Middle English Dictionary Entry
strū̆ciǒun n.
Entry Info
| Forms | strū̆ciǒun n. Also struc(c)ioune, struction, struccon & strucio, structio, structo & (?errors) strucoin, struttioune. |
| Etymology | L strūthio, ML strūtio, strūsio, AL strūcio, -iōnis & AF e)struction, estrucion. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ostrich(e n.(1).
1.
The ostrich Struthio camelus; -- sometimes confused with the stork [cp. stork n.].
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)70/12 : Þe strucoin [Cleo: strucion; Tit: ostrice; Nero: steorc] for his muchele flesch, & oþre swucche fuheles, makieð a semblant to fleon & beateð þe wengen, ah þe uet eauer draheð to þer eorðe.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)70/20 : Hire uet eauer as doð þe strucoins, þet beoð hire lustes, draheð to þere orðe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.11.16 : Þees been þat ȝe sholen not ete of briddes..astrucion [vr. an ostriche; WB(2): a strucioun; L struthionem].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 39.13 : Þe federe of a strucioun is lijc to þe federis of a jerfacoun & of a goshauk þat lefeþ hir eiren in þe erþe.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mic.1.8 : Y shal make weyling as of dragouns, and mournyng as of struciouns.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.11 : Salomon..closede Astructio [vr. a structo; Higd.(2): Strucio] his bryd [vr. structions bryd; L pullum struthionis] in a glas, and þe struccon..brak þe glas and delyuerede his brid.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)150b/b : Þe strucioun..is liche to a foule, & in som poynt he is lyke to a foure footid beste, for he fleeþ noȝt vp in to þe ayer for his wyngis beþ nouȝt couenable of fliȝt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)165a/a : Þere ben wylde bestes ygendred and fers, as dragouns, struciouns, ostrugges [L strutiones], elephantes, and apes.
- c1429 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)203 : The struttioune with a wormes blode of desert somtyme wasse Delyured hir briddes be Salomon thanne closed withinne a glasse.
- c1429 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)3095 : This was prefigured sometyme be a fowghel hight struccioune, Whas bridde in a vesselle of glasse didde close vp Kyng Salomon.
- c1429 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)5295 : Strucioune of Salomon.
- 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 3 KCol.(1) (Roy 18.A.10)47/22 : A brid þe which is clepyd strucio had a nest in þe tre, and ij eyren, of þe which eyren come out a lyoun and a lambe in þe same houre þat Crist was bore.