Middle English Dictionary Entry
test(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | test(e n.(1) Also taste; pl. testes, (?error) teses, (error) trestis. |
| Etymology | OF test, teste, AF tees pot, potsherd, shell & L testa, ML tasta urn, potsherd, shell. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A crucible or similar vessel for trying such metals as silver or gold, a vessel for heating something to a high temperature; (b) a piece or fragment of some vessel-like object, such as a shell or potsherd.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.818 : Yet wol I telle hem as they come to mynde..of oure siluer citrinacioun, Oure cementyng and fermentacioun, Oure ingottes, testes [vrr. trestis, teses], and many mo.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)166b/b : Of combustioun of coperose & of liche þingez, Be þai brint vpon a crusible or a teste, i. scarþe, with colez & blowe vn to þai be inflammed & infused or melten & burbled.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)9/12 : Whanne ȝe wole dissolue ony of þese calces by hem silf, putte eiþir by him silf in a test, or ellis þe pich or þe wex in which þei ben ynne, and anoon schal come out verry gold & siluer as þei were tofore.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)54b/b : Þan be drawen þe nedel & þe threde in leuyng or holdyng vp þe lippe biside þe thred with a teste, i. a shelle, þat in drawing þe threde þe lippe folowe noȝt.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)55a/b : Tyme of remouyng þe suture is when it haþ complete his ende; Maner of remouyng þat þer be put som test, i. shel, vnder þe poynt And be þrede kutte aboue þe teste.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)72a/b : It bihoueþ þat it be persed wiþ many holes wiþ crepanez one nere anoþer to þe quantite of a taste or shelle, after þat þu wilt put out of the bone.