Middle English Dictionary Entry
tachen v.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | tachen v.(2) P.ppl. tached, teched. |
| Etymology | ?Shortened form of attachen v. (cp. sense 3.(b)); cp. F (16th cent.) atachier, attacher to attack. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In phrase: ~ at (in-to, on, upon), to attack (sb. or sth.), rush upon; (b) to overcome (sb.), kill.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)655 : Quarels flambande of fur flowen out harde, & arwes [vn]arwely with attyr enuenymyd Taysen [vr. They tachen] at þe toures, tachen [vr. tachede] on þe Jewes; Þroȝ kernels cacchen her deþ, many kene burnes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2622 : Kniȝtis..Taches [Dub: Tachyng] in-to targetis, tamed þaire brenys.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6717 : Telamon hym tacchit on with a tore speire, Bare hym downe backward with a bir hoge.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6783 : Deffibus the doughty, with a derfe wepyn, Tachit vpon Teutro, a full tore dynt, Vne fourme in the face foule to behold.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)8297 : Then Diamede full dernly, with a dyn hoge, On Troiell with tene tachet belyue; Bere hym backe to the bent of his big stede.
b
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5486 : Might Ector Thoas haue reched Schuld neuere man haue him teched.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5690 : His hed was bare, his helme was rached, Thei scholde for euere him haue tached Ne hadde ben duk Menescene.