Middle English Dictionary Entry
ruskin n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ruskin n. Also roskin, rossekin, rothskin, routhskin; pl. ruskins, ruskin. |
| Etymology | From rǒus(e adj. & skin n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The fur of the Eurasian red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris; a piece of such fur; ~ grei, the Eurasian red squirrel's winter fur; ~ womb, the bellypiece of squirrel fur.
Associated quotations
- (1278) R.Tournament in Archaeol.17306 : ij fur. rossekin.
- (1300) Court R.Lond.92 : [4 s. 6 d. for] Roskyn.
- (1324-5) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.384 : Tidemannus de Gustron pro routhskyn val. xxx s.: [cust.] iiii d. ob.
- (1324-5) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.389 : Hanekyn Bischop pro rothskyn val. £viii: [cust.] ii s.
- 1311 Liber Horn in NQ ser.11.5 (LMA COL/CS/01/002)170 : Roskyn est desquirel en este.
- (1365) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.329 : [That no one shall mingle] roskyn [with] populle.
- (1385) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.91 : [One fur of] stranglyng, [6 s. and half a fur of] ruskyns, [2 s.].
- (a1400) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.213 : De qualibet m operis de ruskyn, venalis iiii d.
- (1420) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.75 : [One gown of] musterdevilers [furred with] ruskyns.
- (1420-21) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.503 : De Heyneman Hankynbergh pro ii barellis cum xviiim ruskyn, pr. £xxi.
- (1427) *Will M.Colbroke (Comm.Crt.London) [OD col.] : Unam togam de blod furratum cum Ruskyn wombes.
- (a1451) Will York in Sur.Soc.4598 : Item, ij parvæ peciæ de gray, vocatæ ruskyn gray, v s.