Middle English Dictionary Entry
skeu n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | skeu n.(1) Also skeue, scheu, skue, scu(e & (error) skrew; pl. skeues, etc. & skiu(e)s. |
| Etymology | ON *skiw, *skew; cp. ME skī(e n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The sky, heavens; -- often pl.; (b) a cloud.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)157/19 : Wið uten us al þe world leitinde o swart lei up in to þe skiwes [Cai: skues].
- a1350 Dream Bk.(1) (Hrl 2253)23 : Mon, þat syþ þe skywes clere, of somþing he worþ yboden here.
- c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)1496 : Þe wey he made vs to lede, Þorw þe skewes þer he eode.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)23003 : Vp in þe skew [Vsp: ski] þe dome salle be.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)17.13 : Mirke watres þat ware ofe hewe In þe kloudes of þe skewe [vr. scw].
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)483 : Ho skyrmez under skwe and skowtez aboute.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1784 : Ascry scarred on þe scue þat scomfyted mony.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)478 : Þe sonne set in his cours..And alle þat segges mowe sen siþen on þe skius, Þat to hure Schappere hem schewen schining rede.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4865 : Cloȝes at was cloude; he clynterand torres, Rochis & rogh stanes, rokkis vnfaire Scutis to þe scharpe [?read: scharpe to þe] schew, sckerres a hundreth.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10182 : The skrew [read: skew]..Redoundet with dyn drede for to here.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12500 : A laite..skirmyt in the skewes with a skyre low, Thurgh the claterand clowdes clos to the heuyn.
b
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2167 : Þe skwez of þe scowtes skayned hym þoȝt.
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)1410,1414 : Þe apostles..Vppon þe welkyn seghen a skewe..Þat was boþe bright & clere..in þat skewe openly Spake a voyce.