Middle English Dictionary Entry
rō̆che n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | rō̆che n.(2) Also roch, (in place name) roiche & (error) troch; pl. roches, roeches. |
| Etymology | OF roche, roiche; also cp. ML rocha, AL rochea. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. rok(ke n.(1).
1.
(a) A large rock formation; a cliff, rocky height, crag; a rocky area; also fig.; ~ wal; (b) a rock in the sea or a river; a reef, rocky island; also, a cliff by the sea; (c) a cave, tunnel, or sepulcher in a rock or cliff; (d) an individual rock, a boulder; (e) a bank of a river.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)7/73 : Vnder a roche of stone, Þer heo liuede alone.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)81/1384 : He com to his Moder halle In a roche walle.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1822 : Now was hit a manere hows þat god was ynne ydo, Ygraued wyde in a roche.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)142/3 : Þe ilke roche is Iesu crist him-zelf.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1108 : By hilles & roches swyþe horrible on hur cors þay wente.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Bar.5.7 : God ordeynyde for to meek eche heeȝ hill and euerlastynge rooches [WB(2): rochis of stoon; L rupes].
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)677 : He stont on heiȝ roche and sound And is iplaned into þe ground.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6814 : Thei upon a dai a Cave Withinne a roche founden have.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)142a/a : Sche buldeþ hire nest in full hiȝe rooches.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)9975 : Þat roche þat es polist sa slight, es maiden maria heit ful right.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)21/31 : Alway stooden þilk tweie fendes in þe kreuesses of þe roche, criande and ȝellande.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)58b/b : Scopulus: a lytel sharpe tree; a knage; a roche of ston or synder.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.7.14 : The fleetynge streem..is areestid and resisted ofte tyme by the encountrynge of a stoon that is departed and fallen fro som roche.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)7/34 : This holy cros had the Jewes hydd in the erthe vnder a roche of the mownt of Caluarie.
- c1425 Castle Love(2) (Eg 927)399 : The roche whit and fair with his stablenes Is the hert of hir in al halynes.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1130 : I..found that hit was every del A roche of yse and not of stel.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)60/1751 : Comaundid lo am y..The castelle of myn hert to fortify, Which clepid is the hold of gret plesaunce, Stondyng vpon the roche of espeyraunce.
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)164 : Ne þay wiste noghte what waye to þaym was beste..Als wele one roche, in marras, as in playne.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)105a : A Roche..Confraga.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.112 : Oder kendes of marble breden in qwarreis & in roches.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.in Centaurus 12 (Lnsd 793)226/5506 : Froste and colde..droof þe stones to-gidre harde And bicome roches aftirwarde.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (LdMisc 108)521 : Huy i-seiȝen at þen ende One harde roche In þe se.
- a1325 SLeg.Pilate (Corp-C 145)255 : Amidde þe water was a roch.
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)330 : An image of gret pouste Stode on a roche bi þe se.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Num.21.15 : Þe rochys [L Scopuli] of þe rennynge waters been bowed þat þei restyn inarnon.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1048 : The Schip..Drof al to pieces on the roche.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)188b/a : Þis litil prouynce..is moost y-strengþed wiþ rokkes and roches in þe syde, as it fareþ at þe Rochel.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.5.35 : Oothir swich schelle-fyssch of the see..clyven and ben norisschid to roches [L saxis].
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)401/251 : Tween wynd and wawe his barge almost brast, Fordryue by rokkis and many hidous roche.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)946 : The wynde rase and to a roche vs bare.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1035 : Lyk betynge of the see..ayen the roches holowe, Whan tempest doth the shippes swalowe.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)327/24 : He makeþ is neste be þe see syde in an hard roche.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)984/21 : The shipp..aryved up bytwyxte two rocchis, passynge grete and mervaylous.
- a1475 Sidrak & B.in Centaurus 12 (Lnsd 793)225/5439 : Quicke brimstone..Comeþ of leeuens þat ofte falle Vpon roches by þe see.
c
- a1300 I leue in godd (Arun 292)10 : Ðar ðolede he deadd widuten wold, & biriedd was in ðe roche cold.
- c1300 S.Leg.Faith(1) (LdMisc 108)74 : An holi man þare hudde him so..in one olde roche he was.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)256 : He was on ðe rode wold, And biried in ðe roche cold.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)31/347,349 : In at a roche þe leuedis rideþ, & he after..When he was in þe roche y-go Wele þre mile, oþer mo, He com in-to a fair cuntray.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2367 : Þei hastily at his hest hiȝed inward atte roche.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5496 : Raryfey, a riche ray, he in þe roche stoppis.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)3/23 : Ponthus and xiij childre..hidde theym in a roche in a garthyn.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)78/6 : The remanent of knyghtes and other were buryed in a grete roche.
- a1500(a1450) St.Robt.Knares.(Eg 3143)168 : Robertt ranne hys saule to saue And in a roche closed him in caue.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)125 : With-ynne lx myle ye sholde not fynde an house in-to herberowe, but it were in roches or in seleres vnder erthe.
d
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)4165 : Anon riȝt he [giant] hom ssende Mid gleyue oþer mid roches, & vewe aliue he let.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.10 : Þanne plokked he forth a patent, a pece of an harde roche.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.1968 : Poliphemus..Cast roches and grete stones huge On euery part enviroun þe contre.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12171 : Grete roches at þem he cast, & þer schipes to-rof & brast.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)1028 : In þat temple..There is a grete roche of stoon.
- (1451) Lin.DDoc.46/34 : I will my Chauntre prests haue..a pais of the Roche yat ouere lady mylk es in.
- a1500 Mirk Fest.Revis.(Hrl 2247)73/17 : The vij day all stones and roches [vr. rokkys] shall bete togedir.
e
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.8.7 : He shal steȝen vp vp on alle his ryueres & flowen vp on alle his rochis [vrr. roeches; stremes; L ripas].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)56b/a : Ripa: a ryuer or a roche.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)105a : A Roche: Crepedines.
2.
(a) Rock, stone; (b) alum (de) ~, ~ alum, potash alum obtained from Roman alunite, rock alum, Roman alum; sinderes ~, ?ash mixed with alum [cp. sinder n.2. (b)].
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)197/124 : Strong fuyr..barnde þe hard roche of ston ase þei it Col were.
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (Hrl 2277:Horst.)115 : Hi seȝe in þe norþside a gret ylle atte laste, Of harde roche & gret ynou, in þe see wel heȝe.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)1138 : Ðor he biggede in a caue, Ðe was ðor in roche grauen.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2435 : Þennes ouer miles þre Lay Ygerne so fair and fre In a castel of roche of ston.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ecclus.48.19 : Eȝechias..deluede with iren þe roche.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.246 : The erthe..Quaked as quykke þinge, and al biquasht þe roche.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1746 : Stoon and roche a-sonder gan riue; In þe temple þe veil was kut on two.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.318 : First thy grount assay, If hit be ragge or roche.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)200/5952 : O Hert more hard then roche of any stoon.
- a1500 Nicod.(4) (Hrl 149)67 : Youre God..made the watyr also yssew oute of þe hard roche for to yeue you and youre beestes drynke.
b
- [ (1387) *For.Acc.(PRO) A6 [OD col.] : xxi bal de alome de Roche. ]
- (1381) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.295 : [18] barells [of] sendres Roche.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)618/6 : Alume roche [*Ch.(1): Alumen rochinum] is hote and drye.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)336 : The Janueys..bringe..Coton, roche-alum, and gode golde of Jene.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)152 : Tak coperose & alym Roche, saundyuer.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)170 : Do þer to agood quantyte of pouder of alym de roche.
- (1453) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)323/25 : Alum, foyle or rooch, þe bale, iiij d.
- a1500(a1451) Commodities Eng.(LdMisc 593)553 : They brynge all maner of Spycys, as..Alome Roche..Alome Soyle, [etc.].
3.
Cook. Loaf sugar; poudred ~, ?grated loaf sugar; ?powdered sugar.
Associated quotations
- ?c1400 Form Cury (Dur-U Cosin V.3.11)140.187/5 : [Add: Frye hem in grece as frytours and serue hem forth] wyt pouder troch [read: poudert roch].
- a1425 Sln.1108 Cook.Recipes (Sln 1108)64.14/4 : Swynes grece & sugure of roche [Dc.257: nym þe lyre of þe hennyn or of capouns & grynd hem smal; kest þere to wite grese & boyle it].
4.
In surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2. 86].
Associated quotations
- (1164) in Mawer PNNhb.& Dur.167 : Roch.
- (1185) in Pipe R.Soc.34178 : Gislebertus de la Roche.
- (1201) Fine R.King John149 : Agnet. de la Roche.
- (1218) in Kristensson ME Local Surnames17 : Alan. de la Roche.
- (1253) EPNSoc.30 (West Riding Yks.)137 : Roche.
- (1274) Close R.Edw.I78 : Richard Rocheheved.
- (1293) EPNSoc.30 (West Riding Yks.)137 : La Roche.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3235 : Alice atte Roch.
- (1332) in Kristensson ME Local Surnames17 : Math. del Roche.
- (1354) EPNSoc.30 (West Riding Yks.)137 : Royche.
- (1376) Inquis.PM Edw.III256 : Thomas de Rochford.
- (1413) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.256 : [Warning them..to appear..sometimes at] le Rocheyerd.
- (1446) EPNSoc.30 (West Riding Yks.)137 : Ye Abbey of Roche.