Middle English Dictionary Entry
sanguisūǧe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sanguisūǧe n. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A leech, bloodsucking worm.
Associated quotations
- [ (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)297b/a : The water leche hatte Sanguissuga and is a water worme and haþ þat name ffor he loueþ & soukeþ blood. ]
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)84b/a : Þe best cure of þise yuel vlcerez is..wiþ þat þat mundifieþ it alone with ventosez & scaraiacionz & sanguisugis [Ch.(2): water leches; L sanguisugis] & epithimacionz.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)125b/b : Fleobotomie of veynez of þe frount & of þe nose & applicacioun & [read: of] sanguisugez in þe place is commended.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)105a/a : Whanne þe body is þus mundified, þanne þou schalt mundifien þe membre wiþ puttynge to of sanguisugis or of ventosis.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)106a/b : Þou schalt ordeyne a purgacioun to þe same membre so y woundid, if it nediþ asscarificacioun, & sanguisugis & ventosus and wiþ oþere good localie medicyns.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. sanguisuge.