Middle English Dictionary Entry
rọ̄ther n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | rọ̄ther n.(1) Also rothere, rothur, roither, roder, rodder(e, (N) ruder & (error) roth; pl. rother(e)s, rothres. |
| Etymology | OE rōðer |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A rudder; also fig.; (b) an oar; ?also, an oar or a paddle used as a weapon [quot.: a1450, 1st]; under ~, ?with ref. to tidal currents: in two layers or courses flowing in opposite directions; (c) a helmsman, steersman; also fig.; (d) someone who governs or directs; (e) a brewer's implement used to stir malt; mash ~; (f) ?as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (1336) Doc.in Nicolas Navy 2472 : [Item, in two] rothres [price of each, 2 s.].
- (1345-6) Doc.in Nicolas Navy 2477 : [For mending one] roth [of the same ship's boat].
- (1377-8) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.12027 : Willelmus de Staynegreef ex malicia..cepit le rother ejusdem navis.
- c1390(1377) Death Edw.III (Vrn)25,57 : In-to þat schip þer longed a Rooþur Þat steered þe schip & gouerned hit..Þe Roþur was nouþer Ok ne Elm, Hit was Edward þe þridde, þe noble kniht.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2494 : The Schip of love hath lost his Rother.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)141a/a : Suche briddes and foules..haue long tailes..by þe whiche þey reule hemself in fliȝt as þe roþir [L gubernaculum] reuliþ and steriþ þe schippe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)4624 : Alle ys þe toon with þe touþer, As a shyppe þat ys turned with þe roþer.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)419 : The arc..waltered on þe wylde flod..Withouten mast..Hurrok oþer hande-helme hasped on roþer.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2414 : Antropos..is maistresse & guyer of þe rother Of Dethis ship.
- (1423) Will York in Sur.Soc.4582 : Pro duobus ligaminibus de ferro pro le rothir dictae naviculæ, xx d.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6851 : Off ther loue so guyed was the rother, That Karibdis, tween wyndis ful contraire, Hath Canace destroied and Machaire.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)235 : Helme, or þe rothere [Win: roder] of a schyp: Temo.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)438 : Rodyr [Phil: royther; Win: Roþer], of a schyppe: Amplustre.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12060 : Þe sail on ȝerde þey feste ful fast..Roþeres, helmes, right for to stande.
- (1458) Doc.in Rec.B.Nottingham 2366 : Peid to John' Botte..to mak a rodder.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)58 : The eldist man that is halde wisist among hem sittithe and kepithe the rothir..and seethe to the nedille for to gide the ship to alle costis.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)1.532 : Betwene wedded folk is neuer striffe, But 'ye' and 'nay', ther is non othir; They lieve in rest as shippe without Rother.
b
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)539/33 : Remus: roþer.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)13/188 : Wiþute sail & roþer Vre schip bigan to swymme.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1114 : Wyth my rewly rothyr I com to þe, Mankynde, my broþyr.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1738 : I go, I go, on grounde glad, Swyftyr þanne schyp wyth rodyr.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)106a : A Rudyr [Monson: Ruder]: vbi Are.
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)11 : There goeth half streme undir Rothir; And at the shelde..half streme undir Rothir by the londe till ye come to Winterbornes.
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)13 : In the Doownys goth half tide under Rothir..Fro Wolneshorde unto the Ligge of Seint Elenes is half tide undir Rothir.
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)19 : By south Arglas there goth quarter tide undir Rothir.
c
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)160/5 : Discrecion..is þe cartere of uirtues..and þe roþer [Vices & V.(2): gouernour] of þe ssipe of þe zaule.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)55b/b : Remex: a rothar, a sterres mon.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2999 : There light þai full lyfely, lept into bote, And were set ouer soundly into the same yle Right with a Rother, and Rayket to bonke.
d
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)212 : I shuld be a rothir To set ȝewe in governaunce by riȝtful Iugement.
- c1475 St.Anne(2) (Trin-C R.3.21)509 : The holy aungell..was sent To shew vnto the fadyr and modyr Of thys most holy vyrgyn the entent..Of oure feythe to be the guyde and rother.
e
- (1410) Will York in Sur.Soc.4549 : Brasinum:..de j schakyngsiff, j tempse, j ryyngsiff, cum iiij rothers.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)328 : Maschel, or rothyr, or maschscherel: Remulus, palmula, mixtorium.
- (1454) Doc.in Rogers Hist.Agric.3555/1 : 2 mash rothers.
- (1455) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.184 : [All the vessels, utensils, and brewing hustlements..in the brewhouse..A] watertyne, [a] treye [for] yest..[3] rothers.
f
- (1199) CRR(1) 1295 : Willielmus Roddere.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The phrase under ~ (sense (b)) had originally been tentatively glossed '?by rowing [cp. under seile, s.v. seil(e n.1.(c)]' but has been revised based on the equally tentative gloss in under prep. It should perhaps also be moved to sense (a).