Middle English Dictionary Entry
stomak n.
Entry Info
| Forms | stomak n. Also stomake, stomack, stomac, stomach, stomakt, stommak, stomok(e. |
| Etymology | L stomachus, ML stomacus & OF e)stomac, e)stomach, AF estomak, stomake. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The human stomach; the primary organ of digestion; also, the stomach as the seat of hunger; ~ partie; stomak(es mouth, mouth of the ~, the opening from the esophagus into the stomach; also, the esophagus [quot. ?c1425]; nether mouth of the ~, the pylorus; wei of the ~, the esophagus; line of livere and ~, a line parallel to the fingers near the side of the palm away from the thumb; (b) the digestive cavity of a whale; (c) the condition or functioning of the stomach; the digestion; also, an upset stomach; badde (god, sik, etc.) ~; ~ win, wine that promotes good digestion; (d) the appetite; (e) fig. and in fig. contexts; also person. [quot. c1425]; (f) in proverbs.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Add.46919 Cook.Recipes (Add 46919)53.47/6 : Grece of pork hakke, saffron, & peopur greyþe, & so do wey vche goute in þe wombee ouwher þis naþ harm of þe stomake.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 22.34 : Oon maner man bente a bowe in to vncerteyn dressynge an arewe, & bi hap he smot þe kyng of israel betwen þe lunge & þe stomac [L stomachum].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.479 : The livere..The lunge..The galle..The Splen..to sustienen hem and fede..Nature hath in creacion The Stomach for a comun Coc Ordeined.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)56a/a : The stomak is þe dore of þe wombe & fongiþ mete & drynke and sendiþ to þe guttis.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)167/27 : Diafragma goiþ aboute þe mouþ of þe stomak.
- c1400 Wycl.DSins (Bod 647)133 : Þo stomak of a mon schulde deffye his mete.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)537 : A ȝonge citesyn of Rome, Lucianus..made a grete feeste, and went into the felde after mete, with other men, to descharge the stomak.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)68b : Rosse..helpith to the fude inferne and to brenyng of the stomak and of entraly.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)16b/a : Þe stomac or þe wombe is þe organ of þe first digestion generatif of chily.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)27a/b : Þe terme of tarying or abidyng of mete in þe stomac be fro 12 hourez to 22, þat is to be vnderstonde of al þe stomac & þe intestinez, i. entralez.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)117b/a : Þe weie of þe stomak..is cleped mery oþer ysofagus.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)46/28 : There beth forsoþe in þe nekke double parties: conteynynges..and conteyned..The conteynede beeþ icleped þe trache, cleped þe wesaunte or þe mowthe of þe stomak or mery.
- a1456(a1426) Lydg.Mum.Hertford (Trin-C R.3.20)35 : He komeþe home ful wery frome þe ploughe With hungry stomake..In hope to fynde redy his dynier.
- a1440 Palmistry (1) (Dgb Roll 4)30 : Yf the lyne of the lyvyr & the stomak be long and hole, not brokon..it tokenyth continuel hele of the lyvyr & of the stomak.
- a1450(?1348) Rolle FLiving (Cmb Dd.5.64)101/164 : Yf þou leve many metes þat men has..þou dose wele, if þou se þat þow ert stalworth to serve God and þat it brekes noght þi stomake.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)104 : He þat is seek in his stomake shal take iii ciatis of þis decoccon..and þis shal opin þe stomak mowþ, as shal well shewe gret bolkyng.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)37b/b : Þe mete..goiþ bi..þe brest til he come þoruȝ þe midrif, þanne anoon it sprediþ abrood & it makiþ þe stomakis mouþ, and also al þe selue stomak.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)38b/a : Þer beþ vj porciouns of a gutte..in euery man & beest hauynge his bigynnynge at þe neþere mouþ of þe stomak and so contynueþ forþ & is endid in þe bredde of þe foundement.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)2/8b : Stomacus: stomok.
- a1500 Chauliac(1) (Cmb Dd.3.52)1.116/11 : Stomac [NY: Of particuler posicioun & site it is sene þat þe orificiale party..is toward þe forcelle; þe stomocal partie is fro þens vnto 3 fyngers nyȝ þe vmbilic, i. nauelle].
- a1475 Sidrak & B.in JHMAS 23 (Lnsd 793)p.171 : Mete..Gadreth to the stomak al And with drinke sinketh therynne.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)765 : A great bolle-full of benen were betere in his wombe..Þan..comeren her stomakes wiþ curious drynkes.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)274 : Þer he [Jonah] festnes þe fete and..stod vp in his stomak þat stank as þe deuel.
c
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)130/54 : Wanne hi habbeþ to muche iȝete..Hi poffeþ and meneþ hore stomak.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)13/17 : Forbede hem neiþir wiyn ne fleisch, for þe stomak þat is so feble ne myȝte nouȝt engendre nessessarie mater of blood þat longiþ to þe wounde.
- a1425(a1400) Paul.Epist.(Corp-C 32)1 Tim.5.23 : Wile þou not ȝit drynke water, but vse þou a litil wyn for þi stomac.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)95/19 : Þou wilt make þis oile..in which ar soþen som þings pertenyng to confortyng to þe stomak.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.442 : Good stomak wyn & countur pestilencie Thus make.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)63/15 : A seek stomak castith oute his mete.
- c1450(c1415) Roy.Serm.(Roy 18.B.23)196/36 : Ȝiff a man haue a bade stomoke, he haþ þan an ewill savered mowthe.
- c1450 Bod.483 Herbal (Bod 483)103/383 : Camamyll..helpyth wemen off dyverse syknes and makyth them gode stomakys.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)208/14 : For the colenesse of þe stomack: Make pyement off wyne and of hony, [etc.].
- c1450 Metham Palm.(Gar 141)92/11 : Qwan the mydlyne ys ryght and longe..yt sygnyfyth a mygthi stomake..And yff this tokyn be noght as yt ys here specyfyid, yt sygnyfyith..a febyl stomake.
- ?c1450 Recipe MS Bühler 21 in SML Baugh (Mrg B 21)296 : Mynte is for þe stomak good.
- c1484(a1475) Caritate SSecr.(Tak 38)150/35 : If it be so þu þikvs and reise wynde..yt betokynnyth a cold stomak.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)23b/13 : If..the seke were to febill or kyndeliche had a febill stomake, he myght ete chekyns with vynagr'.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)8513 : Who a good stomak miȝt gete..To him is best..Þe flesshe of bugle and of neet.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)9/17 : A goud letuarie a-ȝen alle yuellis..for sorys in þe side, for þe mylte, for þe stomake.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)51/56 : In the churche at matins he is behynde, for yvel disposicion of his stomake.
d
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1847 : My body is ay so redy and penyble To wake that my stomak is destroyed.
- a1425 Dial.Reason & A.(Cmb Ii.6.39)39/1 : Þe nedest not to conseille with þi stomak wanne þou schalt rise.
e
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 15.2 : Wheþer a wijs man shal answern as speking in to wind, & he shal fulfillen with brennyng his stomac?
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.723 : Bot if so is that eny wo Mai fede a mannes herte wel, Therof I have at every meel Of plente more than ynowh; Bot that is of himself so towh, Mi stomac mai it noght defie.
- c1400 Wycl.DSins (Bod 647)133 : So..schulden prestis be a stomak to deffye þo gostly mete, and so norische þo body of oure modir holy Chirche.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)371/26 : Sche also dischargeþ þe stomak of þe soule fro þe corrupte humours of vnordynat loue.
- c1425 Mirror LM&W (Hrl 45)210/22 : Þen may þe stomak seie and crye: 'Þrote, þou sleest me, for I breste nyhe for full.'
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)117/4 : Takyth þe tryacle of my techyng in-to þe stomak of ȝoure soule.
f
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Diet.(Sln 3534)72 : Of gredy handes the stomak hath grete peyne.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)8/10 : For a full stomake may not be holy & perfitly humble and deuoute.
2.
(a) The surface of the body over the stomach; the part of the body containing the stomach; the abdomen; mouth of the ~, the surface of the body over the esophagus; (b) the esophagus; (c) the liver.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)226/18 : If þou leidist repercussiuis vpon þe stomak or þe lyuere or þe splene, þei wolde be enfeblid þerwiþ.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)10929 : He was al bare but his hauberke On his brest & his stomak.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2554 : Full stowttly þey stryke, thire steryn knyghttes, Stokes at þe stomake with stelyn poyntes.
- a1450 Liber Cophonis (Add 34111)63/543 : Tak þe spounge of þe see and seþe it in salt water and..lege to þe stomak.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)77/15 : Make þer-of an euyn playster and ley it..on þe stommak.
- a1475 *Gilb.Angl.(Wel 537)107/13 : Make a plastir on þe mouþe of þe stomake of sum hote oyle..and shepis wolle þat was y-shore vnwasshed.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)56 : Atte þe last þere came an arowe & smote him at þe stomak, & he fell doun ded.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)15b/a : Þe stomac forsoþ in grec translacioun is seid mery or ysophagus.
c
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.787 : Thow endurest wo As sharp as doth he Ticius in helle, Whos stomak foughles tiren evere moo That hightyn volturis.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.12.46 : The foul that highte voltor..etith the stomak, or the gyser [F le gisier; L iecur], of Tycius.
3.
The stomach as the supposed seat of sexual desire.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.1487 : Cupide..was the Sire Of the Stomak, which builleth evere, Wherof the lustes ben the levere.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)686 : Ȝe sain þat he [Cupid] is a soþ god..Þat haþ þe stomak in stat stifly to kepe.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.30 : She..castethe one to chese to hir delite That may better astaunche hir appetite, And where thou seist thou hast a stomak colde, Therfore thou must have one to lig thertoo.
4.
(a) The stomach as the seat of thought, emotion, etc.; sinken in min ~, to sink into my consciousness; ; taken sor at ~, take (sth.) amiss, be incensed by; (b) one's inmost thoughts; (c) one's temper, disposition, or state of feeling; (d) desire; (e) compassion; hard in ~, unwilling, reluctant, adamant in refusal; (f) courage, spirit.
Associated quotations
a
- (1480) Let.Cely (PRO S.C.1 53/62)p.98 (110/7) : The wyche lettere..Y vnderestond ye taked sor at yowre stomakt.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)74/15 : Shulde than renome accorde with a shrewe? It may not sinke in my stomake til I here more.
b
- (a1500) Stonor2.34 : Sir, I beseche you to be my goode maister; and you schalle understonde the uttermoste of my stomake.
c
- (1474) Paston (EETS)1.480 : I have doon my devoyre to knowe my Lady Walgraues stomake.
- (1476) Paston (EETS)1.493 : He also hathe tolde me moche off hys stomake and tendre fauur þat he owythe to yow.
d
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.3668 : Auarice with stomak vnstaunchable Hath stranglid the poweer of many worthi kniht.
e
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1441 : Stomak ne conscience ne knowe I noon.
- c1480(1462) Benev.Edw.IV (Add 48031)138 : In cas that ye fynde eny of thayme harde in stomake to departe with any thing of his gifte unto us .., saye unto hym .. that thoughe he gave of his fre wil unto us .. asmuche as aftir his degre .. he wolde spende in twoo daies (yif he wente with us in his persone ..), it shulde nat gretely .. charge hym.
f
- (1460) Paston (Gairdner)3.215 : Somme fer of and grete that may nor peraventur wiln not medle, somme ye wold thei left, somme havyng no conduyt, somme no stomak, and somme glosours and witnesses for lucre.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.200 : Some say he is called 'Cure de lyon' because of his boldenesse and hardy stomake.
Note: Supplementary material for sense 4.(f).--per pfs
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. stomach.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(a) & 2.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. mouth of the stomach.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. nether mouth of the stomach.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. stomach's mouth.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 1.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. bad stomach.