Middle English Dictionary Entry
stang n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | stang n.(2) Also stange, stong & (error) stand. |
| Etymology | From stangen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. sting n.
1.
(a) A snake's bite; (b) the stinger of a bee, fly, or scorpion; (c) fig. a sting, pain.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)20960 : Þe nedder o venum sa strang, Noght he skurnd wit hir stang [Trin-C: stong], Bot..He schok, and in þe fir hir kest.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21690 : Quen þe stanged men moght se þe nedder on þe tre þat hang, þai war all warist o þair stang.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)38b : Lylly, the leuys þere of stampid..helyth þe stang of an nadder and oþer wormes.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.23.28 : Of all þin enmys before þe I schal torne þe backis, sendyng oute before styngyng flyus þat ben sprongen of deed bodys, hauyng þe stongis enuenymd.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)144a/a-b : Been haueþ here stynges and schediþ venyme..þe rector his female..haþ a more strong stenge þan þe male, And many males beeþ wiþoute stonges [L aculeis] and fleeþ as þouȝ þey wolden stynge with stonges, & þay mowe nouȝt.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)693 : Þe scorpioun for-bare his stange [Vsp: tang] fra þe bestes he lay a-mange.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18115 : To ded i said, 'quar es þi stang [Göt: stand]?'
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The order of the definitions should be (b), (a), (c)--cp. sting n.--per REL
Note: I believe there are two meanings of bite in sense (a)(A snake's bite): one = the act of biting; the other = wound.--per REL