Middle English Dictionary Entry
rǒuken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | rǒuken v. Also rouk(e, ruken, rukken, rucken, roken, rokken, (late) rauken & (early) ruki(n. |
| Etymology | From rūke n.; cp. Norw. dial. rūka to pile up. Sense (c) prob. from a phrase *rǒuken and rǒunen to huddle close in order to speak quietly; cp. rǒuker(e n.(b) & runken v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To heap (sth.) up; (b) to cower, huddle, crouch; lurk; squat, sit; also fig.; (c) in phrase: nought..~ nor rounen, not to mumble, not to whisper.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1225 Ancr.(Cleo C.6)297/17 : Þus þu schalt..Ruke [Corp-C: rukelin; Pep: reclen] on his heauede bearninde gleden.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)137/4 : For hwil ha stont upriht, ne mei he nowðer up on hire rukin [Tit: ruki; Nero: ruken] ne riden.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1308 : What is mankynde moore vnto yow holde Than is the sheep that rowketh [vrr. rokiþ, roukeþ, rukketh, rokketh, rauketh; ligeth] in the folde?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1669 : Bot now thei rucken in here nest And resten as hem liketh best.
- c1415 Chaucer CT.NP.(Lnsd 851)B.4416 : O fals Mordroure, roukeinge [Heng: lurkynge; vrr. roukyng, rowkyng, roukyn] in þi den.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)6765 : Þai sal for threst þe hevedes souke Of þe nedders þat on þam sal rouke Als a childe þat sittes in þe moder lappe.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)1906 : The shaft I drow out of the arwe, Rokyng for wo right wondir narwe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)439 : Rukkun, or cowre down: Incurvo.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)156 : In the kichene thei wolden rouken [F lroupir] an hol day gladliche for to roste a smal hastelet.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)439 : This Sheep, rukyng in his fold, Set litill stoor of swerd or arwis keene.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)569 : The Woolff in ffoldis to Sheep doth duresse, Rukkyng in ffoldis for dreed.
c
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)36/48 : Goo, iape þe, robard iangillande, Me liste noȝt nowe to rouk nor rowne.