Middle English Dictionary Entry
scons(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | scons(e n. Also sconce, sconsce, skonse, skonce. |
| Etymology | OF esconse, esconce & ML sconsa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A candlestick or lantern provided with a screen and a handle; ~ candel-stikke; (b) a candlestick fastened to a wall; (c) a screen or partition before a door.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1392) Doc.York in Sur.Soc.35129 : Pro reparacione de iiij skonses fractis in vestiario, 12 d.
- (1396) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.116 : [In the chapel..6] sconces.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)649/18 : Absconsus: sconse.
- (a1430) Invent.Randolf in Archaeol.61171 : j sconce silver and gild pounced wiht [read: with] two Pellicanes.
- (1434) EEWills102/20 : Sir Iohn Russhebrok a skonce, an other skonce to Symond Brownyng.
- (1434) Invent.Scarborough in Archaeol.5166 : vj sconses pro candelis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)450 : Sconce: Sconsa, vel absconsa, lanternula.
- a1450 St.Etheldr.(Fst B.3)351 : In a sconsce he hadde hurre candelle with hurre lyȝt, Bot þe cursede feynde come þedur þo & blew hit ouȝt sodenly.
- (1455) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 93353 : i scons candelstik of latone.
- (1471) Will York in Sur.Soc.45191 : Unum parvum scons de laton.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf d ij/b : Looke where an hawke perchith for all nyght..and softe and layserly clymbe to her with a sconce or a lanterne that hath bot oon light in yowre hande and let the light be towarde the hawke so that she se not yowre face.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)721/12 : Absconsa: a scons.
b
- ?c1450 in Aungier Syon Mon.363 : The mynyster of hyghe masse schal..lyght the quyer sconses and rolles as ofte as nede is.
c
- (1457-8) in Parker Gloss.Archit.1440 : In denariis solutis duobus carpentariis ibidem operantibus in projectura et factura unius penteys et unius skonse coram hostia aule.