete þai him.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.BC (Trin-C R.3.20)p.437 : An olde man with a baston on his bakke manassing þe beest.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)926 : Þanne must I..wende hyȝe ouer holtis as hound aftyr hare..I buske my bold baston [etc.].
b
- a1350 Opon a somer (LdMisc 108)47 : Of þat birde [Fortune] bastons in bale me bounde.
2.
Release from prison in charge of, or on the authority of, a Warden of the Fleet (who attends court with a red staff as an official symbol); gon to ~, ben in ~.
Associated quotations
- [ (1377) Statutes Realm1.4 : Qe..nul Gardein de la dit prisone de Flete soeffre ascun prisoner..aler hors du prisone par maynpris, baill, ne par bastoun. ]
- (1450) RParl.5.201a : To abide in prison..withoute goyng to bayle, baston or mainpris.
- (1475) RParl.6.135a : If the said Henry and Richard..be commytted to ward..and the Marchall..suffre the same..to eschape..or be in baill or baston [etc.].
3.
Verse, stanza; ?alliterative verse [quot. Manning]; -- used as a synonym of ME staf.
Associated quotations
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.156 : Þe clerk þat þis baston wrowȝte, Wel he woke and slepe riȝte nowȝte..Nis þis bastun wel ipiȝte?
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14923 : Es resun þat wee vr rime rune And set fra nu langer bastune [Frf: bastoun].
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Petyt 511)89 : If it were made..in couwee or in baston, som suld haf ben fordon, so þat fele men þat it herde suld not witte howe þat if ferde.
4.
Her. A short, narrow bar.
Associated quotations
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)4718 : Baneres..with sauters engrele, And some with bastoun wouerle.