Middle English Dictionary Entry
stem(me n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | stem(me n.(1) Also stempne & stevin & (?error) stenme. |
| Etymology | OE stefn, stemn stem of a tree, prow; cp. MDu. stemme, stem & MLG stemme, stemne, vars. of stam(me. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. stampne n., staven n.
1.
(a) The main body or stem of a tree; also fig.; (b) naut. either the stem- or stern-post of a ship; ~ lok, = stampne-lok [s.v. stampne n. (a)]; ~ nekke, a curved part of the stem; ~ pece, one of the pieces of timber that make up the stem; also, a piece of timber that forms the stem; fore ~, ?the man or men at the prow of a ship; -- perh. with double entendre based on steven(e n.(1).
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.296 : Þe bisshop of Durhem trauailed..Of strife to felle þe stem, þe pes to mak.
- a1500(1452) Cart.Boarstall in OHS 88193 : Edmundus Rede..dicit quod ipse seisitus est..omnibus et omnimodis pannagiis, cokshotes, wyndefeld wode, olde copies hegges, chyminage, deerbrous..et stempnys in longitudine trium pedum iuxta terram omnium et singulorum arborum.
b
- (1294-5) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 199 : Pro bargea..In ij Stemmes, iiij s. vj d.
- (1312-13) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1101 : En j feust achate por j Stempnepece, ij s. j d.
- (1337-8) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1101 : ij steuineken.
- (1347-50) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1101 : En v pieces de Mesrime..pour stemne pieces.
- (1378-81) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1101 : In viij knowes, ij stempnelockes, [etc.].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.994 : He that behinde sat to stiere Mai noght the forestempne hiere.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57214 : A bolt for the stenme [?read: stemne].