Middle English Dictionary Entry
scrat(te n.
Entry Info
| Forms | scrat(te n. Also scrate, skrat & (in place names) strat, strac & (error) scarte. |
| Etymology | Prob. OE scrætte adulteress, harlot (ult. L) & ON (cp. OI skratti wizard; goblin, monster); cp. OE scritta hermaphrodite. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A hermaphrodite; (b) hermaphroditism; (c) a goblin, monster; -- in place names [see Smith PNElem.2. 114, 126].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)6b/a : Of hermyfroditez, i. scrattes.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)109a : A Scarte: hermofodrita, vir promiscui sexus [Monson: a Scratte: hermafrodita, vir promiscuj sexus, salmatis medio correpto, femina promiscuj sexus].
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)695/2 : Hic et hec armifraudita: a skratt.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)793/31 : Hec armifodrita: a scrate.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)143b/a : Passionz of yerde as priapismus, closyng of þe prepucij, castracioun, i. geldyng, circumsisioun, hermofrose, i. scrat.
c
- (1256) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)197 : Scrathawe, Scrattehac.
- (1292) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)197 : Strathawe, Strachawe.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)233 : Scrathou.
- (1388) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)215 : Scrathowe.
- (1400) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)264 : Scrathawe.