Middle English Dictionary Entry
sissen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | sissen v. Sg.3 cissit(h, cisses, scisset. |
| Etymology | MDu., MLG. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To make a hissing sound; ppl. sissing as noun: something that hisses, a snake; (b) of the ears: to buzz, hum.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)253,254 : Cerpent cifle [glossed:] cisses [vr. scisset]..cine recifle [glossed:] cissez.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)760 : Frogge pipith, Snake cissith.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)7 : Addere cissit [F cifflie] or fliet proprie.
- c1400 MS Roy.12.B.1 (f.12) in Halliwell D.745 : Sibilus est genus serpentis: a syssyng.
b
- a1300 Wanne mine eyhnen (Trin-C B.1.45)2 : Mine eyhnen misten and mine heren sissen.