Middle English Dictionary Entry
tā̆s(se n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | tā̆s(se n.(2) Also tace, tache, thas. |
| Etymology | OF tas & tasse, taiche, AF thase a heap, troop & ML tassa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A heap, pile, stack; also, a heap of slain bodies, a stack of hay, a pile of money; corn ~; (b) a mass of persons, troop; at a ~, in close formation; in ~, in a melee, en masse.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)9104 : Þai gun fiȝt..Þat þai made grete tasse Abouten hem þer þai stode.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1005,1009 : To ransake in the taas [vrr. tace; trase, caas, chaas] of the bodies dede..The pilours diden bisynesse..in the taas [vr. thaas] they founde..Two..knyghtes.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4400 : Usure..selleth be the lasse, And with the more he makth his tasse, Wherof his hous is full withinne.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4958 : Bardus..hadde gadred him a tasse Of..stickes.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)696 : Jt was more þan any stede..mannes flesshe leuere hym was Þan hay-rek oiþer corne-tas.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)30 : A mowe ys seyd in graunge And a tas wt oute grange.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.2342 : An hundrid knyȝtes, slayn & ded, allas..wer y-founde in þe taas.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)487 : Tasse, of corne, or oþer lyke: Tassis.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7507 : Euerich..fond our men alle at a tasse Þat þe paiens no miȝt passe.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)1598 : In þis bataile..Þou ridest..Aȝeyne þe deueles grysly tasse.
- a1450 12 PTrib.(3) (Bod 423)48/12 : Perilous is the batail ther men smyten in tache [F en chace, vrr. en taiche, en tasse], there the fighter knowith not his frende from his enemy.