Middle English Dictionary Entry
tau n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tau n. Also taue, tai, tayu, tayewe, taeu, thau, thayu. |
| Etymology | L tau, thau & OF thau, tahu; ult. Heb. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Tau, the name of the letter T in the Hebrew and Greek alphabets; (b) a sign in the shape of the letter T, sometimes taken as standing for the cross; the sign of the cross, marked on the forehead in blessing, confirmation, etc.; ~ cros, a T-shaped cross.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12199 : Þe letters fra alpha to taw [Trin-C: tayu] Wit sundri sight man mai þam knau.
- c1400 WBible(2) Gloss.Ezek.(Lamb 25)9.4 : Tau is the laste lettre in abse of Hebru, and is the first letter of this worde thora, that betokneth the lawe.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)11/3 : If ȝe wil wit of þe abce of Grew and what kyn letters þai hafe, here ȝe may see þam and þer names also: alpha α, beta β..sima σ, tau τ, [etc.].
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6078 : Þis lamb blod..Þar-wit yee mak..A takin o tav [Göt: tau T; Trin-C: thayu; Ld:Horrall: Taev] on þair derner.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21711,21716-17 : Þe signe o tav [Phys-E: taue] in ald laies Bitakens cros nu in vr daies..Tau and cros bath er als an, Bot tav has yerd a-bouen nan.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.9.4 : Mark Tau [WB(2): Thau] vpon the forehedis of men mournynge and sorewynge.
- a1425 WBible(2) Gloss.Ezek.(Roy 1.C.8)9.4 : Thau: that is, a crosse.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Say.Nightingale (Trin-C R.3.20)318 : Of his crosse aryse vp þe banyer..Þis banier is..Mooste noble staue and token of Tayu To Esechyel shewed by myracle.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)8 : J seih..the signe of Thau [F thau, vr. tahu] which was peynted reed with the blood of the white lamb.
- (1474) *Will Ld.Mountioye (Somerset Ho.) [OD col.] : A Tayewe crosse.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)1407 : He..Markyde manye with Tav [Pilgr.LM: Tahu] Myd of her forhed..And sayde..'I crosse yow, and conferme also.'
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12115,12126 : By the tookne off Tav..ffro the deth they dyde Eskape..I forgete neueradel..To marke my wyndowes wyth Tav.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.IVMass (Trin-C R.3.21)257 : The gospell gynneth with tokenes of Tay, The book furst crossyd, and aftyr the forhede.
- a1500 Leg.Cross BC(1) (Wor F.172)214 : Seth..marked hym silf with the sign Teta or Tau.