Middle English Dictionary Entry
robber(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | robber(e n. Also robbour(e, -eour, (late) -eur & rober(e, -our(e; pl. robberes, etc. & (early) rubberes, & (error) wrobberes. |
| Etymology | OF robëor, robëour, robere, roubere, reubere, AF robbere, robbeour, robbour, (chiefly) AF robëur. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A robber, thief; also, a plunderer; also fig.; (b) ~ and revere, robberes and thefes (rifleres), etc.; (c) in prov. expressions; (d) a pirate; ~ bi (in, on) the se.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1312) RParl.1.283b : Pieres de Gavaston..maintient robbeours, homicides, & les fait avoir la Chartre le Roi de pees, endenaunt hardement a messesours de pis faire, [etc.]. ]
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)171/24 : Þeos twa unþeawes beoð to grimme robberes ieuenet [Nero: two grimme robbares].
- c1300 SLeg.Devil Serv.(Hrl 2277)2 : A kniȝt þer was..Strong robbour & manquellere.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)39 : Wreieres and wrobberes [read: robberes] made he falle.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7214 : Þe ssephurdes..ssolleþ to þe pine of helle, As god heiemen of þe lond robbeors [vr. robbores] felawes beþ.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8006 : As robbeour [B vrr. robbour, roboure] he was, And destruede al þat lond.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8320 : After hem come xx þousinde Of fel robours.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)39/1 : Robberes and kueade herberȝeres..berobbeþ þe pilgrimes and þe marchons.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3818 : This robbour and this homycide..many a man made to wepe and pleyne.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.48.8 : The robbere shal come to eche cheef cite, and no cheef cyte shal be saued.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6127 : Euery man he wened had be a robbour, For drede þat he had tresoure.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)25782 : If þou robber has bene strange, þink on þe theuis be crist þat hange.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1269 : Þenne ran þay to þe relykes as robbors wylde.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)27/17 : Ȝif þou walke be þe kuntre & pouert go with þe, þou schalt kun demen þat ilke straunge man þat þou metist is a robere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)435 : Robbowre, on the londe: Spoliator, predo, vispilio.
- c1450 Form Excom.(3) (Dc 60)104/20 : We accorsen..alle comyn and opon theves, robbers þat ayen þe pes of þe king robben And reven.
- (1465) Paston (EETS)1.330 : Slyford was the chyff robbere of the cherch.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.20.13a : Lord, y þanke þe.. þat I am nouȝt als oþer men arn: robbours, lecchours, ore swhilk synners.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)38/11 : He vsed..forto punyssh wikked men, as robers, men-sleers and way-kepers.
- c1500 Melusine (Roy 18.B.2)245/7 : Locher..delyuered the Countrey of Ardane fro thevys, murdrers, & robbeurs.
b
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)29 : Rubberes and þa reueres and þa þeoues and þa morðslaȝa..habbeð an þonc fulneh.
- c1275 LSSerm.(Clg A.9)186/27 : Alle bac-biteres wendet to helle; Robberes and reueres..þider sculen wende.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4645 : Y no dred robours no thef non, Ac al siker ich wende forþ gon.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)253/29 : Ine oncouþe contraye..byeþ manye þyeues an robberes.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)5478 : Robboures ne reuowres miȝt route none, þat þei nere hastili hange.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.659 : In lanes blynde..thise robbours and thise theues by kynde Holden hir pryuee fereful residence.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)116b/a : Þe mone..in þe secounde signe..bodiþ discomfort, woo, & sorowe and losse of catel by robbers and reuers [L fures et predones].
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)14.58 : Þe marchaunt..dredeþ to be ded..With robbours and with reuers.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)165/11 : Þere ben nouþer thefes ne robboures in þat contree.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)155/17 : I am no robbere ne revere ne no theff as oþur men are.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.197 : Wolde þey..repreue robbers and riffleris of peple..þe world wolde amende.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.37.82a : Vpon theves and murderers, robboures and reueres..thei schuld be feers.
c
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)67/6 : Þe ðet bereð tresor openliche in one weie ðet is al ful of þeoues & of robbares & of reauares, him luste leosen hit.
- (1381) Let.Ball in Robbins Hist.Poems (Roy 13.E.9)p.55 : Iohan schep..biddeþ Pers plouȝman go to his werk and chastise wel hobbe þe robbere.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.233 : Robert þe robbour on reddite lokide.
d
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)435 : Robbowre, on the see: Pirata, vispilio.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)437 : Robare, or robbar yn the see: Pirata.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)231/25 : A maister of a ship þat hight Dironides..was a grete robber be þe se.