Middle English Dictionary Entry
stank n.
Entry Info
| Forms | stank n. Also stanke, stanc(k, stang(e, stangne, staunk(e, stonke; pl. stankes, etc. & stangkes. |
| Etymology | OF estanc, AF estank(e, estaun(c)k, stanc, stang(e & ML stanca, stangnum (vars. of L stagnum); the form stangne could be construed as ME stagne n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. stagne n., stampe n.(1).
1.
(a) A pond, pool; a reservoir; a lake; also in fig. context [quot.: c1400]; ~ hed, a dam or similar structure for controlling the water in a pond; ~ medwe, a meadow in which there is a pond; ~ side, the bank alongside a pond or lake; water ~; (b) a pool or pit in hell; (c) in surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1358) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100561 : In diversis foveis et gutturis factis in le staunkmedowe de Pityngton, 12 s. 1 d.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)8936 : Þar lighted dun of heuen ture Angels..For to stir þe stang [Frf: staunke] bidene.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.68 : Whan þai had wele riden, þat þam þought right lang, þei lighted & abiden biside a water stank.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1018 : Þer faure citees wern set, nou is a see called, Þat ay is drovy and dym..unblyþe to neȝe, As a stynkande stanc þat stryed synne.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)40 : Otire..dwelleþ nye þe Ryuers and ny þe poondes and stangkes.
- (1412-13) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103610 : Item, pro reparacione de le Stankhede apud Ketton, 4 s.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)20550 : Her telles arthur of þe thewes, Þat off þar stangnis [L stagni] commys and schewes.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)77/22 : All be it þat men clepen it a see, ȝit is it nouþer see ne arm of the see, for it is but a stank [F lac] of fresch water..& renneth into flom Iordan.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)136/16 : Þer ben bestes taught of men to gon into watres, into Ryueres, & into depe stankes [F estancs] for to take fysch.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)71/22 : Þay..went to þe stanke-syde & drewe fisches & elez oute of þe water.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)48.430 : On fysch fownden they..and he seide þat he wolde no More Into that stangne Comen thore.
- (1450) Paston (Gairdner)2.194 : Sir John Bukk, Parson of Stratford, physsed my stankys at Dedham.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3923 : Þan come a beste..with a blak heued..Stayrand on to þe staunke þe stour to asaill.
- c1450(1438) GLeg.St.Geo.(GiL54)(Eg 876)65/3 : Besides that citee ther was a stange, a ponde, in the whiche ther was a dragon that hidde hym therinne.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2982 : His hermytage was a boune þe bank, Whar þan was a grete staunk.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)106.35 : He sett desertes in stangis of watirs.
- c1500 Stations Jerus.(Ashm 61)745 : Þer we saw þe same stonke, The[re] Sodome & Gomore fore synne sonke.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11189 : Þan the gret of the grekes agreit..The corse for to cast in a clere terne Vndur a syde of the Cite, & synke hit þerin, A stanke full of stynke standyng besyde.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.841 : Auowtiers shullen ben in helle in a stank brennynge of fyr.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)23191 : To-gedir sal þai tak..þair worthi mede..Wit sathanas, þat..Sal casten be..In a stincand stang [Göt: stanck; Trin-C: pit] o fire.
c
- (c1250) in Bannister PNHerf.174 : Reginald de Stanklak.