Middle English Dictionary Entry
scǒurǧe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | scǒurǧe n. Also scurge, scorge, skourge, skurge, skorge, schourge, shourge, schurge, schorge, shorge, squorge; pl. scourges, etc. & skourjus, scories, (early) scourgen(e, scurgen, scorgen, skurgen, schurgen & (errors) scowgys, skoges, schoges, sges. |
| Etymology | AF escorge, escourge, escurge, scorge, OF eschurge, scurge. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A whip, lash; a whip used for torture or punishment, a scourge; also fig.; (b) ~ leded (of led), a whip weighted with lead; ~ lethered, a whip loaded or reinforced with leather; iren ~, ?a rod with iron points; knotted ~, a whip tied full of knots; (c) beten (dingen, scourgen, skelpen, swingen) with ~, to beat (sb., etc.) with a whip; -- some phrases also fig.; laien on with ~, beat (sb.) with a whip; -- also intrans.; throuen ~ to, strike at (sth.) with a whip; (d) a scourge used to beat Christ during the Scourging (one of the Instruments of the Passion); knotted (knotti) ~; (e) affliction, calamity; -- often used for punishment, purification, etc.; punishment, correction; (f) a human or political agent of affliction or correction; (g) seint benetes ~, ?wine; (h) a vine shoot.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Wooing Lord (Tit D.18)283 : A nu driuen ha him up wið swepes and wið schurges.
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)118 : Þe sergaunz..on hire gunne striue wid swopen ant wid scourges boþe ful riue.
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)142 : Mit swopes ant mit scourges habbe ye me flo.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)69/51 : Þe harde scourgene [Bod: knottes] in is tendre flechs deope gonne wade.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Nah.3.2 : Wo to the citee of blodis..raueyn shal not go awey fro thee; Voice of scourge..and of hors makynge noyse.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 2.15 : Whanne he hadde maad as a scourge of smale coordis, he castide out alle of the temple.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.425 : Darius..sendeþ to his servaunt Alisaundre..'I sende to þe a scourge, a bal, and a purs wiþ gold.'
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.67 : Þis freke..Preched of penaunces þat poule þe apostle suffred In fame & frigore and flappes of scourges.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)2391 : He bare a scowrge with cordes ten.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)12b/a : Castifer: a berere of schourges [vr. scorge].
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)291/16 : Ihesu..entride into þe temple, where he foond silleris and biers, and he bete hem out wiþ scoorgis.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)58a : Þer beþ oþer tokenes..by þe whiche..þe enemy may be knowe fro þe frende; Also, to bere som þing in hir hondes, as a whippe or a scourge, as þey of barbarye vsen.
- a1450(1411) Many man (Dgb 102)136 : Þat sellen soules for temperal getyng, Þey maken skourges to here owe betyng.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)109a : A Scowrge: flagrum, flagellum..scutica, Scorpio, Scorpius, taurea.
- a1500(c1450) Idley Instr.(Arun 20)2.B.2783 : Men dare in no wysse such peple chastyce ffor fere off lordshypp..þus þe scorge off correccyon ys rewlyd by slouth.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.58 : Crist of smalle corde made a skourge [rime: pourge].
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.75 : For Job was two falde scourged..Be beting sore of the feend and bittere wordes of his wyve; Off Satanas scourge tholed Job in his flesh outwardes smert, And of the scourge of his wife hadde he turment in hert.
- ?a1500 Job (Hnt HM 140)71 : Than cam a mesanger and tolde..Of the pytevous distruccion of his children all..The scorge of sorowe this pacient Job then felyng Vp rose.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)80/565 : Þe king..Het..beaten hire beare flesch ant hire freoliche bodi wið cnottede schurgen [Roy: scurgen].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)214/4 : Ne beore nan irn ne here ne ilespiles felles, ne ne beate hire þer wið ne wið scurge i leadet [Nero: schurge i leðered ne i leaded].
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)8048 : He hym chargyd wyth shourgys of leed So long be betyn tyl he wer dede.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)3 : He made hir be scourged wyth yren scourges.
- c1450 St.Eras.(Add 36983)p.202 : Þe iii was betyng all naked withe scourges of lede.
c
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)116 : Wid scourges betet hire fleisc þat ho ir deet wene.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)69/49 : With schourges [Corp-C: scorgen] he made is tormentours leggen on him i-nowe.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.King (LdMisc 108)40 : To a treo huy him bounde And with smarte scourges [Hrl: scourgen] beoten him sore and maden him many a wounde.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8445 : He laid on wiþ schourge and bad hir go.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)18/368 : Quik he het his sone take..And beten him wiȝ scourges stronge.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 12.11 : My fadir beet ȝou with scourgis; I..schal betyn ȝou with scorpiowns.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1157 : He preueth folk al day..And suffreth vs as for oure excercise With sharpe scourges [vr. schoges] of aduersitee Ful ofte to be bete in sondry wise.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10918 : Of flyes men mow hem weyl spourge, And þrowe to hem naght but a scourge.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5876 : Qua ne dos noght yur bidding, Wit scarp scurges yee þam suing [Frf: ding].
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.37/16 : Whan they come to the howse of this forcryer or bedyl..they bownde hym with fetterys, beit hym with scorgys.
- c1435 Lydg.St.George (Bod 686)172 : The tyrant þenne of verray cruelte Bad þat he shulde..Naked be..With skorges skorged.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.St.Austin (Hrl 2255)333 : Oon knelith doun, requerith of the tothir Pleyn remissioun of Oold cursidnesse, Bete with a scorge, took it with meeknesse.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1924 : Laches me þis losengere & ledis me him hedire Þat I may him skelp with a skorge.
- c1450(c1400) Rev.Jul.Norwich (Add 37790)65/29 : Syn is the scharpyste scourge that any chosen saule maye be bette with.
- c1450 7 Sages(1) (Arun 140)37/7 : He lete anone to spoile þat knaue And with scourges hys body swynge.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.77.54a : He schal in þat desir..profiten..in chastite..more in a ȝer þan he schulde wiþ outen þis desir profiten in seuene, þouȝ he..bete hym selue ilke a dai wiþ scourges fro morwe til euensongtime.
- c1500(?a1475) St.Marg.(3) (Ashm 61)196 : They bete hyre with scowgys [read: scowrgys] stronge.
d
- ?c1225 Ancr.(Cleo C.6)189/5 : He bledde on fif half..wið uten þilke reufule garcen of þe luðere schurgen [Nero: skurgen] ȝeont al his leofliche lif & naut ane on his scheonken.
- a1275 Stod ho (Tan 169*)2 : Þat leueli leor wid spald ischent, þat feire fel wid sges [read: scurges] rend.
- c1300 Wen i o þe rode (Bod 57)7 : Vyen i o þe rode se..Iesu..Hys bac wid scuurge iswungen..Weil auti [read: aut i] sinne lete.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1231 : Hi bounde him to a pyler and wiþ scourges gonne him bete.
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)28/134 : The third poynt that we sal trowe is cristes passion That he tholed..Howe he was..Beten with skourges.
- 1372 Water & blod (Adv 18.7.21)21 : Þe nailes, þe scourges, & þe spere..Alle þese moun witnesse bere Þat i þe haue wonnen with myn harte.
- c1390(?a1325) LChart.Chr.A (Vrn)644/86 : Þe penne þat þe lettre was wiþ writen weore scourges [vrr. scories, schorges, skoges] þat I was wiþ smiten.
- c1390 Talking LGod (Vrn)48/10 : Þer weore þou for my loue wiþ harde knotti scourges swongen and beten.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25542 : Suet iesu, at vndrin time..Sufferd a-bute þi hert, O juus..Wit knotted skurges hard and lang Dintes sare and smert.
- c1400 *Aelred Inst.(1) (Vrn)1103 : Þu miȝt not suffre his comely ryg be so to-torn wit schurges.
- a1425(?a1350) Nicod.(1) (Glb E.9)593 : With scowrges ȝe sall him ding.
- a1425 Medit.Pass.(1) (Arun 507)112 : How þai betid him with knottid scourgis.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)191/7 : Sche saw in hyr contemplacyon owr Lord..And þan sche sey sextene men wyth sextene scorgys, & eche scorge had viij babelys of leed on þe ende, & euery babyl was ful of scharp prekelys, as it had ben þe rowelys of a spor.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)203 : Thene þey..bett hym withe scharpe knotty schourges..one euery knott was a scharpe hok of Iryne.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)634 : His swete sydes fair and clene I-bete weron wiþ scories kene.
- a1450 Of alle þe ioyus (Cmb Dd.11.89)216 : The skyn..Many thousand holes were mad therin With thornes, skourjus, & nayles blake.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)331/338 : Skelpe hym with scourges and with skathes hym scorne.
- c1450 As Reson Rywlyde (Lamb 853)97 : Thou scourge maad of ful touȝ skyn, Knottid & gnaggid, y crie on þee; Þou beet my barn þat neuere dide synne.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)596 : Thi cros, thy skorges, thy garnement cast at chaunce, The rope, the peler to which thowe were bounde.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)2.242 : Þe angelys schul bryngyn forth þe cros, þe spere, þe naylys, þe scorgis & þe garlond of þornys with whiche Crist þolde his passion.
- a1500 Ihesu the sonne (Hrl 4012)38 : With shorgis then withouten pite Thei rentid thi flesh while ther myght laste.
e
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 19.6 : For god not with euene dom tormentiþ me & with his scourgis [L flagellis] girdeþ me.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.90.10 : For þou art, lord, myn hope..Þer shal not comen to þee euel, & scourge shal not neȝen-to to þi tabernacle.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.28.15 : Scourge flowing, whan shal passen, shal not comen vp on vs.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)11/6 : Þis creatur, seyng alle þis aduersytes comyng on euery syde, thowt it weryn þe skowrges of owyr Lord þat wold chastyse hir for hir synne.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)96/3 : Þe aduersite þat God sendith to þe, it is a medicine & no peyne, it is a chastisement & no dampnacion..þinke not on þe peyne þat þou ouȝtist to suffre of his scourge, but considere what place þat þou hast in his testament.
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)1.21.14a : Þe secounde þink..is sikir trowþe in alle articles of þe feiþ and þe sacramentis..And þouȝ þou feele ony steringe..agains ony of hem..bere þanne swilk steringes pacientli ase a scurge of our lord, bi þe whilk he wile klensen þin herte and make þi feiþ stedfast.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)109a : A Scowrge..quadragena.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)4632 : But he þat in-to pouerte is cropen..Shal be to him greet amendement..If he his pouert here y-wisse Suffreþ mekely wiþ-outen grucching, Þe scourge of God and his chastising.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)5516 : Neuer shal be among man Suche a flood..But if of synne man not amende, A sharper scourge he shal hem sende..a swerd of wrake Þat euerich shal aȝenst other take.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)144/69 : I crye on goddes gret pite..that this present scorges of my flessh mow maken medecyn and lechcraft of my inner mans helth.
f
- (?c1375-a1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3590 : Of Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte, God of delit and scourge [vr. schorge] of Lumbardye, Why sholde I noght thyn infortune acounte.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.247 : 'I am Athila, Goddes scourge.' 'And I,' quoþ the bisshop, 'am þe wold [read: wolf] þat destroyeþ oure Lord Goddes folk and have nede to Goddes scourge.'
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)36/27-8 : The realme of Assiryens was the skorge that God ordeined for His chi[l]dirn of Israell; Thanne aftirward He brake þat skorge and distroyed the realm of Assury.
g
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.156 : Hail ȝe holi monkes..Depe cun ȝe bouse..Wiþ seint Benet is scurge lome ȝe disciplineþ.
h
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.16.8 : For þe suburbis of esebon ben desert & þe vyneȝerde of sabama; þe lordis of jentilis hewen doun his scourgis [WB(2): siouns; L flagella]..his railing braunchis ben forsaken.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.113 : The squorges hie & graffes from the folde, Though they wol growe, & scions pampinari Wit fruit, [f]or fruitful let hem not be tolde.