Middle English Dictionary Entry
speier(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | speier(e n. Also speir(e, spaier(e, spair(e, spar(e. |
| Etymology | ?MDu., MFlem. speyer (in MDu., var. of spoyer) sluice-gate keeper, perh. used euphemistically; ?from ME speie n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An opening in a garment; a hole or tatter [quot. c1450, 1st]; ?a pocket [quot. a1500(a1415)]; also [quot. c1440(?a1400)], ?a breeches opening; ?a vent in body armor; ~ belt (?bilet), ?a belt or sash used to close the vent of a garment; ~ bokel, ?a brooch used to close the vent of a garment; (b) a long sleeve; (c) a sluice gate; ?also, an opening in a dam; (d) glossing L mancipium.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5825 : Moyses..put his hand..eft in his spaier [Göt: spayere; Arms: speyere] And vte he drogh it, hale and fere.
- c1400 Ihesus doþ him (Bod 416)18 : Opyne þou hast þi syde, spaiers longe & wide, for ueyn glorie & pride.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17:Way)468 fn. : Apertura: spayere; transmearium: spare-bokylle.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)468 : Speyr, of a garment [Win: Speyre of garment; KC: speyer of a clothe]: Cluniculum.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2060 : The comlyche kynge..With a crewell launce cowpez full euen Abowne þe spayre, the spayere, a spanne emange þe schortte rybbys.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)115/30 : His [Satan's] clothyng was lynen, & full of spayerys, & in euery spayere hyng a crewett.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)78 : Resoun putte hire hond in to hire bosom bi a spayere [F amigaut] and took out a box.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)98 : A gentel womman..hadde hire oon hond vnder hire spayere [F souz s'aisselle].
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)869 : His mytans hang be his spayre.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)174/3 : Þis man..toke Godis body in a boxe of yuory and put hit in his spayre, for þat tyme men vset spayres.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)60/296a : Transunarium [?read: transmiarium]: sparbelett [?read: sparbelt].
b
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)594/43,45 : Manubium: a spayre..Manulia: a spayere.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)117b : A Spayr: Manubium, manulum.
c
- a1525(?1451) Cov.Leet Bk.257 : They ordeyned that ther shulde be made Spayers withe-in the water of Shurburn to holde vp the water yif nede requyre, and to lat the water passe all odur tymes.
- a1525(?1451) Cov.Leet Bk.260 : Lewes hadde for rammeng & stoppeng the spayre of ston for the water shuld not issu owt..xvj s. viij d.
- a1525(?1451) Cov.Leet Bk.261 : The meyre..hathe also lat make a Spayr in the Podycroft be-twene the ij Towres..anodur spayre be-twene the Hul-strete-yate & Cook-strete-yate vnder a tour ther..and also anodur our the watur of Shurburn besyde Gosford-yate..the meyre hathe lat clanse..ffro the Grey-frer-yate to the speyre of ston ther in Podycroft.
d
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)594/40 : Mancipium: a spayre.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)351 : A Spayre..manicipium.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)60/295b : Manicipium: a spayer.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)734/33 : Mancupium: a spare.