Middle English Dictionary Entry
scarth(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | scarth(e n. Also skarth & (in place names) scharth, scart, sgarth, start, starth(e. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. OI skarð notch, mountain pass & OSwed. scarþer shiver, splinter. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A pottery fragment, shard; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.124].
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2270 : He..bad þe damysel þat scho suld fett All þe skarthes of þe broken pott.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)166b/b : Be þai brint vpon a crusible or a teste [Ch.(2): scherde; L testam], i. scarþe.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)82/1 : Tak a tile stone or a scarþe of a potte, [etc.].
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)37/38 : Tak bromstane..and warme it in a scarthe.
- c1450 Inf.Chr.(Add 31042)340 : His pechere he brake..And Jhesu gadirde þe skarthes.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)105/160 : The mylk pycher was layde, The skarthis was the tokyn.
b
- (c1160) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)165 : Etunescarth.
- (c1190) in Ekwall PNLan.123 : Scarth.
- (a1200) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)330 : Scharth.
- (1242) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)343 : Wainscarth.
- (1274) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)69 : Waynescart.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)69 : Waynestart.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)69 : Venella de Waynestarthe.
- (1302) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)69 : Waynestarth.
- (1317) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)262 : Aykscharth.
- (1337) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)330 : Le Scarth.
- (1374) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)262 : Aykesgarth.
- (1420) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)262 : Aykeskarth.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. scarth.