Middle English Dictionary Entry
serk(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | serk(e n. Also serc, scherk, cerke, sirke, (chiefly N) sark(e & (early) suric. |
| Etymology | OE serc, syrc, syric; also cp. ON: cp. OI serkr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A garment worn next to the skin, an undergarment; a shirt, shift; also fig.; ?also, a nightshirt; ~ and brech; (b) in proverb; (c) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)547/25 : Colobi[um]: suric.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)603 : He..sone anon him funden, Als he tirneden of his serk, On his rith shuldre a kyne merk.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2449 : Þat burde briȝt..al naked was saf hir cerke.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)17243 : For-sak þi serc [Göt: sarke] o silk and line.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.161 : Bare in serke [F chemys] & breke Isaac away fled.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.48 : Heo shulde vnsewe hire serke [vrr. syrke; shert, smok] & sette þere an heire.
- (1415-16) *Bench Bk.2 Hullf.243 : Yai sall ga barehede & barefote, nakid of body, in serk and in breke.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3103 : Serk and breke bath sho hym broght, Þat ful craftily war wroght Of riche cloth.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)654/26 : Camicia: sarke.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)17118 : Thei brak hir helm..And made al blod hir white scherk.
- c1440 Lyarde (Thrn)2.281 : Thay salle were non other serke bot the harde hayere.
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)172 : Þey wil..Take cure of soules as worthi clerkis And resceyue þe charge..To wasche synful soules serkis.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)1391 : The godman..ros uppe in hys serke anoon.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3656 : His cloþis of gold vnto his scherk [rime: werk] Saladyn began torase ffor yre.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4339 : Is þam na surcote of silke ne serkis of raynes, Ne kirtils of camlyn bot as þam kynd leues.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)11571 : Barfote, in þer serkes alon..To kyng Acab þei kneled ylkon.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)143/6 : On þe morn sho did of all hur clothyng, and in hur sarke alone sho come afor þe pope.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)362/22 : He was war of hur command in hur sark.
- c1450 3 KCol.(2) (Add 31042)748 : Owre Ladyes serke, the clothes, and the hay The wiche that Criste was firste ylapped In, In Bedleme scho fande þaym.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)110b : A Serke: Camisia, interula, camisiola.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)24 : If it happe me to dye for þe in batill..þat þu sette out my blody serke on a perch afore.
- c1450 Stations Rome(1) (Clg A.2)420 : A serke [vr. shyrte]..our lady gon make For her swete sones sake.
b
- a1500 Parton.(1) (Add 35288)1716 : Hyt was me shape or then my serke.
c
- (1301) Nickname in LuSE 55189 : Henr. Whitserk.
- (1327) Nickname in LuSE 55189 : Ad. Whitserk.