Middle English Dictionary Entry
skek n.
Entry Info
| Forms | skek n. Also skec, skekke, checke. |
| Etymology | AF eschec, eschek, eskek, vars. of OF eschiec. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A raid, plundering attack.
Associated quotations
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)5131 : Brutons nere namore ycluped, ac waleys ywis..& ne miȝte neuere eft þis lond keuere, ac libbeþ mid alle ssame; Bote hii þus mid scolkinge vpe þe englisse wende, & doþ eni skek [B vrr. skekke, checke] feble ynou, & abbeþ þe worse ende.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4324 : Kepe we þe strait wais..And robben hem her sustenaunce Wiþ skec, and don hem combraunce.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4501 : Noble kniȝtes..Binomen mani painems her liif And wiþ skekes and wiþ fiȝt Þe wayes loked wele apliȝt.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4726 : Swiþe fel and wicke man..Þat euer waited scaþe and skec.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2831 : Þe kyng dude a noble skek -- Þe ȝates par force vp he brek.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)24504 : Þai [spie] and waite ful eger and frek Qwat tim on þam mak anie escheke.
Note: [see note p.360]
Note: New forms (one taken from quot. c1330(?a1300)--2nd): Also..escheke; pl. skekes, chekes, eschekes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740:Eckhardt)319/11895 : Bitwen þam sette ful many eschekes And many batailes and fele contekes.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740:Eckhardt)336/12538 : Þai walde na langer so trauailde be..to se Romains parage..In fer landes suffer slik v[t]rage..Wiȝ slik als thefes, fra sted to stede, After chekes done, to wasting fled.