Middle English Dictionary Entry
spar-hauk n.
Entry Info
| Forms | spar-hauk n. Also sparhauke, sparauk, sparehauk, sparhake, sparrehauk, -houke, sperhauk(e, sperehauke & (in surnames) sparhauec, -hauek, -heuec, -heuk, sperhauec, -hefeoc, -heuk. |
| Etymology | OEspear-hafoc, spear-hafuc, spær-habuc; ?also cp. ON: cp. OI sparr-haukr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. sparwe n. (d), sperver n.(1).
1.
(a) The European sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus); --often used in prov. expressions; also coll. [quot. a1387 vr.]; ?also, a falcon or similar bird of prey [quot. ?c1475]; (b) her. an image of a sparrow hawk; (c) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2680 : Þe oþere..floʒe þanne out of is way..So doþ þe larke on someres day þe sperhauk þat is in fliʒte.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.335 : Þere is grete plente..of egles, of cranes, of pekokes, of corlewes, of sperhaukes [Higd.(2): sparrehowke; L niso], of goshaukes, and of gentil faucouns.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4647 : This gentil preest..looketh as a sparhauk with hise eyen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)143b/a : Alietus and a litil sparhauk is al one, þat is I-clepid muskete in frensche, or ellis hit hiʒte þe sparhauk.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1789 : Þe leon suam beside þe hert..þe sparhauk flough be þe sterling.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1192 : What myghte or may the sely larke seye, Whan that the sperhauk [vr. sparhake] hath it in his foot?
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4033 : This haue I herd ofte in seiyng That man may, for no davntyng, Make a sperhauke of a Bosarde.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)97/8,12 : In þat contree is an old castell þat stont vpon a roche, the whiche is cleped the castell of the Sparrehawk [Man.(2): Sperhawke; F Esperuier]..Where men fynden a Sparehauk vpon a perche right fair..& a faire lady of fayrye þat kepeth it.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)14/11 : A sparhauke, be he neuer so ramageus, ye may ouercome hym with goodly and curteys demening, ye may make hym come from the tre to your honde.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)828/3 : Than were they ware on the othir syde where stoode a lady wyth a sparhawke on her honde.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)256/23 : Alisaundir of Swereford..yaf..all his lond..yeldyng therof euery yere..a spere-hawke sowryng at lammas.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)118a : A Sparhawke: Nisus, Alietus, Asperuarius.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf c viii/b : Ther is a question axyd whether a man shall call a sparehawke Or a spere hawke Or an aspere hawke.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)704 : God wold, þat sperhauk wer myn!
- a1500(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(1))16509 : A Cely Dowe, whan she hath espyed the Sparawk, ffleth hom to hyr Colverhows.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)487 : He smote his hors with the spores and spronge forth as sperhauke after partriches or quayles.
- c1500 Melusine (Roy 18.B.2)175/5 : His enemyes fled byfore hym as the partrych doth byfore the sperehauke.
b
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.4 (Hrl 2169)241 : [Sable] iij sparehawkys of sylvyr [with their bells].
c
- (c1153) in Madox Form.Angl.(1702)1 : Earnaldo filio Sperhefeoc.
- (1172) in Pipe R.Soc.1836 : Idem vicem reddum Comptum de xiiii s. de Catallis Sparhauec vtlagati.
- (1202) Assize R.Lin.in Lin.RS 2266 : Reginaldum Sperhauec.
- (1205) CRR(2) 3310 : Petrus filius Sparheuec.
- (1227) Close R.Tower 2212 : Willielmus Sparhauek.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 1273 : Thom' Sperheuk.
- (1287) Nickname in LuSE 55166 : Thom. Sparhauke.
- (c1311) Rec.Norwich 1375 : Rob. Sparheuk.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3125 : Gilbertus Sperhauk.
- (1343) Court R.Ramsey135 : Willelmus Sperhawk.
- (1402) Feudal Aids 599 : Johannes Sparhauk.
- -?-(1472) Will in Som.RS 16222 : John Sperhauke.