Middle English Dictionary Entry
streng n.
Entry Info
| Forms | streng n. Also strenge, streing, string(e & (early) strenǧ, strenȝ, strench; pl. streng(e)s, etc. & strengus, strengges, strenghes, stringgis, (early) strengen, strænges. |
| Etymology | OE streng, strenc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A rope, cord, line; a thread, string; her ~, a cord made of horsehair (see her n.(1), sense 4.(b)); also, a strand of a rope; -- used fig. [quot. a1225]; gon right wei as ~, to go straight; (b) a length of wire; (c) a strand of hair; (d) something that looks like a cord or string.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1137 : Me dide cnotted strenges abuton here hæued & uurythen to ðæt it gæde to þe hærnes.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)45/14 : Ure ropes..bieð ibroiden mid þrie strænges, of rihte ileaue and of faste hope te gode and of ðare soðe luue.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)9353 : Þe box þat heng ek ouer þe weued Mid godes fless & is blod, Þe streng brac & he vel adoun.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)159/14 : Þin onderstondinge of þine herte is clene and simple and geþ uorþ þane riȝte way ase streng [Vices & V.(2): lyne] al a-midde þise stapes.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)45.313/72 : Bi fore hym he sauh hange Twey wihtes wiþ stringes strange.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)17b/b : Corda: stringe [Cnt: A streng or a corde].
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8649 : Octa had don, in stede of streng, Aboute his nekke a chayne heng.
- a1450(a1400) Titus & V.(Add 36523)1676 : Þat ilke theef hymself dede henge Upon a tree with a grete strynge [vr. strenge].
- (1461) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.25 : He desired of the same Oliver to have a lityll stryng of silke that was knyt to the said belle that he myght shewe it his maistresse whether it were the same she myssed or nat..and thenne the said Oliver delyvered the said stryng unto him.
- (1476-78) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.3232 : Item, paied to Richard Clerk for the herr-stryng for the wathe of the Clok.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)22a/10 : Put by tuyx his tethe a thred twynyd or a stryng [L filum] waxid, and touche þe stryng with thi nayles fast by his mouthe.
b
- a1525(?1435) Cov.Leet Bk.181 : And then that wire that the mayster supposithe wille be cherisshed atte gurdell, he shall com to his girdulmon and sey to hym..'Lo, here is a stryng or ij that hathe ben mysgouerned atte herthe.'
c
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)167 : Seint Eadmund, þis holie man, werede strongue here; In strengore manere heo was i-maud þane oþur mannes..heo nas i-sponne ne i-weoue, ake i-broide strengus longue And sethþe ase man knut a net, i-knut swiþe harde and stronge.
d
- a1475 Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)34 : A medycyn for þe fysworme in þe bake of a hawke..loke on þe bake of hyr, and þu schalte fynde a long rede stryng betwene þe flech and þe skyn..breke þe skyn and put in þe pyn and gedir vp þe hede..and so draw hym owte.
2.
(a) A narrow strip of cloth, ribbon, etc. used to fasten a garment or one's hair, a tie, lace; a band of fabric, tape [quot. 1440]; her ~; (b) a leash, lead; also, a strap or band used to attach Icarus' wings to his body [1st quot.]; (c) a cord used as a snare or part of a snare; also fig.; (d) a bowstring; also fig.; ~ makere, one who makes bowstrings; (e) the string of a musical instrument; a harpstring; also fig.; harpe ~; (f) a stringed musical instrument; ~ man (minstral), a player of stringed instruments.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7621 : Þa Hengest hine igrap mid grimmen his gripen & bi þan mantle hine ibræid þat breken þa strenges.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)516 : Feire he platte his her wiþ a selkene streng.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)208 : Here ȝelewe her was faire atired Mid riche strenges of golde wyred [LinI: wyre].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)480 : Strynge..instita.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)17/109a : Crinale: here stryng.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1442 : Brecon þa strenges þe he [Icarus] mid strahte & he feol to folde.
- a1250 Mon may longe (Mdst A.13)14 : Ne mai strong ne starch..ȝlye [read: a-ȝlye] deth-is wiþer-clench; þung [read: ȝung] and old and brith an-siene, al he riueth an his streng [vr. on o streng].
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.61 : An hundred develes, ratches on a rowe With stringes him drowen.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1104/10 : Many good doggis they had, bothe for the strenge and for a bate.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.125 : Þis maner of speche is nought ellys but..a neeth to lacchyn wyt mannys soule and a stryng to drawyn meen to helle.
c
- c1275 Mon may longe (Clg A.9)14 : Nis non so strong ne sterch ne kene Þat mai ago deaþes wiþer-blench; Ȝung and olde, brihet and schene, Alle he riueþ in one strench.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)790 : E li oisel ke ad noun bekas, [glossed:] snyte [vr. a snype], Pres du viver est pris a las [glossed:] streing.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)139.6 : And strenges in snare þai set to be.
- a1425 Gloss.Bibbesw.(AS 182)92 : Tong, string of the tong [vrr. the skale; the chal unde the tonge; glossing AF (Cmb): le filet].
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)106 : While the brid goth coleyinge hider and thider..ofte it bifalleth that in the strenges he is take whiche is set in his wey.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)139.6 : Et funes extenderunt in laqueum..And strengis thai stekid in snare; biside the way thai sett sclawdire til me.
d
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)729 : He leadde an his honde enne bowe stronge & he þene streng up braid.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1230 : An fleo schal toward mis ȝenge Ȝef þu isihst hu fleo of strenge.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)479 : His knape wende it were a der, An lamech droge is arwe ner And letet flegen of ðe streng.
- (1339) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.204 : [There are 7 springalds and 380 quarels for the same..and 29 cords, called] strenges.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5274/2 : Pro alblastes strynges..viij scot.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.2067 : Sodeynly he took his bowe in honde And vp the streng he pulled to his ere.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)prol.4/23 : In tokene of pees by-twene hym & man, he putte his reyn-bowe in þe cloudes of heuene & þe streng toward þe erþe.
- (1416) MSS Beverley in HMC99 : String-makers et staf-makers [are to pay 2 d. a year].
- (1420) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.125123 : Ordinatum est quod..lez strynges pro arcubus, qui inventi erunt defectivi..portentur huc in cameram et ibidem remaneant comburendi.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)165/23-5 : Arblastes..ne mowe not be ibend to be schot wiþoute cordes & strynges imade of zenewes & here, and also of hors tailes and of hors manes is gode for strenges to arblastres. And no doute wommanhere is right good to make strenges of.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57219 : Payd..ffor threyd for stryngys for crosbowys, vj d.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)24400 : For, of the bowe the discord, vnderstonde by the cord; I made hem so forto acorde, that called am 'Misericorde'..the stryng therof is in myn hond.
- a1475 Heart & Eye(3) (Lngl 258)442 : He hade also a bowe of vnicorne And two strenges made of gret substaunce.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)59/2 : Powere withowt wisdom is as a bowe withowt a strynge.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)686/32 : Cordex: a stryngmaker.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)56/321 : Where clowdes in the welkyn bynne, that ylke bowe shalbe seene..The stringe is torned towardes you and towardes me is bente the bowe.
e
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)539/21 : Fidis: ..eng [OE streng].
- c1330 Roland & V.(Auch)708 : Þe harp has þre þinges, Wode & soun & strenges.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.211 : In melodie of oon streng [Higd.(2): monocorde; L monochordo], ȝif þe streng [Higd.(2): wire; L chorda] is i-stranȝt [vr. straut] endelonges..and departede evene a two by a brugge i-sette þere under..þanne þe lenger del of þe streng..if it is i-touched, schal ȝeue a soun þat hatte tonus.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.405 : Alisaundre herde a..harpe and for kutte þe strenges and seide, 'It is bettre to kutte strynges [vr. strengges] þan hertes.'
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)114b/a : Þe sonne in his owne cercle makeþ þat þing þat þe myddil streng [L cordula] makiþ in an Instrument of musik.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)334b/b : Strynges of þe sautry beþ best y-made of latoun or of filum.
- c1400 Bk.Mother (Bod 416)28/14-15 : Þerfore, my leue dere modir, knowe þes ten strenges and lerne to tempre þin harpe þat þe strenges be wel streyned whanne Crist wol..come himself aftur þi soule.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.732 : Or artow lik an asse to the harpe, That hereth sown whan men the strynges [vr. strenghes] plye?
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ps.32.2 : Knouleche ȝe to the Lord in an harpe; synge ȝe to hym in a sautre of ten strengis.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)360/29 : In þis same sown, in þe which þe grete stringes & myȝtis of þe soule ben accordid, þe smale stringis & coordis of þe bodily wittis ben also acoordid.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)197 : Of instruments of strenges [vr. strynggis] in acord Herde I so pleye a ravyshyng swetnesse, That God..Ne herde nevere beter.
- ?1435(1432) Lydg.Hen.VI Entry (Jul B.2)249 : He and his scolers theyre wyttes dydde applye, With touche off strenges on orgons eke pleyng.
- c1450(a1400) Lavynham Treat.7 Dead.Sins (Hrl 211)10/15 : Þat harpe is not in good twne þt hath wolfys strengis & scheepis strengys meynt boþ to gydre.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Conf.(Dub 245)340 : An harpe haþe þre partis of hym: þe ouermost in which ben stringis wrastid; þe secounde is þe holow part of þe harpe, þe þridde knytteþ þise two to-gidre.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)61a : A Harpe stringe: fidis, lira.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)383 : Of the Sheep is cast a-way no thyng..For harp strynges his roppis serue echon.
- c1500(1446) Morstede Surgery (Hrl 1736)115 : Yf the pane be Brokyne, than schall the pacyent crasche his teth to gedyr..yf the strynge of an harpe or of alute be smytyne.
f
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)150.4 : Loues him in stringes [WBible(1): cordis; L chordis] and organe.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.559 : Streeng menstrallis, to bern also record, Ther instrumentis shal touchyn of accord.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)48 : Mynstrelles xiii..whereof sume use trumpettes, sume shalmuse and small pipes, and sume as strengemen, comyng to this courte at five festes of the yere..if it please the Kinge to have ii strenge Minstrelles to contynue in like wise, the Kinge wull not..that his Minstrelles be too presumptuouse..to aske any rewardes of the lordes.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)150.4 : Laudate eum in cordis & organo..louys him in strengis and orgyns..that is..for strengis he settis for..instrumentis of musyke.
3.
(a) Anat. A muscle, tendon, ligament, etc.; the frenum of the tongue; pl. ?roots of the teeth [quot. a1398, 2nd]; ?vocal cords [quot. a1398, 3rd]; (b) strenges of herte, fig. the heartstrings, one's deepest feelings.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)19/2-4 : Wið þam, þe se streng under þare tunga toswollen byð: Þisne læcecræft mæn sceal don þan mannum, þe se strenȝ under þare tunge toswollen byð.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)19/7 : Ceorf þane streng under þara tunga and do þat dust on innan, and hym byd sona bet.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)32 : Dentz foreynz lange et filet: Forteth tunge and strynge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)45a/a : Þe ieawes ben I-made & I-compowned of diuers boones and hard, & I-bounde togedres wiþ diuers synewis & strenges [L lacertis].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)46b/b : Al þis comeþ of corrupt & euel humours þat comeþ doun of euel metis by þe sinewes to þe strenges [L ligamentum] of þe teeþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)48a/a : Þe Instrumentis of þe voys ben meny..þat ben þe longen, strengis, þe þrote & arteries, þe mouþ, teeþ, lippes, & tonge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)68a/b : Þis skyn comeþ out wiþ þe childe whenne he is I-bore, whenne þe strengis [L tenaculis] bene I-broke wiþ þe white [read: whice] þe childe is I-tied & I-fastned to þe celle of þe modir.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)6.99-102 : Now Mago seith is good castracioun Of litel veles..with tynnen tonges take her strynges [L neruos], ffirst bounden lest they nold not graunte hem leve, And feire of with a knyf they cutte her thinges, But sumdel on the strynges heed they leue.
- a1450 Chauliac(4) (Cai 336/725)31/27 : Of crampe & strenge [Ch.(2): þrede; L filo] þat wiþdrawiþ þe tunge.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)41/35 : Þe movyng power..gooþ doun bi synewes or stryngis into euery ioynt of þe rigge boon.
- ?a1475 Noble Bk.Cook.(Hlk 674)49 : Put a quyk lampry in a pot..then weshe hym and cut hym out whart a straw brod from the naville, so that the stringe be lowse, then slitt hym a litill at the throt and tak out the string and kep the blode in a vesselle; and it be a female thrust in your hand from the naville upwards so that the spawn com out ther as ye tak out the stringe.
- a1486 Sln.Bk.Hawking (Sln 3488)145 : Te cray cometh of colde metes that is j wassh in hote water for defaute of hote mete, and of the white stryngs that ben in suche wassh metes.
b
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)360/27 : Þanne þe affeccioun of þe soule makeþ a ioye & a sown, temperynge þe stringes & coordis of þe herte wiþ prudence & liȝt.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)235 : The knyȝt took þe childe & slowe hit; and whenne the moder harde that, she was hiliche greuid in alle the strenges of hir herte.
4.
(a) A root filament; (b) a ray or beam of light.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)208b/a : Euerich tree, herbe, and gras haþ a roote, and in þe roote many maner knottes and strynges..knottes and strynges beþ in þe stede of synewes, and byndeþ togideres þe partyes þat be contynued.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)8973 : Þe leome gon striden a ueire seoue strengen.
5.
Bibl. An allotment, a share, portion; also, a measuring rope used to determine an allotment of land; also fig.
Associated quotations
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)104.10 : I sal giue þe þe land of Chanaan Stringe [L funiculum] ofe þine heritage on-an.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)138.2 : Mi stie and mi stringe instepped þou nou And þou forsagh mi waies ilkan.
- a1425(c1340) Rolle Psalter (LdMisc 286)138.2 : Semitam meam & funiculum meum inuestigasti..my strete and my strynge thou steppyd..my stryng, that is, how fer i ȝede, thou steppyd, that is, thou wot holly all, as he that tellis mennys steppys.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)15.6 : Funes ceciderunt michi in preclaris, etenim hereditas mea preclara est michi: Strengis fel til me in fulbryght, for whi myn heritage is fulbright til me. Strengis, that is, merkis of my possession, in thi brightnes fell.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)104.10 : Dicens tibi dabo terram chanaan, funiculum hereditatis vestre..i sall gif the land of chanaan, strenge of ȝoure heritage..strenge of ȝoure heritage, that is, i gif heuen in heritage til anly tha that ere takynd with the strenge of predestinacioun of god, and as the land was delt in twelfe partys with a strenge, alswa in an endles lif ere sere wonynge stedis.
6.
A line, lineage.
Associated quotations
- c1175(OE) Bod.Aelfric OT (Bod 343)22/159 : Ac Adam istreonde æfter Abeles slæge oðerne sunu, þe wæs Seth ihaten, of ðam strenge com..Noe & his wif & heora ðreo sunæ.
7.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1319) Pat.R.Edw.II384 : William le Strenglayer.
- (1332) Nickname in LuSE 5562 : Rob. Boustring.
- (1338) in Fransson Surn.87 : Gilb. le Strengmakere.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Rwl.C.506 Artist.Recipes (Rwl C.506) 164/8 : Here begynnyth þe maner of staynyng..Instrumentis: to worche with þu must have a rewle, and a cumpasse, and a sqwyere, and many strenchis grete and smale.
Note: Glossary: "strenchis n. 'cords, (drying-) lines'."
Note: ?New sense.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. string.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 3.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. string of the heart.