Middle English Dictionary Entry
squāme n.
Entry Info
| Forms | squāme n. Also (early) scwame; pl. squames, swames, quames. |
| Etymology | OF squame & L squāma. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Flaky oxidized metal, esp. oxide of iron; also, a flake or scale of iron oxide; ~ of bras (iren); (b) a scale on the skin caused by disease, a scab; also, a film or scale on the eyes [1st quot.]; -- also in fig. cotext; (c) a scale of a dragon's skin; (d) an overlapping plate, perh. the kind used in armor [cp. squamous adj. (c)]; (e) a kind of fish or shellfish.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.759 : What sholde I..bisye me to telle yow the names Of orpyment, brent bones, iren squames [vrr. swamys, quames], That in to poudre grounden been ful smal?
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)180b/a : Vlcerez forsoþ ar mundified in..puttyng in collir made of croce ferre, i. soffroun of yren, with squamez, i. scalez, of þe same [Ch.(2): or of squame þerof; L aut spuma eiusdem] with hony.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)109a/b : Hele it with þe squame of iren & vineger, þe whiche is made in þis maner: Take þe ruste oþer þe redenesse of iren & grynde it wele, [etc.].
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)170a/b : Es vste waschen þe squame of brasse wasschen.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)174a/a : Stronger medicines ben as þe squame and þe betinge þat falleþ of coper verdegrese.
b
- c1225 Wor.Bod.Gloss.(Hat 116)24 : Fylmene: scwame.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)189/2 : Furfurea ben a maner of squamis, i. schellis [L squame], þat comeþ of brennyng þat is in þe skyn.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)81a/b : Squamez beþ litele hard superfluitez in bodiez to þe maner of scalez of fishez, gendred about þe vlcere of introsite of humours.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)102b/a : Þer cumme..þerof glandules & scrofules, þe whiche be fulle of squames, þe whiche mowe be cleped also fistulose.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)49 : This conk is hewyn owt of a blak ston..in whech appere ȝet þe swames of his lepre whech tyme þei fell from his body.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)134/25 : Þe swames fell fro hir body as þei had be scalis of a fisch.
- ?1457 *Hardyng Chron.A (Lnsd 204)48a [B p.100] : For leprous squames he hadde Hys leches counsaylde in blode of Innocentes Bene bathed ofte.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)33.78(v.1:p.244) : Saulis eye, there fel therfro liche skalis of fisshis .. as who seith .. 'take of me the infirmyte of my mekenesse .. and putt awey fro the squames of pride and presumpcion.'
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)103a/b : Þese crustis or squamis ben as it were ryndis, and þei ben nyȝ hond oon, but þat þe cruste is grettere and þickere þan is þe squame.
c
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3391 : Iason..Hath with his swerd spent on him many stroke..His briȝt squamys wern so harde & dure, Þat wel onethe he ne myȝt endure Hym to dismembre.
d
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)43a/b : Þei ben cleped also mendosa, for þei ioyne as it were squames oþer scales wiþ þe bones þat ben cleped parietales.
e
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52215/20 : Item, pro pikerell et creuez, j duc. lxviij s.; item, pro squames, xl s.; item, pro kokkel, xxij s.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. squame.