Middle English Dictionary Entry
shī̆r-rẹ̄̆ve n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shī̆r-rẹ̄̆ve n. Also shir(r)eve, shirive, shirrefe, shir(r)ef, shirrif(e, shiriffe, shir(r)ief, sirreve, sher(r)eve, sherive, sherref, sheref(fe, shereref, sherrif, sherif(e, sherof, serive, cherrief, sherve, sherf(e, shoref, shrive, shrif, shrief, shreve, shrewe, shref, (SW) sserreve & (early) scir(r)eve, scerreve, serreve, (in cpd.) shreb- & (in names) shirew, scirref, shirve & (error) scr reue; gen. shirreves, etc. & shurreves, (in name) scrives-; pl. shirreves, etc. & shirrives, shireffes, chereves, shoreffes, shriffes, (early) scirerevan, sirrefan & (error) schererys. |
| Etymology | OE scīr-gerēfa, scīre-, scȳr(e)-, scīrrēfa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A high elected or appointed official representing the Crown, having various legal and administrative duties, a sheriff; (b) with the names of specific English counties or cities: ~ of york (london, the seid toun of bristol, etc.); ~ for the cite of london; (c) by extension to other countries: a governor, prefect, etc.; also, transl. of L vicecomes; (d) ~ cacche-pol, shir-reves depute, a sheriff's officer; shir-reve(s clerk, a clerk of the sheriff's court; ~ gavel, a rent of some kind; ~ shot (tenthe), shir-reves silver (welcom), shir-reve(s yeld, money to meet the sheriff's expenses, sheriff's aid; ~ stuth, a customary rent; shir-reve(s tourn, the sheriff's biannual court; shir-reves writ, a writ directed to the sheriff; (e) in phrases: ~ of shires (the shire, this cite, etc.); ministre of the ~, a sheriff's deputy; tourn of ~, sheriff's court; (f) in surnames; (g) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.111-12].
Associated quotations
a
- (1100) Chart.St.Paul in RHS ser.3.5820 : Henric king gret his scirereuan & his þeinas of Lundene & on Essaxan, [etc.].
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.963 : Ne king, ne biscop, ne eorl, ne scr reue [read: scyrreue] ne haue þær nane hæse.
- (1155) Chart.Hen.II in Hall EME (Hrl Charter 3.B.49)11 : Henri þurh godes ȝefu ænglelandes king gret ealle mine bissceopas..& ealle mine scirereuan.
- ?c1250 PMor.(Eg 613(1))50 : For þer ne mai hit ou bi-nimen þe king ne þe scirreve [vrr. serreue, scerreue].
- a1300(1062-6) Chart.in Kemble Codex Dipl.4.192 : Eadward king gret..alle mine heuedmen and mine þegnes and mine sirrefan.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)266 : Schireues he sette, bedels, and greyues.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11061 : A freinss kniȝt was at gloucetre þe sserreue þoru þe king.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.359 : A shirreue hadde he been and a countour.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)2.128 : Þanne fette fauel folis of þe beste Sette mede on a shirreue [vrr. shiryue, sheroff, schriff] shod al newe.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)550 : Tho bigan..þe scherref [vrr. sherrif, shereff] aboute Gamelyn for to take.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)554 : Four and twenty ȝonge men..Come to þe schirref.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)879 : The iustice and þe scherreue [vr. Sirreue] boþe honged hye.
- (1425) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.186/1420 : Monye..was receyued of þe Chamberleyn and of þe Chereves.
- c1450 Yk.BPrayer(2) (Yk-M 16.M.4)69/18 : We sall pray especially for þe meer, þe xij, þe schirriues, and þe xxiiij.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.33/26 : Ricardus..Kyng of Inglonde..to Erles, Barons, Justices, Shrefes, Mynsters.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)147/2 : Þe kyng sent writtis to all þe schryues in Ynglond, þat þei schuld ordeyne him sufficient puple to fite with þe barnes whech conspired ageyn him.
- (1472-3) Doc.in Welch Hist.Pewterers Lond.35 : Item, paide for botehire to westmynstre warde and homeward with the Shrifes, xxj d.
- (1473-4) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2.p.142 : To alle Maires, Shiriefs, Bailliefs, etc.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)147 : Men wich..bith made shyreffes ffor a yere taken off þe kynge litle..ffor thair seruice.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)780 : Yf ȝe wyll haue Mankynde..ȝe must speke to þe schryue for a cepe [read: cape] corpus.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)4.36.81b : The shiref schuld haue the principall ouersight for to se & knowe þat eche do his deuoyr, ffor at the yeres ende he countith for alle.
- a1500(?a1450) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)159 : There shulbe elit shireves for this nexte yere commyng.
- a1500 GRom.(Glo 42)746/9 : This tyrante..Is vnderstonde Iustyce, schyreues, Men of lawe, baylys, & Cachepolles & all suche, The wych take a-wey fro sympull men.
- -?-(1467) Will in Som.RS 16197 : Thoo which were wrongfully hurt when I was Sherve may be recompensid.
b
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)218/4 : Sir Symond Ward..þat þo was shirryf of Ȝork.
- (1426) Paston2.506 : Vndere þis colour þe sayd Walter was desayued, for þe same nyght at ix of þe bell þe scherrefes of Norwich..be assent inepaneld a qwest at ix of þe bell wyth-in nyght.
- (1439) LRed Bk.Bristol2.156 : It is ordyned and assented by the seid Meire, Sherif, Baillefs, and Commune Consell of the seid towne of Bristowe.
- (1444) Case King Council in Seld.Soc.35108 : To the Cherrief of the countee of Deuenshire.
- (1450) RParl.5.196a : xii d. by the day, to be payed by the handes of the Schreff of the Countees of Sussex' and Surr'.
- (1455) Paston2.116 : Y vnderstand the shyreve of Norffolkys officers be at Norwych.
- (1456-7) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2.p.55 : William Canynges, Maire of Bristow, and William Damme, Sherf of the same.
- (1457) LRed Bk.Bristol2.184 : The right worthi and reuerent Sirs William Canyng, Mayre of Bristowe, and William Damme, Sherfe of the same.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.80/28 : Henry..Kyng of Inglonde..to þe schereref of oxonforde-shire..Commaunde thabbot of Oseney that he ȝelde to vs a plowe of londe.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.180/2 : Þese Been witnesse Godefrey of Graucumbe, þenne schrewe of oxonforde, etc.
- (c1474) Case King Council in Seld.Soc.35115 : Johne Colyngborne esquier..And late Seryve of Wilteschir.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)654/5 : The shyryf of Oxenford-shyre.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)38/13 : Seynt Thomas..had a fadyr was callet Gylbert, þat was scheryue of London.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)32 : All presentes..were..chosyn Mayr and Shoreffes for the Cite of London.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)34 : The kynge grawnted that eche Shereffe of London sholde have ij Clerkis and ij Sergauntes..from that day forwarde shold never after Shoreff of London be in Office lenger then one yere.
c
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)6/7 : Olibrius..schireue of þe lond..alle þe lefden o þe liuiende godd fordude & for-demde.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)459/103 : Þe scherreue of leouns feteres made strongu [read: strongue].
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2286 : In al denemark ne was no knith, Ne conestable, ne shireue..Þat he ne com biforn sire ubbe.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)2554 : Hit was a kniȝt, a riche sscherreue, And [a] ȝong jolif wif Þat he louede.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)69a/b : Vicicomes: a shyrrefe.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)42a : Þey schulde not ben ordeyned to non special office in townes ne in contrees as to be meyres or baylies in citees or scherreues in contrees.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)8.37 : The erle Pictavense toke awey by myȝhte the wife of his shiref [L vicecomitis].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)112b : A Schereffe: vicecomes.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)113a : A Schyriffe: Vicecomes.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)683/27 : Hic vicecomes: a scheryfe.
d
- (1274-5) Hundred R.Tower 1157 : Solebat dare ad shirreves welcome ij d. & facere sectam ad hundredum.
- (1274-5) Hundred R.Tower 1163 : Item, idem abbas subtraxit..xv d. ob. annui redditus de Schrebgavel quos similiter reddere debet predicto burgo.
- (1274-5) Hundred R.Tower 1526 : Subtraxit ij d. de turno vicecomitis et ij d. de shireveschot.
- (1286) Plac.War.731/b : Tenent tenementum..de quo residuum tenetur domino Regi videlicet x d. ob. ad scherrevesselver et ix d. ad turnum Vic', &c.
- (1298) Inquis.Yks.in YASRS 3184 : [2 s. for] Waytemete [and] Schirrefstuthe.
- (1301) Inquis.Yks.in YASRS 31145 : [He held certain lands..by the service of the fortieth part of one knight's fee, and by rendering annually..for] Castelward [and] Schirefgeld [6 d.].
- (1330) Plac.War.557/b : xl s. & viij d. per manus ejusdem Ballivi de quadam consuetudine que dicitur Schirevesyeld.
- (1349-50) Acc.Chester in LCRS 59133 : [100 s. 4 1/2 d. received of a certain rent..collected in the five hundreds of the county of Chester at the feast of St.Martin, and called] Shirreuesteth.
- (c1350) RParl.2.401b : Une torcenouse prise q'est chescun an leve sur eux par Baillifs le Roy, q'il appelent Shirrevestothe, c'est assavoir de chescune bove de terre sys deners.
- (1376) RParl.2.348b : Une Rente q'est appelle Shereveyeld que amount a xiiii li. xix s.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)4.168 : A schireues clerke byschrewed al þe route.
- (a1425) Stonor1.41 : Payd to the sheryff servand for sheryff tenthe, ij s. vj d.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)91 : In writ of dette, wretes of chartres holden with wrong, writtes of acountes, and other writtes lik that ben clepyd shirrevis writtes.
- (1444) RParl.5.108b : If any Sherryff, Under Sherryff, or Sherryff Clerk, occupie office of Sherriff, Under Sherryff, or Sherryff Clerk contrarie to any of the Statutz afore rehersed..he..shall forfete the somme of cc li. yerely.
- (?c1447) Paston (EETS)2.336 : Þer is non of þe schyrrevys debytys but Frances for to inquire non thynge of.
- (1451) RParl.5.217b : Like it youre Highnesse to take, resume, seise, and reteigne..all maner Libertees..Viewe of Frankeplege, Sheref Tournes, Sheref Gildes, Fynes, [etc.].
- (a1467) Paston2.327 : Your tenantes arn gretly hurt by the shireves turn.
- (1470) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.xci : He..caused oon Thomas Hewetson yeoman, on of the sheryfcatchapollys, to take an accion of trespase ayenste youre seid oratour.
- (a1500) *Anc.Deed (PRO) A.7586 [OD col.] : Shurreves ȝeld.
e
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)3.124 : Shirreues [vrr. Schryffes, Sherofes, Schrewes, Schererys; B vr. sherevis] of shires were shent ȝif heo ne were.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)107 : Þe forsaid forster or parker shuld warne the shiref of þe shire þt þe huntyng shuld be inne, for to ordeyne stable suffisaunt and cartis eke.
- 1415 Procl.Yk.Corp.Christi Dayxxxiv : We comand of ye kynges behalue and ye Mair and ye shirefs of yis Citee yat no mann go armed.
- (1422) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.145/141 : William Walderne, Mair, with Aldremen and þe Shreves of þe saide Citee..mette with þe Cors of þe king in Suthwerk.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.37/9 : Wher be thy mersmentis that thou by theifte hast take away, deceyuyng the mynystrys of the Shereve with drawyng tol a thowsand tymes?
- (1433) RParl.4.447a : Diverse persones..have been ofte retourned by the Shereve of the Shire.
- (1449) RParl.5.155a : That the Shirrifes of the Shires for the tyme beyng make proclamacion in ther Countes.
- a1450 Summe maner (Wel 1493)53 : By fore the Sherve of the Shire..There semblid mony a semely sire.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.37/20 : And that thabbot..be quite for euer fro lawe day..And also of turnys of schreuys.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.364 : In Yorkshire so the Rokeby with theim mette, Shrief of the shire.
f
- (1168) in Pipe R.Soc.12104 : Alfwinus Schirreue.
- (1212) CRR(2) 6283 : Hugo le Sirreve.
- (1219) Justice in Eyre R.in Seld.Soc.53276 : Alan Scirive.
- (1222) Domesday Bk.St.Paul in Camd.6936 : Machilda serreue.
- (1246) Nickname in LuSE 5557 : Will. Blakshyreue.
- (1260) Pat.R.Hen.III102 : Roger le Schereve.
- (1273) Close R.Edw.I28 : Robert le Shireve.
- (1296) Name in LuSE 3571 : Scirref.
- (1301) Valuat.Dartford in Archaeol.Cant.9290 : Adam Shereve.
- (1310) Feet Fines Kent in Archaeol.Cant.11336 : Robert le Sherreue.
- (1332) Name in LuSE 3572 : Shirew.
- (1351-52) Freeman R.in KRec.18206 : Willelmus de Sherreveslond.
g
- (1236) in Ekwall Dict.EPN401 : Shyreveton.
- (1271) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)331 : Schyruelench.
- (1307) in Sundby Dial.Wor.68 : Scryueslench.
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.160 : [A salt-work in Wyche called] Shirriefsele.
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.161 : [The farm of] Shryveszele.
- (1427-8) in Sundby Dial.Wor.68 : Shyrryfe.
- (1431) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)215 : Shirrevesnewenton.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Supplement corrects sense (d): combination ~ toth has been changed to ~ stuth.