Middle English Dictionary Entry
shēring(e ger.
Entry Info
| Forms | shēring(e ger. Also zieren. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The cutting apart or splitting of mail with a weapon; the rending of flesh with a sharp instrument; ~ hok, = sher-hok n.; ~ iren, a cutting tool; -- used in fig. context; (b) the shearing of the nap of woolen cloth; (c) the reaping of grain; also, a crop of grain; (d) the shearing of sheep; the season of wool-shearing, shearing time [quot.: a1399]; the product of or yield from shearing [quot.: 1420]; also [last quot.], ?the shearing of wool from a sheep; ? = (b); (e) the cutting of hair; also, tonsure [1st quot.].
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.153 : Þe pope demynge þat it was for to use cuttynge and scherynge iren [L ferro abscisionis], he gat hym armes and horsmen, [etc.].
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)641 : In goth the grapenel, so ful of crokes; Among the ropes renne the sherynge-hokes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2624 : Þare was stomling of stedis, sticking of erles, Sharpe schudering of schote, schering of mailes.
- c1450 St.Eras.(Add 36983)p.202 : Þe xxx [thirtieth passion] was sheryng his flesshe with cikels.
b
- (1420) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)137 : Item, paye pur scheryng de Tout cest drapz et dyenge et Growneyng de le memes drapz.
- (1425) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)153 : Scheryng de iij clothis, v s. ij d.; Dryyng at the Fyre xx d.; scheryng off a noyer pece clothe, xx d.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)445 : Scherynge of clothe: Tonsio, tonsura.
- (1442) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1382 : Robert Falowefeld for the shering of the seid ix yerdes of Ray, taking for the shering of euery yerde j d., in al ix d.
c
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)59a/b : Seges: sherynge, or an here [Pep: rype corne or corne to sow].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)445 : Scherynge, or repynge of cornys: Messura, messio.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)112b : Scheryng: messio, messura.
- a1500 Henley Husb.(Sln 686)51 : A acre off lande shall haue iij erthis or þan it be sowen..and eueryche off these erthis is worthe vj d. þe harowyng a j d..þe sheryng v d., þe ledyng in to þe berne j d., [etc.].
d
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.18.4 : Þei sholyn ȝyue to þe prest..a part of wollys of þe sherynge of sheep.
- c1390 Chart.Abbey HG (Vrn)360 : Crist wente as mekeliche to hiȝ hongynge As a lomb doþ to his scherynge.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester9 : A skyne of a schep, that is to wetene, j dos. from scheryng yn to myhelmesse l d. ob.; and from that tyme yn to scheryng.
- c1400 *Aelred Inst.(1) (Vrn)1096 : As a schep þat is ilad to his deþ or as a bomb [read: lomb] þat is on scheryngge, riȝt so he ne openede not is mouþ.
- (1420) EEWills46/30 : Item, dimidium þe zieren and wolle that is in this house þe day of his dying.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)396 : Scherynge off wule: Tonsus.
e
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)52/1460 : De prima tonsura..Þat hys in holy cherche y-cleped wel Þe furste scherynge Of clerke.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)66b/b : Here I-euesed & schore hatte cesaries & euesinge & scheringe semeþ wel a man & nouȝt a womman.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)396 : Scherynge of byrdys [?read: berdys]: capitonsus.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. shearing.