Middle English Dictionary Entry
smith(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | smith(e n. Also smiththe, smeth(e, (in surname) smit. |
| Etymology | OE smiþþe, smeðe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A blacksmith's shop, smithy; also fig.; (b) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.131].
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)539/5 : Officina: smiþ [?read: smiþðe; OE smiððe].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)48/18 : From mulne & from chepinge, from smiððe [Cleo: smiðe; Tit: smiðie], & from ancre hus me tidinge bringeð.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)147/24-5 : Al þis world is godes smið to smeoðien his icorene; wult tu þet godd nabbe na fur in his smiððe ne bealies ne homeres?
- c1300 SLeg.Dunstan (Hrl 2277)60 : For he nolde bi his wille no tyme idel beo, A priuei smyþþe bi his celle he gan him biseo.
- a1325 SLeg.Brendan (Corp-C 145)468 : Þo seie hi uer in þe norþ a lond derk inou, Smokie as it smiþes [Trin-O: smeþes] were.
- a1450 NPass.(Cmb Dd.1.1)172/1495 : Sche tok þe way to þe smythe [Cmb Gg 1.1: smithye] & brak iren on þe stithe.
- 1451 Tundale (Roy 17.B.43)1019 : Tho smythes wer fulle of soules within; Þai gret and made ful dolful dyn.
- a1500 Tundale (Adv 19.3.1)1034 : That dongyll full of smythes [Roy: smethous; vr. smyþyes] stood, And smythis abowtte hom yode.
b
- (1245) in Wallenberg PNKent422 : Smeth.
- (1254) in Wallenberg PNKent422 : De Smethe.
- (1294) EPNSoc.18 (Mid.)108 : Hamersmyth.
- (1313) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames192 : Will. atte Smithe..Thom. de la Smytthe.
- (1320) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)529 : Bromenesmyththe.
- (1332) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames192 : Beatrice ate Smythe..Galfr. atte Smytford.
- (1376-7) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100387 : Item, Will'o Kay operanti super duo hostia in le Simeterigarth et le Smythgarth, 23 d.
- (1469) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)529 : Brownsmyth.