Middle English Dictionary Entry
spēre-hēd n.
Entry Info
| Forms | spēre-hēd n. |
| Etymology | From spēre n.(1) & hēd n.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The pointed metal end of a spear; (b) a variety of the plant spearwort.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)145/1827 : Aiax..hom gan ryde, Þe spere-heued left in his syde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)3.1270 : Þe spere-hed..was..so kene grounde Þat he ȝaf Hector a ful perillous wounde.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)6/23 : A party of þe coroun of thornes wharwith oure Lorde was coround and ane of þe nayles, and þe spere heued, and many oþer relyques er in Fraunce in þe kynges chapell.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)17106 : Thei were alle In mochel doute How the spere-hed scholde gon oute With-oute lesyng of his lyff.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Say.Nightingale (Trin-C R.3.20)158 : On þe crosse I made a deolful moone And thorough myn hert þe sperehed gan hit dresse.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)21684 : Hawberkes & helmes redy weren..dyht and sperehedes ful Scharpe & grownden bryht.
- (1466) LRed Bk.Bristol2.235 : Item, a Speere and a Speere Hedde.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)127 : The spere heede of the knyght stynte on Breteles haubrek.
- a1525(?1455) Cov.Leet Bk.283 : For forbeng of the spere hede ij d.
b
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)76a : Spereworte ys hote and drye, oþer launcell, oþer sper hede; oute of the toppe come many smale stalkys havinge a white flour and growyng in watris.