Middle English Dictionary Entry
bīke n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | bīke n.(1) Also beke. |
| Etymology | ?A derivative of ON bȳ bee (cp. ME bī-ker); ?OE *bȳc, akin to būc belly, etc.; cp. OScot. byke, bike. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A nest of wild bees or wasps; a honeycomb; hony ~.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7113 : In leon muth he fand..A bike [Göt: swarm] o bees þar-in be-bredd, And wit þe hony he him fedd.
- a1400 Monk Sees Virg.(Eg 2810)20 : He loued oure lady euere elyke; His lufe wase swettur þen hony of byke.
- c1450 Siege Jerus.(1) (Add 31042)32 : Beke of waspe bees [Ld: A biker of waspen bees bredde on his nose].
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)49/4 : The smell of my son is lyke to a feld with flouris, or hony bike.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)391/147 : Wormes shall in you brede as bees dos in the byke.