Middle English Dictionary Entry
sarde n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | sarde n.(1) Also sardius, sardis, sardo. |
| Etymology | OF sarde & L, OE sardius. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A sard, a reddish chalcedony, a kind of carnelian; also, a precious stone in the breastplate of the Jewish high priest; ?also, a sardonyx [quot.: WBible(2)]; ~ ston.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.28.17 : Þou schalt putte in it foure orders of stones: in þe first veers schall be þe sardo stone [L lapis sardius] & topazi & smaragde.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.39.10 : He putte in it foure ordres of gemmes: In þe first verse was saarde, topazi, smaragd.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.21.20 : The first foundement, iaspis..the fyuethe, sardonix; the sixte, sardius.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1416 : The Ston which that this sterre alloweth, Is Sardis, which unto him boweth.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)205b/b : Sardius is a precious stoon of reed colour, as it were reed erþe, and haþ þat name for he was ferst y-founde in Sardis..onichinus þat haþ som yuele propretees may nought kepe hem in dede in presence of þe stoon sardius.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.28.13 : Eche precious stoon thi keuerynge, sardius, topacius, and iaspis.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Job 28.16 : It schal not be comparysound to the died colours of Iynde, not to the moost preciouse stoon of sardius [WB(1): sardenyk ston; L lapidi sardonycho], nether to saphir.
- a1450 Dc.291 Lapid.(Dc 291)p.18 : The names of þe elleuen stones þat seint Iohn named were thise: the first is named Iaspe..þe fifte sardoyne, þe sixte sarde.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)334 : Rubies, topaces, and onicles riche, Sardes and garnettis, for thei ben liche.
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1076 : The Sardius..maketh men hardy.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.321 : Þe wal of þis cite was set & grondyt on twelue precious stonys; Þe firste was iaspis..þe fyuete sardonyx, þe sexte sardius.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.104 : Sardis is a precious stone, & he is of a red colour, as it wer red erþe, & he haþe þe name for he was first founde in sardis.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Rwl.C.288 Artist.Recipes (Rwl C.288) 312/25 : For ȝelw, sard, or grene: tak a ȝerd or .ij. of lynen cloth and put it in fayre water..and tak a pound of welde and put it in.
Note: New sense = ?a yellow color, the color of the stone. Cf. OED sard, n.1 'A variety of cornelian n.1, varying in colour from pale golden yellow to reddish orange.'