Middle English Dictionary Entry
shīve n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shīve n. Also shife, shief, sheve, shefe & (error) schyne; pl. shives, shifes, (error) shyneys. |
| Etymology | ?OE (cp. OS scīva, OHG scība, OFris. knē-scīve); also cp. MLG schīve. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A slice, piece, usu. of bread or other food; also in proverb; also, a portion of food; ~ (of) bred; step-moder ~, a thin slice, an insufficient portion; (b) ?a slab or length of wood; ?a measure of wood [cp. shef n.3.]; (c) ?a piece of a broken spear; (d) a grooved wheel for a pulley, sheave; (e) ?as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Ancr.(Tit D.18)154/29 : Ȝif ho mai sparien ani poure schiue [Corp-C: schraden] sende ham dearneliche ut of hire wanes.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)970 : Bring me wid þe a shiue [vrr. schyne; shyuer of] bred!
- 1381 Dc.257 Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)70.38/1 : Kerf þy chese in lytyl schyuis & do hem in þe sewe wyþ eggys.
- a1400 Ashm.1444 Cook.Recipes (Ashm 1444)75.65/3 : Two schyues of [Dc.257: Toste wyte bred & do yt in dischis].
- a1425 Gloss.Bibbesw.(AS 182)198 : A schive [vrr. schyef; szyvere; glossing AF (Cmb): lesche].
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)79/26 : Tak þe rute of þe wilde cucurd & dry it & schere it in schyues.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)4/23 : Who-so hath litell breed smale schive most make.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)524/24 : Þe preste bad hym cut shyvis of bread.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.17 : When hit is colde, leche hit with knyves; Rost hit and messe hit forthe on schyves.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)109 : Pres the remynant and lesche it cold and serue it in schyves.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)399 : Schyve [Hrl 221: Schyvere], of bred or oþer lyke: lesca, scinda.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)120b : A Stepmodir shife: Colirida.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)85/10 : Þer byn mony þat han mor lust to fede hor owne bodyes..þen forto ȝeue a pore man a schyue of bred.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)772/31-2 : Lesca, colirida: a schefe of brede.
b
- (1426-7) Rec.Norwich 265 : [To Thomas Turnour for 3] shyves [of wood for making] moldys, 6 d.
c
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1402 : Now a schaft, now a schild, nowe a scheue [vr. swerde] hentis.
d
- (1336-7) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 3139 : In diuersis cordis de Russhewale cum schiuis et Trussis pro vno rakke inde faciendo emptis ibidem de diuersis x s.
- (1399) Fabric R.Yk.Min.in Sur.Soc.3518 : Item, j par de pulees cum vj shives.
- (?1403) Fabric R.Yk.Min.in Sur.Soc.3522 : In ij schyves de ere emptis de Thoma Sowerby pro j magno pulee, 16 s.
- (1420) *For.Acc.(PRO) 3 Hen.VI H dorso [OD col.] : De..ij Boies, j magna lanterna..ij pulleys enen. ad tractandum malum, ij Shyneys enen. pro pentr. [?read: pendenda] ancor.
- (1426-7) Rec.Norwich 265 : [To Richard Baxter,] bracyer, [working 34 lb. of the community's brass for the] schives [for the] bekerell.
- (1436) *Acc.Exch.K.R.53/5.lf.10 [OD col.] : Computat..in xij pulleys et vj shyves emptis de Johanne Buller..de nouo factis.
- (1468) Acc.Howard in RC 57526 : Item, fore xliij shifes and iiij stopes, viij d.
e
- (1420-21) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.477 : Henrico Shyve.