Middle English Dictionary Entry
strēmer(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | strēmer(e n. Also stremour, (late) straimer; pl. stremeres, etc. & stremerse. |
| Etymology | From strēmen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Naut. A streamer or pennant attached to the mast of a ship and serving as an identification of the vessel or as a signal flag during battles; (b) a streamer on a standard; also, eccl., a pennant used as part of the trappings of an altar or as a processional banner; (c) a trailing garment or part of a garment; -- used iron.; (d) her. a representation of a star.
Associated quotations
a
- (1295) *Acc.Exch.K.R.5/8.m.13 [OD col.] : v s. vj d. in j Stremer..xij d. in j Phane empto ad Mast.
- (c1299) Doc.Cust.Sea in NRS 4955 : Chasteaus au somet de checun mast..lesquels baneres sount appellees bausans, et la gent Dengleterre les appellent stremeres; et celes baneres signefient mort saunz remedie et mortele guerre en toz les lieux ou mariners sont.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)141/3042 : Vpon þe hiȝeste mast is top þere He let sette vp a stremere [vr. pensell] Of his fader armure.
- (1374) *Acc.John de Sleford in For.Acc.49 Edw.III B [OD col.] : Pro reparacione et emendacione Stremer..pro diuersis nauibus Regis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)479 : Stremere, of [Win: Stremare, or] fane: Cherucus.
- c1440(a1350) Isumb.(Thrn)224 : Als thay stode so appone the lande..Those schippes sawe thay ryde With toppe-castelles sett one lofte..Stremours fro thame ferre gane glyde.
- a1450(?1419-20) Topias (Dgb 41)84/360 : What meeneþ þi tipet, Iakke, as longe as a stremer, Þat hangiþ longe bihinde?
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57376 : Fore a stremer fore the kervelle, xj s.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)177/643 : The mastes were grete and wonder long And had stremers [Suth: a vaane] of rede sendel, With armes of troye wrought full well.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)121b : A Stremour of a Shippe: Cherucus.
b
- (1466) in Cox Churches Derb.4.87 : To the passyon altar belongeth..vj bannar clothes, ij pendants or straymers, and vj shaffetes or banar polles to them.
- (1474-76) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31537 : Paied for peyntyng of banerstaves for the ij stremers, viij d.; item, paied for a pole to be a banerstaf for one of the same stremers, vj d.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)163 : The kynge com in-to the stour with hys baner in his honde..Crownes of goolde and asure bendes entrauerse lysted as grene as a mede, and the stremers [F langues] down to the handes of Antony his stiwarde.
c
- c1450 Upland R.(Dgb 41)107/173 : I praise not, Dawe, þe stremerse þat þou herof spekest, Bot of suche wide cloþing, tateris & tagges, It hirtiþ myn hert heuyly.
d
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.5 (Hrl 2169)184 : Beryth asseure a stremer of gold.