Middle English Dictionary Entry
stork n.
Entry Info
| Forms | stork n. Also storke, storc, storck, (early SW) steorc & (in names) storch, storge, storgh(e, storue, storwe & (errors) stoke, astork; pl. storkes, (error) strorkes. |
| Etymology | OE storc; cp. OI storkr. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The white stork (Ciconia ciconia); -- sometimes confused with the ostrich [cp. strucioun n.]; (b) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.157].
Associated quotations
a
- a1150(OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)29/28 : Spæc se witega..cweðende, 'Storc & swealewe heolden þone time heores tocymes, & þis folc ne oncneow Godes dom.'
- c1175 Stw.57 Gloss.(Stw 57)412 : Ciconie: Storkes, i. cugunies.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)58/6 : Þe steorc uor his muchele flesche makeð a semblaunt uorte vleon & beateð ðe hwingen.
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)58/14 : Fleschlich ancre ðet luueð flesches lustes..hire uette euer ase deð ðe strorkes [read: storkes; Corp-C: strucoins; Tit: ostrices] -- ðet beoð hire lustes -- draweð hire to ðer eorðe.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)786 : Ki nul sygoun [glossed:] storck [vrr. stork, stoke].
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)782 : Sigoyne, pown, et powe: Storke, pecok, and pohenne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)145b/b : De Cichonia..A stork is a watir foul.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)640/34 : Ciconia: storke.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)361 : The stork, the wrekere of avouterye.
- c1440(a1349) Rolle Bee (Thrn)56/51 : Þay are lyke till a fowle þat es callede strucyo or storke, þat has wenges, and it may noghte flye, for charge of body.
- a1450 Simpson Nominale (Simpson)95/327 : Un sycoigne: a astork [read: stork].
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)213/16 : Þe storke norischeþ his fadre & modre whan þei ben holde.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)433 : Pecok, Stork, Bustarde, & Shovellewre, ye must vnlace þem in þe plite of þe crane prest & pure.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.308 : Whan þe storc..hath brout forth hir bryddys to flyth, boþin þe male & þe femel arn waxsyn wol feble for trauayle.
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)29/23 : Storkys and swalewes, and othyr Somyr fowlis, we haue aftyr a-waytid.
b
- (1198) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames335 : [Osbert] Storc.
- (1199) CRR(1) 1217 : Radulphus Stork.
- (1229) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames335 : Hugo Stork.
- (1242) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)161 : Storgeton.
- (1274-5) Hundred R.Tower 2161 : Thom' Storck.
- (1285) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)161 : Storketon.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1088 : Rado le Storke.
- (1303) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)161 : Storgheton.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 392 : Adam Storch.
- (1345) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)161 : Storueton.
- (1347) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)161 : Storweton.
- (1379) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)161 : Storghton.
- (1401-2) Feudal Aids 5101 : Willelmus Stork.
- (1433) Close R.Hen.VI253 : John Storke.