Middle English Dictionary Entry
spīk(e n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | spīk(e n.(2) Also spika, spiek, spic(e, spica. |
| Etymology | OE, L spīca; also cp. OF espic, spic. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An ear of grain; a clove of garlic; also, a plant having spikes; (b) a valerianaceous plant, prob. Valeriana officinalis, used medicinally [cp. spikenard n.]; ?also, a plant of the genus Lavandula, lavender; ~ indica; oile of ~, oile (oleum) de ~; sief of ~, an aromatic medicinal confection.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)37/3 : His deciples..ȝeden tofore Jesu and tooken hem spyces and froteden þe kyrnels bitwixen her hondes and eten.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)13.180 : Bote yf þat sed þat sowen is in þe sloh sterue, Shal neuere spir springen vp ne spik [vr. spiek] on strawe curne; Sholde neuere wete wexe bote wete fyrste deyde.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)134b/a : Take two oyneouns and foure spikes of garlek and grynde hem and encorper hem wiþ floure of lupines and a litil of þe strongeste vineger þou maye fynde.
- a1450 Qwete (Sln 2593)p.220 : Qwete is a spyce, a wol good on, Kyng that is of euery corn.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)226/13 : Whanne þere schewiþ an enpostym in þe mouþ of þe stomac..it is good & profitable to comforte þe place wiþ oile of mastic & oile of spica.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)136a/b : Take armoniak, serapinum, bdellium oppoponake ana halfe ane ounce, oleum de spica halfe ane ounce.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)114/14 : Purgacioun by þe wombe..is fulfilled by þinges þat purgen þe watry moystures, as is..poudre made of esula and of þe greynes of cathapuce and of tarter wiþ a litel of spyka [*Ch.(1): spice, vr. spices].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)137/9 : If þe mater forsoþe be colde, put þerto in þe bygynnynge syef of spica, Whos fourme is, after Hebenmesue: Take of sarcocolle..of spiconard [*Ch.(1): spic]..of roses and of saffran, [etc.].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)161/10 : If þe aposteme be colde, enoynte it wiþ oleum [*Ch.(1) vr. oile] de spica.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)60/9 : Tak a party spik & a party jubarbe & schafe þam in ayselle & seth it to þe twa parties be sothen in.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)154/460 : Vse sugre rosett wt white spyke and spody.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)170/13 : Take..of spyca indica thre owncys..and putte þer-to of hony preparat and claryfiyd an owunce.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of spica.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of spike.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oleum de spica.