Middle English Dictionary Entry
rǒute n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | rǒute n.(2) Also routte, (early) rute. |
| Etymology | OF rote, route, AF rute road, track. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A way, route; a road; holden forth ~, to continue on (one's) way; leten the cuppe gon ~, let the cup make its way, pass the cup; maken ~ in-to, make way to (a place); (b) hunt. a customary path of an animal, trail; (c) lives ~, the course of life; (d) a course, progression; the process of a drinking ritual; (e) a kind of weir.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)178/11 : Þe gode pilegrim..halt forð his rute & hiheð toward his giste.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)379 : I rekke bott a lyttill To make rowtte into Rome with ryotous knyghtes.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11014 : Þey stode in ilka strete & sty, In grete routes [vr. gashadles] men passed for-by.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)3634 : Men of Inde fer in the est that know neuer route ther before, senden hym tribut.
- a1500 Go ye before (Tit A.26)p.283 : Latte us dry[n]ke by and by, And lette the cupe goo route.
b
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)74 : Hunters of biyonde þe see callen of an hert or of a boor þe routes and þe pace and bothe is oon; Naþelees 'pace' þei clepyn goynges where a beest gooþ in þe routes where as he is passid.
c
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)48/1358 : Ich [a]m þat lyȝt Of alle þer wordle rounde A-boute; Wo-so lokeþ, ne geþ he nauȝt derk, Ac lyȝt ine lyues route.
d
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)102/110 : Ryȝt so hys al mankende a-merred Þorȝ þe route of fenym.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)332 : Thus shal þe game go aboute, And who so falys of þis route..Get hym drynk wher he will, He getys non here.
e
- (1386) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.118 : [Many people had recently made] weres [called] 'routes' [near Braynford and Istelworth, whereby small fish were destroyed].