Middle English Dictionary Entry
seǧǧe n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | seǧǧe n.(1) Also segg, seg(e, cegge, (early) secg & (in names) segh, seche-, sehg-. |
| Etymology | OE secg sedge. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Sedge, any of several plants of the family Cyperaceae, including: a plant of any of the several species of the genus Carex; the yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus); sweet flag (Acorus calamus); also, coll. sedge plants; ~ fen (hille); ~ rotes, roots of sedge; (b) coll. & pl. the cut stalks of sedge; ~ reke, a sedge rick; (c) ~ silver, a money payment in commutation of the service of cutting and binding sedge; (d) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.117].
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1125(?OE) Dur-C.Gloss.(Dur-C Hunter 100)125(d) : Carix: secg.
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)545/13 : Carex: seg.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)18 : Þar were abute blosme inoȝe, In ore waste þicke hegge, Imeind mid spire & grene segge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)219b/b : Carix, Segge, is an herbe most harde and scharp..and þe stalk þerof is þre cornered.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5064 : He was so laid with armes and legges Als thikke as mire with segges.
- (1427) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.68 : John Hore..hath enfeffed John Wodehows..and John Eyr..with..a seggefen yn Marcheford.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)64 : Cegge, or wylde gladone: Accorus. Cegge or stare: Carix.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)8.14 : Er the Canyculer, the hounde, ascende, Haue vp the fern and seggis to be brende.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)16/17 : Tak þe jewse of baynewort or of segge rutes & do thre droppes in thi nose thirlles.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)570/48 : Carex: Segge.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)593/18 : Lista: Segge.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)328 : A Segg hylle: carectum.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)787/24 : Carex: a sege.
b
- (1325-7) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 258 : De xlix s. iij d. de feno, arundine, segges.
- (1410) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)8.634 : De Garbis Arundinis & de Garbis de Segg.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.2.3 : Sche took a leep of segge [vr. seggis; WB(1): resshen; L scirpeam] and bawmede it with tar and pitch, and puttide the ȝong child with ynne.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)451 : Segge reeke: Caretum [Win: Carectum].
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.525 : On the south let make an hous for bestis..of boord & bouwes colde..And couered wel with shingil, tile, or broom Or segges.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1468 : Horsmen haue had of reed or seggis shevys, Theron carying their armure as thei swymme.
c
- (1277) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 257 : De seggesilver per annum quatuor denarios equaliter vel falcabit et ligabit sexdecim carectatas grossi rosci..Et tunc erit quietus de predicto segselver.
- (1298-1300) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 257 : De liij s. viij d..de seggesilver.
- (1316-17) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 258 : Cum quibusdam certis redditibus et consuetudinibus vocatis wodefare, Somerelonde, seggeselvere, coupeny, et Roserye.
d
- (1222) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)231 : Segwike.
- (1230) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames312 : Richard de la Seg.
- (1242) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)231 : Sehgwyk.
- (1243) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames312 : William de Segefeld.
- (1271) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)232 : Sechewyk.
- (1306) in Fransson Surn.97 : Rich. le Seggemaker.
- (1308) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames180 : Thom. atte Segh.
- (1361) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames312 : John de Seggefeld.
- (1388) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.49 : [There is also a croft called] Segcroft.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1450 Poem Hawking (Yale 163)424 : Where she be on dry lond or in seggez, Whan þat she felez the foule remeve, She streyneth hit then fulle hertly.
Note: ?MG