Middle English Dictionary Entry
thōrax n.
Entry Info
| Forms | thōrax n. Also thorace, thoracis, thorase, thorais. |
| Etymology | L thōrax & thorāca. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The breast bone, sternum; (b) the front of the chest; (c) the chest cavity; the upper torso; (d) ?the backbone, spine.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)161/11,13 : Of woundis of thoracis & of þe brest & of þe membris þat ben conteyned in it..Thorax is maad of vij boonys & euery boon at þe eende is cartilaginosum.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)166/20 : Whanne woundis ben in thorase ouþer in þe brest..þan þou schalt cure him as it is aforeseid in oþere woundis.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)43b/b : Aboute þe region of þe breste or of thorace fro withoutforþ ar gendred many manerez of apostemz.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)29b/b : Þe Canel boon..is sett in a box þat in myddis of þe vpmeste ende of þe brest boon, þe which is callid Thorax.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)33b/b : Þer beþ seuene bonys in Thorace & her lenkþe is aftir þe lenkþe of þe brest, and þei ben vndirputt side longe ech to oþir, and her extremytees ben gristely as beþ þe extremitees of þe xiiij grete ribbis of þe brest.
b
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)33b/a : Neþeles þe vttere part [of the breast] is compouned of foure parties, þat is to seien of Thorax, þat is þe brest bifore, And of þe bak byhynde & of þe tweie sidis þat is þe place of þe ribbis.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)33b/a : Thorax is y-compouned of iiij þingis, þat is, of þe skyn þat apperiþ wiþoutenforþ to vs, and of þe lacertous fleisch, of pappis, and of bonys.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)13b/a : After þe necke folweþ clibanum or thorax.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)14b/b : The brest or þe thorax is þe arke or þe chest of spirituale membrez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)75a/a : Of wondes of thorace, i. brest, & of þe partiez of it.
d
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)166/23 : Of woundis of þorais ouþer spondilium.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. thorax.