Middle English Dictionary Entry
skīr(e adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | skīr(e adj. Also (error) slire. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. OI skīrr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. shir(e adj., sker(e adj.
1.
(a) Of a color, light: bright, intense; of hills: shining (because of lighted fires); also, fig. of a person: ?illustrious [last quot.]; (b) of water: clear, limpid; ~ wordes, ?clear, audible words; (c) unmitigated; ~ harm, utter ruin; (d) free from blemish or stain, pure; free (from wantonness); safe (from the devil or his power); (e) ~ thuresdai [cp. OI skiri-þorsdagr], the day before the Crucifixion of Christ [cp. sher(e Thuresdai phr.(a) & shir(e Thuresdai phr.(a)]; (f) in surnames and place names.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)467 : Þus bayst he þe briȝt qwene þat all hire ble chaungid; To skyre skarlet hewe skyftis hire face.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1924 : Þen of skire porpure A side slauyn him sewe.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12500 : Hit skirmyt in the skewes with a skyre low, Thurgh the claterand clowdes clos to the heuyn.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12700 : All the skathes thai skepe of þo skire hylles.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13397 : Ascatus the skir, þat skathill was in elde.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1776 : Þay..Asscaped over þe skyre watteres and scaþed þe walles.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2119 : Scamandra þe slire [Dub: skyr] flode þe scriptour it callis.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)13616 : Aschatus þen skepe furth with his skire wordis.
c
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8897 : I haue not errit in anythyng of all my tyme yet..Þat hase skapet vs to skathe, ne to skyre harme.
d
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8015 : Þatt genge..wass milde & meoc..& clene off hete & clene off niþ..& off galnesse skir & fre.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12194 : All þatt ahhte off eorþliȝ þing Þatt Godess þeowwess haffdenn..Iss all skir fra þe deofell.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)12201 : All iss itt elless skir & freo Ut off þe deofless walde.
e
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2277 : Euen harnast as he was, So all þe ȝere forth walde he passe To Skyre thuresday, þan walde he his fete waschyn and clensyd be.
f
- (1268) Nickname in LuSE 55159 : Hugh Skyrloc.
- (1279-81) EPNSoc.33 (West Riding Yks.)60 : Skireburn.
- (1281) EPNSoc.29 (Der.)599 : Skirleghe.
- (1301) Nickname in LuSE 55159 : Alex. Skyrelock.
- (1321) Close R.Edw.II392 : Alan Skirwater.
- (1332) Nickname in LuSE 55159 : Will. Skirlok.