Middle English Dictionary Entry
tench n.
Entry Info
| Forms | tench n. Also tenche, tenich, (in name) tenk; pl. tenches, tench, tenges, tensches. |
| Etymology | OF tenche; also cp. AL tencha, tenchia, tenga. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A European freshwater fish related to the carp, the tench (Tinca tinca);—also coll.; (b) as the name for other fishes [some may = (a)]: a sucking fish of some kind [quot. c1450]; the remora [last quot.]; ~ of the se, ?a wrasse [see wratbihe n.]; (c) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (1289) R.Swinfield in Camd.595 : c allec., j salm., v tench.
- 1381 Dc.257 Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)74.61/1 : For to make rapy: Tak pyges or tenchis or oþere maner fresch fysch & fry yt wyþ oyle de oliue.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52155/28 : Pro ix tench, xviij d.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52213/21 : Pro tenche, xxxviij s.
- a1400 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Paris n.a. lat.699)p.96 : Petiz peisons Que en Fraunce apelent gernons [glossed:] tenches.
- a1400 Recipe MS Hal.in Rel.Ant.1 (Hal 335)51 : For hym that is in the jaunes..tak a tenche and clefe hit in twa al qwyk..and lay hit to the herte and to the rybbes.
- a1425(a1399) Form Cury (Add 5016)126.123/1 : Tenches in cyuee: Take tenches and smyte hem to pecys, fry hem, [etc.].
- (1440) Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)943 : Lete him ete eles, Tench, or peke.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)488 : Tenche, fysche: Tencha.
- (1447) Shillingford9 : Y..sende thider that day ij stately pikerellis and ij stately tenchis.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.My Lady (Add 16165)69 : What is a fisshe out of the see..Or in ryuers crystal clene Pyke..or tenche with ffynnes grene?
- (1449) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.9982 : In 1 tenych..12 d.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)23 : Tenche in bruette: Take þe Tenche an sethe hem & roste hem.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A tenche y sauset.
- c1450 Treat.Fish.(Yale 171)155/8 : Ye schall angle..ffor the cheven chobe, the tenche, the Ele, vith a lyne of vj herys.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.396 : That ther be no citezen regratour of see ffysshe ner none other fressh fysshe as Tenches, Pykes.
- (1467-8) Acc.Howard in RC 57561 : I pote in to the same ponte in lytel karpes xijxx And in grete tensches the same tyme xliij.
- a1475 Liber Cocorum (Sln 1986)p.19 : Mylke of almondes þerto þou cast, Þo tenche or lampray do to on last.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)586 : Tenche in Iely or in Sawce, loke þere ye kut hit so.
- a1500 Ld.Cook.Recipes (LdMisc 553)113 : Egredoucetes: Tak luyȝs or tenges, kerf hem in mosselis, fri hem in oille.
- a1500 PFulham (Jas 43)52 : Y schall none pondes with pykes store, Breme, perche, ne with tenche.
b
- (1443) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2238 : Magister Tregoran dedit piscem vocatum base et le wratbyhe alias a tenche of the see.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)614/24 : Suctus: a tenche.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)764/2 : Echinus, ectinus: a tenche.
c
- (1193) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.330 : Alanus Tenche.
- (1193) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames344 : William Tenche.
- (1274-5) Hundred R.Tower 1289 : Johannes Tench.
- (1379) Nickname in SAU 63192 : Henr. Tenk.
- (1431) Close R.Hen.VI2.111 : Richard Tench.