Middle English Dictionary Entry
biker n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | biker n.(2) Also bikure, bikkir, bẹ̄̆ker, -ir, -ur. |
| Etymology | Cp. MDu. bicken thrust, attack. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A martial encounter or engagement; a skirmish, a battle; given ~, to attack; abiden ~, engage in fighting; (b) a quarrel or struggle; out of ~, beyond cavil.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)11253 : Hii asailede anon & hii wiþinne casten out mid hor ginnes vaste, So þat bituene hom þe biker longe ilaste.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6966 : His kniȝtes..After þis ich noble biker Token al þis riche paie.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7944 : Wiþ swerd þai maden dedeli biker.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)5763 : Ȝif he passe ous in þis biker, Of mi liij am y nouȝt siker.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)1093 : Þey were armed swith seker, And þere begynneþ a grete beker [vr. bikir].
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)11430 : For We ar noght alle sure & sekir With-oute him to wynne this bekir.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7482 : Þen myghte we þe more be syker, What tyme our enemis wold giue vs byker.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner) : Flones and quarelles ffleyȝ betwene Also þykke..And in þe bykyr [vrr. beker, batayl]..come Kyng Richard.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2732 : Thai were slayn, that..durste bikure abyde.
- (1461) Paston3.269 : At whiche byker ben slayn iij ml. men.
b
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)95/196 : Beo þei siker, Bote þei amenden of þis biker, wiþ Sathanas þei schul dwelle.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)14066 : For she loueþ me, out of biker, Of my loue she may be siker.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2661 : I wol be siker. If thow sey nay, we two shul have a biker [vrr. bekyr, bikre, bykkyr].
- c1450 Whanne marye was greet (Lamb 853)151 : Þe bolder in bikir y bidde him bataile, Þe lasse of me he takiþ hede.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)3133 : Grete beker was betwene hom two, whether schuld haue the more maistri.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1879 : Þe folk of Arabye londe..haueþ ymade dyche and walles And schette þe gates of þe cites alle..To Alisaunder hij ȝiuen byker. And many stronge bataille, siker.
Note: MED has ȝiven ~, to attack. Ed. suggests here 'offer resistence.'--per JR
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2826 : Vp he lep on fote, syker, And fonde hem alle propre byker.
Note: finden ~, ?phrase--per JR