Middle English Dictionary Entry
shār(e n.(3)
Entry Info
| Forms | shār(e n.(3) Also sharre, (in place names) sar, shere, siere; pl. shares, (late) chares. |
| Etymology | OE scearu a cutting, share; cp. OE folc-scearu, land-scearu. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A portion, share; a share of a prize or booty taken at sea; (b) a duty levied on fishing boats; commune ~, revenue raised for civic repairs; (c) in place names.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1375) Doc.Blk.Bk.Admir.in RS 55.1150 : Item, de tous ceulx qui ont pris sur la mer nefs, biens, ou prisonniers et nont mye paiez a ladmiral ses shares.
- (c1375) Doc.Blk.Bk.Admir.in RS 55.1172 : Item, de prendre et saisir pour ladmiral les shares a lui dues doffice de toutes maneres.
- (c1400) Doc.Blk.Bk.Admir.in RS 55.1400 : Ladmiral aura un share del entierte.
- (1411) *Acc.Exch.Q.R.Bundle 67 No.18 [OD col.] : Ibidem cepit unum schar de Thos Ise, magistro unius ballenger.
- a1450 Ben.Rule(2) (Vsp A.25)881 : Oure gude angel Al our warkes to god wil tel, Al be it neuer so litil a schar.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1976 : The boorys hed his part is to withstonde, A sharre out of the subside is at honde, Clappe it theron.
- (c1482) Acc.Howard in RC 6180 : The same day my Lord paid Archer for xxiiij chares, and the maister ij chares, viij li., xv s.
b
- (1372) *For.Acc.(PRO) 6 A [OD col.] : Custuma navium batellorum piscentium super mare ibidem [Winchelsea] vocat' shares.
- (1464) Statutes Ireland 3p.140 : Vne Revenue cressaunt entre eaux mesmes appelle le commune share, quele commune share del Austre partie est de pluis value que le commune share del borient partie, et chescune partie del vile garde lour commune share demesme de fortifier lour parte.
- (1464) Statutes Ireland 3p.142 : Le dit Souerain de ordeiner annuelment pour le leuacione & collecione del dit commune share.
c
- (1114-40) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)157 : Sharou.
- (1212) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)92 : Essiere.
- (1227) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)157 : Sarrou.
- (1270) in Wallenberg PNKent585 : Waldewareshare.
- (1297) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)157 : Sharehow.
- (1404) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)93 : Esshere Episcopi.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1343) in Page Vic.Hist.Sus.2265 : [A custom of the ships and boats fishing at sea called] scharz.
Note: Antedates sense (b).
- (1363) in Page Vic.Hist.Sus.2265 : [The vicar of Eastbourn received from the fishermen a certain custom called Crystshare…in return for which he had to find a chaplain to celebrate three days in the week…The accounts of the bailiff of Rye…include the collection of the ] Christschar.
Note: Boats divided into classes according to their tonnage which gave the owner of the boat 'shares' of the catch according to their class. Other shares went to the men engaged, the owners of the nets and the parish church.--per MJW
Note: New compound.