Middle English Dictionary Entry
sparth(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sparth(e n. Also (early) spar(h)t; pl. sparthes, sparthus, sparches, sparrethis, sperthes & (error) spaithes. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. OI sparða; also cp. AL spartha, sparcha. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. spar n.(2).
1.
(a) A kind of battle-ax; double ~, a two-bladed ax; (b) ?a spear or javelin [quot. ?c1475 in (a) may belong here].
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1261) *Assize Roll 701 m.30 [OD col.] : Idem Rogerus audiens huthesium illud exiit de domo sua cum quadam hachia sparcha dicens quid ita contenditis vos. ]
- (1271) Coroner R.in Seld.Soc.917 : Walterus Smod percussit Walterum de Hokewold..cum una hachia que vocatur spart.
- (1271) Coroner R.in Seld.Soc.918 : Walterus Smot..percussit Walterum filium suum cum una hachia que vocatur sparht, unde manubrium fuit de corulo et hachia de ferro et acera.
- (1289) Cor.Reg.17 Edw.I v.12 [OD col.] : Hachia que voc' Anglice sparth.
- (1300) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.635 : [In self-defence he struck Thomas upon the head] cum quodam sparth.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2520 : Somme seyde he looked grym and he wolde fighte, 'He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte.'
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.353 : Irische men..fiȝteþ..wiþ tweie dartes and speres and wiþ brode sparthus.
- 1400(a1363) Higd.Polychronicon (Cmb Ii.3.1)1.350 : Tres fratres..usum securium qui Anglice sparth dicitur ad terram Hiberniæ comportarunt.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)209 : Bot in his on honde he hade a holyn bobbe..& an ax in his oþer, a hoge & vn-mete, A spetos sparþe to expoun in spelle quo-so myȝt.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5978 : Richesse..shal abye that trespas ful dere..but [she] hir arme With swerd, or sparth, or gysarme.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)21804 : Our ostes..salle cum on fote, With spaithes [read: sparthes] and speres and boghes to schote.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)467 : Sparthe, wepne: Bipennis.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)120a : Þe þridde wepoun is a double sparth [L Bipinnis..securis] wiþ brode bite & scharp on boþe sides.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2458 : Schalkis scott in-to shipis..Bowes bernes in-to bargis with..Sparrethis spetous to spend, & speris in handis.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.267 : The Pictes and Scottes usede speeres and dartes, the Saxones usede longe swerdes and sparthes [Trev.: axes].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)118a : A Sparthe: sparus.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)75/34 : Morice stode and camplid with his Swerde ayene the Sparthe [Lamb 598: spar].
- a1525 Conq.Irel.(Dub 592)82/7 : He..broght twey sparthes [Rwl: Spares] fast on hys sheld.
b
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)76a : In þe secounde ordre..Romayns vsed to sette chosen kniȝtes wiþ speres or sparþes [vrr. sparches, sperthys; L spiculis uel lanceis] and wiþ hem chosen archeres or arblasteres brest-plated.