Middle English Dictionary Entry
shēre n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | shēre n.(1) Also sher, chere, sharre; pl. sher(e)s, sheren, shares, shires, shores & shẹ̄res & (error) shres. |
| Etymology | OE scēar, scēr, pl. scēar(r)a; forms in -a- may have been influenced by ME shā̆r(e n.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A pair of scissors or shears; also in fig. context [quot.: a1460]; -- also pl.; paire (of) sheres; (b) in cpds. & combs.: ~ grindere, ~ smith; ~ man [see sher-man n.]; shapster ~; (c) a candle snuffer; (d) a knife; (e) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)857 : He tok þe shres [read: sheres] of þe nayl And made him a couel of þe sayl.
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.156 : Hail be ȝe tailurs wiþ ȝur scharpe schores; To mak wronge hodes, ȝe kittiþ lome gores.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3246 : This Sampsoun neuere ciser drank ne wyn Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne shere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.418 : Ther is also costlewe furrynge in hire gownes, so muche pownsonynge of chisel to maken holes, so muche daggynge of sheris.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5691 : Out he clippeth..Hire tunge with a peire scheres [rime: teres].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)149a/a : Here [swallows']..tailes beþ forked as a peyre scheres.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)216b/a : In somer tyme þe bowes beþ subtiliche y-kutte wiþ a knyf of bone or wiþ a schere þat is nought scharp.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.75 : Þorw meny sleyghthes Venged me..oþer brend my-self with-ynne Lyke a shappesters sheres.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.4126 : Hir her abrod gan sprede..for-rent & al to-torn, I-plukked of & nat with sheris shorn.
- (1423) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)107/17-18 : Whan þe same Shere hath ben vsed a xiiij or xv dayes, þan þe Sheregrynder shall glace þe forseid newe Sheres at his owne coste and make hem able to werke.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)66a/b : Tonsula: a lytel shere.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)141a/b : Þe mouþ opned & þe tonge compressed..be it [uvula] taken wiþ a huke & þan with fnatted sherz..be it kutted.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)92/25 : Recipe roses þat bene ful spred..and clyppe hem with a paire scherez in smale pecys.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6422 : Rasour nor sheer touchid neuer his hed.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)445 : Schere to clyppe wythe: Forfex.
- a1450 Ordin.Nuns(2) (Vsp A.25)146/33 : Þen sal þe prelete with a payr of schers be-gyn forto kut hir hair.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)13 : He took a peyre sheren..and clippede hem.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1927 : A duke shal haue A myghti choyce of men on hors & foote, Ereither horn and breste for to save, That if the boorys hed in wolde wrote, A sharre [L forfex] shere his groyn of by the roote.
- (1465) Acc.Howard in RC 57320 : Item, for a payr sheres and a payr gloves for her, iiij d.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)65b/a : Clippe of þe poyntis of boþe nedelis wiþ a schere.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)112b : Scherys: forfex, forpex.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)194/25 : Pylat..wyth a payre of scherys þat he borowde forto kytte hys naylys wyth, smote hymselfe to þe hert.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)13/69b : Forfex: shyris.
- c1500 Looke well (Trin-C R.3.19)17 : What wyght on-lyue trustyth on theyre cherys Shall haue at last hys guerdon and hys mede; ffor wemen can shaue nerer then rasours or sherys.
b
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.331 : Auenge me fele tymes other frete my-selue Wyth-inne, as a shepster shere.
- (1423) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)107/14 : Þat no Shere-grynder from þis day forward take more for a paire of newe Sherys gistyng and gryndyng þan ij s.
- (1423) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)107/17 : Þe Sheregrynder shall glace þe forseid newe Sheres.
- (1423) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)108/35 : It is ordeyned..þat þe Sheregrynders shull go home to þe Shermenhous and there to sette and amende alle maner defautes longyng to here Sheres except only þe gryndyng.
- (1440) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.29 : [Bond of Robert Beaumont and Robert Creswell,] sheregrynder, [to Richard Giles, tailor].
- -?-(1347) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.9639 : Will. de Lincoln, cheregrinder.
- -?-(1354) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.9647 : Johannes de Burgh, schergrynder.
- -?-(1469) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.96188 : Johannes Childe, sheresmyth.
c
- (1455) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 93353 : i shere to snoffe candels.
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)2 Kings 12.31 : He..ladde abowten vp on hem boostful irene carres & he deuydede wiþ schares [WB(2): knyues] & he þurȝ piȝte in þe schap of þe sides.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 18.28 : Þei kuttyn þemselue aftir þer riyt with scheris [WB(2): knyues; L cultris] & litil lawncis to þe tyme þat þei weren al besched with blood.
e
- (1264) in Fransson Surn.154 : Rob. Schersmyth.
- (1325) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames316 : Walter Scheresmythe.
- (1391) Surnames in Disc.23 : Geoffrey sheresmyth.
- -?-(1402) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.96106 : Thomas Sheresmyth.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. shear.