Middle English Dictionary Entry
snāke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | snāke n. Also (early infl.) snacan & (in surname) snak; pl. snakes, snaken, snake. |
| Etymology | OE snaca |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A snake; also in fig. context; ?also, a generic term for a legless reptile [quot. a1398]; (b) the leviathan of the OT; (c) olde ~, Satan; (d) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B)95/6 : Ȝif hwa mid hys fest ofstæpð ætriȝ ban snacan oððer nadran [L ossa serpentis] þeos wyrt is swiðe scearp nimol wið þæt attor.
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1137 : Hi dyden heom in quarterne þar nadres & snakes & pades wæron inne.
- a1200(?c1175) PMor.(Trin-C B.14.52)277 : Þar beð naddren and snaken, eueten and fruden.
- ?a1300 11 Pains(1) (Dgb 86)403/48 : Neddren and snaken þer stingeþ for wod.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2805 : Ðat wond..warp vt of hise hond And wurð sone an uglike snake.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)1539 : Snakes and euetes & oades fale..in þe prisoun were wiþ him.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)760 : Colure regailie: Snake cissith.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1010 : Every neddre and every Snake And every Reptil..His myht assaieth forto proeve To crepen out ayein the Sonne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)292a/a : Limax..is a wel slowȝ worme in moeuynge and is a maner snake and bereþ an hard schelle on his bak.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5962 : Hij libben by addren and snaken And wormes þat hij mowen taken.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.110 : Hor ypocrysie in latyn is lykned to a dongehul Þat were bysnewed with snowe, and snakes wyth-inne.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.210 : A Snake..is wont to glyde With his venym vnder fresche floures.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Rom.3.13 : With her tungis thei diden gilefuli; the venym of snakis is vndur her lippis.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.m.5.6 : Some of hem [beasts] han hir bodyes straught and crepyn in the dust..that is to sein, as naddres or snakes.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)187b/b : Scabbe..wille falle aweie as it were þe skynne off a snake.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)461 : Snake, wyrme: Anguis.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Doubl.(Frf 16)50 : What man may the wynde restreyne, Or holde a snake by the tayle?
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)67 : It wole hele bitinges and stynginges of snakes and neddres.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3794 : Armed bud þam all bee for angwischis o bestis, As colwers & for coltris & crabbid snakis.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)4025 : Lowh vnder the freshe flours Ful covertly..Many serpent ther doth dare, Many hadder, and many snake.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)139.3 : Thai polyst the wordis of thaire felony as neddirs, for vndire soft touchynge of wordis thai hafe pryue venym of snakis.
- a1500 Methodius(3) (Stw 953)783 : Edders & snakys þat brede in fen Hem xall þink deynty mete.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)1272 : Whanne Noe shulde to þe shippe goo..Whi wolde he yuel beestis take, As scorpiouns, addres, and snake?
b
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5872 : Dauid..In þe sauter makyng mencioun Of þe snake, þe monstruous dragoun..Whiche in þe se, large & gret of space..haþe his mansioun.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6933 : Þe serpent & þe olde snake, Sathan hym silf, gan his dwellinge make.
d
- (1310) Pat.R.Edw.II299 : Adam Snakesnoute.
- (1313) Sub.R.Bristol(1) in BGAS 19241 : Johanni Snake.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10123 : Willo Snak.