Middle English Dictionary Entry
skeu n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | skeu n.(2) Also skieu, scheu, (in cpds.) sku-, scu(th)-; pl. skeues, skiu(e)s, scu(w)es. |
| Etymology | From OF escu, AF escuwe, eskeu, eschu or ONF eskiu, eskieu, eschieu, vars. of OF eschif; cp. ME skeuen v.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Arch. (a) Beveled stone used to form the slope of a gable coping, the offset of a buttress, etc.; a piece of such stone, a skew; ~ scapeled; (b) in cpds. & combs.: ~ assheler, squared, hewed stone cut at an angle; ~ creste, a parapet made of beveled stone; ~ lermer, ?a projecting stone molding with a beveled edge [cp. lermer n.]; ~ table, ?a stone slab or tablet with a beveled edge.
Associated quotations
a
- (1278) Burs.R.Merton in Archaeol.J.2143 : Item..pro xx pedibus in longitudine de quibusdam lapidibus qui vocantur scuwes.
- (1288) Burs.R.Merton in Archaeol.J.2143 : Item, in xviij pedibus de skyues empt. xviij d.
- (1292) in Salzman Building in Engl.104 : Skyus.
- (1353) in Salzman Building in Engl.104 : Scuwes [for buttresses].
- (1361) in Salzman Building in Engl.101 : Scheu.
- (1400) in Salzman Building in Engl.110 : Mouldestone [called] skewes skapeled.
- (1427-8) Grocer Lond.(Kingdon)167 : Item, For legement, skyew, coyne, Footpasse, et Ashlier.
- (1428) in Heath Grocers6 : Ashler, coyne, skew, ragge, chalke, fluit-tyles, and estriche boarde.
- (1444-5) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1391 : [31 feet of] scues.
b
- (1329) in Salzman Building in Engl.107 : Scuthtables..scucrestes.
- (1346) *Acc.Exch.K.R.470/17.m.1 [OD col.] : De xxij peciis petrarum de Cadamo operatis pro scutables pro noua alura.
- (1366) in Salzman Building in Engl.107 : Scucrest.
- (1369) in Salzman Building in Engl.104 : Scuassheler..scheuasshlere.
- (1444) in Salzman Building in Engl.104 : Skwassheler.
- (1444) in Salzman Building in Engl.106 : Skwlerymer.