Middle English Dictionary Entry
spaien v.
Entry Info
| Forms | spaien v. Also spai; p.ppl. i)spaied, ispaide. |
| Etymology | From OF espëer, espäer, AF espeier, espaier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To stab (a hart), kill; (b) ppl. spaied, having the ovaries removed, spayed.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)7 : Whan þe herte is spaied and dede, he vndoþ hym and makeþ his kyrre.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)98 : Bidde some of þe hunters go spay hym euen behy is spaied and laid on þe toon syde.
b
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)46 : By cause þei [bitches] shuld not leese here tyme, men make hem ispaide [vr. yspayed]..and also oon spaied biche lesteth lengere in hure bounte þan oþer ii þat byn not spaied.