Middle English Dictionary Entry
skirt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | skirt(e n. Also skirtte, skirthe, scirt(e, scirtte, (N) skurte; pl. skirtes, etc. & skertes, scurtes. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. OI skyrta; 1st quot. in (c) may belong to ME shirt(e n.(g). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The lower part of a man's gown or robe, clerical vestment, etc.; prest ~; serke ~; (b) the lower part of a woman's dress, a skirt; also, a skirt used as a receptacle; (c) in glossary quots.: a person's lap; also, a fold, flap, or an edge of a garment; ?also, a gown or robe; maken ~, ?to prepare a lap; putten in ~, ?encompass; ?cherish, foster; [some quots. may belong to (a) or (b)]; (d) arm. ?the apron-like flaps at the base of a breastplate [1st quot.]; pl. the lower part of a coat of mail; (e) a saddle skirt; (f) hunt. pl. the diaphragm or midriff of a hart; (g) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)865 : Þat sete on hyn [read: hym] semly, wyth saylande skyrtez.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)108/15 : When þai hafe eten, þai wype þaire hend on þaire skirtez.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.37/5 : This gallowus man toke hym by the skyrtis of his palle or mantyl.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3473 : Manye schredys and schragges at his skyrttes hynnges.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1533 : Þis prelate with prestis of þe temple Reueschid him rially..in riche wedis, With..abite..þat was garnest full gay with golden skirtis.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)65/12 : He grapid in his bosom & fand xij d. of gold, & he keste þaim in þis wude preste skyrte.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)302/20 : Þis man, furste with his fynger & syne with his sarke skirte, wypid it als softlye as he cuthe.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)83 : He say seint laurens entir be þe est side of þe cherch be þe wyndow and many fayre ȝong folk hangyng on his skirtis.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8963 : Sco lift hir skirt wit-vten scurn, And bar-fote wode sco þat burn.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)28003 : If þou..has bituix hir scankes gan Or tirid or tut or skirt vptan..It es to tell for dedli sin.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)1986 : Down sho sat to warm hir swa; Hir skirt sho laid ful fer hir fra.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)31/19 : Ȝif it happe þat þou falle, kach hope be þe skirt.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)398/14 : When þe childe was born, it was broght & layd in hur skurte.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)188 : 'Strecch out thi skirthe, that I may rest me thereon'..the woman..toke his hede into her skirthe, and he began strongely for to slepe.
- a1500 Off alle wemen (Chet 8009)4 : Se How my son liggith me be-fforn Vppon my skyrte, take ffrome the tre.
c
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Trin-C O.2.21)1057,1059 : Scirtes [vr. lappes; glossing AF (Cmb): escours]..scurtes [glossing AF (Cmb): escous].
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)358 : Come le tient en seon deuant: Holte in his skyrte.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)655/8 : Gremium: scyrtte [*Medulla31a/a: Gremio: facere gremium (Pep: to make a lap)].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)287 : Lappe, skyrte: Gremium.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)449 : Skyrt [Win: Scyrt]: Lacinia.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)459 : Slyp, or skyrte [Win: scyrte]: Lascinia.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)115a : A Skyrt: birrum [*Medulla10a/a: Birrum: a gowne], gremium, grabatum [*Medulla31a/a: Grabatum..a barme]; to put in skyrt: gremiare, jngremiare.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)342 : To make Skyrte: gremiare; to putt in Skyrte: jngremiare.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)679/6 : Grabatum..a skyrte.
- a1500 *Medulla (Cnt D.2)61a/a : Gremium, id est, sinus: a skyrtt, a lappe, or a barme.
d
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5270 : Polidomas ful wroth vp-sterte, He pulled him by the skirthe, He sette a strok vnder his choke.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)562 : His schelde a waye it reuede And alle þe skirtys of Rowlandes gere.
e
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)601 : Bi þat watz Gryngolet grayth & gurde with a sadel..Þe apparayl of þe payttrure & of þe proude skyrtez..al watz rayled on red.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)683 : He..smote the horse with the spores on bothe sides faste by the skirtes of his sadell.
f
- ?a1425 My dere sone wher (Lamb 491)226 : Than shul ȝe skirtis [vr. kutte þe skertes] the thies evyn fro, And aftir þe rigge bone kyttith also The fourchis and þe sidis evene bytwene.
g
- (1224) Pat.R.Hen.III487 : Galfridus Skirt.
- (1327) Nickname in LuSE 55192 : Ric. Wytheskyrtes.
- (1332) Sub.R.Lan.in LCRS 31.255 : Henricus Sidskirte.
- -?-(1272) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.961 : Robertus Witheskirtes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 38/7 : Forto make leþere of Hungry. Wheche leþere serueþ forto make offe sadel lappis and skirthes and oþere harneys þat serveth for chares and charettes.
Note: Additional quot., sense (e).