Middle English Dictionary Entry
rūke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | rūke n. Also ruch, roke; pl. ruckes, (early) rukes, ruken. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. Icel. hrūka from OI hrūga, Swed. ruka, dial. ruku, Norw. diAL rūk, rūka. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A heap, pile; also, a haystack; (b) a unit of measure; (c) a group of common people.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)110/25 : Þe ȝiscere is his [the devil's] eskibah..stureð him to rukelin to gederes..monie ruken [Tit: rukes; Pep: hepes].
- (a1382) Doc.Hatfield in Sur.Soc.32254 : Item, ij hominibus conductis tassantibus fenum infra curiam in ruckes, per iiij dies, 12 d.
b
- (1295) *Acc.Exch.K.R.5/7 [OD col.] : In xvij Ruch' de Rosyn emptis, precium Ruch, x md.
- (1483) in Rec.B.Nottingham 2421 : [Every wain-load containing a whole] roke [of coals of Selston Pitte].
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7149 : Thai gird into graves þe grettiest of astate..All the Remnond and Roke radlyþai broght And brent vp the bodies vnto bare askis.