Middle English Dictionary Entry
spurǧen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | spurǧen v. Also spurge, sporge, spourge(n, (?error) spergi, (error) spooge; p.ppl. i)spurged, spourged. |
| Etymology | From OF espurg(i)er, AF espo(u)rgier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of ale, etc.: to become purified by fermentation, undergo fermentation; also, refl. of a vessel: produce fermentation; (b) to remove impurities from (wine, honey); (c) of wine: to cast off (impurity); ~ oute.
Associated quotations
a
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)32 : Bermyn, or spurgyn, as ale or other lyke: Spumo.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)138/11 : To knowyn wheþer a man is bareyn or a womman: Take of eytherys water and put it in-to sondre vessell; sythen put to eyþer barlyche and horssysdong; and whether wessell sporgyth hym is noȝt bareyn.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Add 9066)364 : A mouse on a tyme felle into a barell of newe ale, that spourgid, and myght not come oute.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)256b/b : Whanne þat þe wyn is stale, cleere, and wel y-spurged [L defecatum], þanne it is bright, cleere, and good freend to kynde.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)108/14 : Tak hony and sethe it and spooge [read: spoorge] it, and put þer-to als mykil of whit wyn.
c
- ?a1475(a1396) *Hilton SP (Hrl 6579)2.29.101a : When it resceifiþ new wyne..þe costret bolneþ out & is in poynt forto clefen & bresten vntil þe wyne haue boylid & spurged out al vnclennes.
2.
(a) To heal (sb.), cleanse (sb. of disease); cleanse (the breath, stomach); (b) to rid (oneself of flies or choler), free; (c) to remove (phlegm); staunch (the menstrual discharge); (d) to clear (sb., oneself) of guilt, exonerate.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Newberry Lapid.(Nwb Case 32.9)35/20 : Yif a man ȝeue hit to drynk in oyle to hym þat hath the dropecye, hit shal spourgen [Dc.291: spurgen] hym.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)25b : The vertu of dodyr þat growiþ a-monge flax is to spourge a man of the colore.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)94/249 : Hill hym wele with walwort and that shall draw oute the evyll and sporge hyme clene.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)98/21 : It is good medicine, it sporgyth þi breth and þi stomak.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)10917 : Of flyes men mow hem weyl spourge, And þrowe to hem naght but a scourge.
- c1440 Chaucer CT.NP.(Lin-C 110)B.4137 : Spurge [Elsm: I conseille..That bothe of Colere and of Malencolye Ye purge yow].
c
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)6b : Drinke hit with juis of grapis and hit spurgith fleume þrowe vomyte.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)12a : Þe juis þere of drinkyn in wyne oþer ale spurgiþ the floures and castiþ oute abortyve.
d
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2226 : Mark wald spourge þe quen; Men seyd sche brak þe lay.
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)408/32 : Wel sory was þe pope for þe sclaundre & þe cry, & þouȝt in woche wise he myȝt him spergy [?read: sporgi].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Add.21431 Artist.Recipes (Add 21431) 328/17 : Take synaper and grynd yt with þe gleyre of an eg as þu dost red ynke, and let yt stond and spowrge, and do away þe fletynge aboue and wryt þerwyth.
Note: Glossary: "spowrge v. intrans. inf. 'cast off impurities'."
Note: ?New sense.