Middle English Dictionary Entry
stẹ̄r(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | stẹ̄r(e n.(1) Also (early) steor, (in surname) stiir-; pl. steres, etc. & (in place name) sterres. |
| Etymology | OE stēor steer. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A young bull or ox, bullock; -- also coll.; ?also, fig. a warrior [quot. c1475]; (b) in surnames and place name [see Smith PNElem.2.150].
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)544/4 : Iuuenencus [read: Iuuencus]: steor.
- a1275 Louerd asse þu ard (Trin-C B.14.39)72 : Abel..was is feader herdemon, of cun & of stere.
- c1300 SLeg.Jas.(LdMisc 108)182 : Þe Bollokes and þe ȝoungue steores..woxen tame.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)723 : Boef, bouet, et ienyce: Oxe, stere, and hefere.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2149 : Aboute his chaar ther wente white alauntz..as grete as any steer.
- (1400) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.30 : Steres [worth 6 s. 8 d. each].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)36a/a : Iuuencus: a stere.
- (1463-4) Compota Dom.(1836)48 : In x bouiculis vocatis steres emptis.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.38a : Item, at Kelligorrek, the said Mysdoers sette iiii xx of fatte Weders, xv Haffers and Steres, of the said John Glyn.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.251 : Iche rewme..Sholde..stonde be these þre degres: By gouernanmce of grete and of good age; By styffnesse and strengthe of steeris well y-yokyd, Þat beth myȝthffull men of þe mydill age; And be laboreris of lond.
- a1605(c1422) Hoccl.Compl.(Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)120 : Men seyden I loked as a wilde steer.
b
- (1195) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.6169 : Gilebertus Steresgard.
- (1299) in Sundby Dial.Wor.137 : Rob. Styirleche.
- (1323) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)43 : Sterresbrigge.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10164 : Felicia de Stereford.
- (1332) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms60 : Rob. Sterherd.
- (1455) EPNSoc.19 (Cmb.)43 : Sterbrigge.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1500 Hnt.HU.1051 Recipes in Crafte Lymmyng (Hnt HU 1051) 318/6 : Fold þi ster skyn togeder þe colourd syde inward, and wryng out þe water.
- a1500 Sln.122 Artist.Recipes (Sln 122) 117/13 : Take the galle..of a sterre, and with a pensel drawe thy drawthes on yron or copere, and þenne sette it in þe sonne to drye.
Note: Postdates (a). New spelling (sterre).