Middle English Dictionary Entry
tater n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tater n. Pl. tater(i)s, tatirs, tatris. |
| Etymology | ON: cp. OI töturr; cp. OF taterele (ult. Gmc.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Pl. (a) Torn or ragged strips of material hanging from a garment; projecting strips or points of a slashed garment; ragged clothing [1st quot.]; (b) jagged appendages on a dragon's tail.
Associated quotations
a
- c1440 HBk.GDei (Thrn)37/19 : He grapes abowte hyme if he myghte oghte fynde of þase riche clathes..bot þan feles he noghte alles bot taters & ragges.
- c1450 Upland R.(Dgb 41)107/174 : Of suche wide cloþing, tateris & tagges, It hirtiþ myn hert.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)6237 : Vpon the to legge a brokyn bote, A rente hose on the other foote, Two tatrys hangyng bye.
b
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)196/17 : A dredfull dragon..com fleyng..His tayle was fulle of tatyrs.