Middle English Dictionary Entry
thurs(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | thurs(e n. Also thursse, thirs(e, thirce, tirce, (in place name) thurce & thrus(se, thresse, thrisse, thros, trusse & (?error) þrusshe. |
| Etymology | OE þyrs & ON (cp. OI þurs). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A devil or an evil spirit;—also coll. [quot. ?c1450]; also used as an epithet for an evil person [1st quot.]; hobbe ~; (b) a monster; also, a giant [2nd quot.]; (c) ~ nedle, a plant, prob. shepherd's needle (Scandix pecten-veneris) [cp. pouk-nedle n.]; (d) in surname and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.217, 223].
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Bod 34)96/678 : Under þis com þe þurs Maxence, þe wedde wulf, þe heaðene hunt, aȝein to his kineburh.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)37/383 : Belzeebub, þe balde þurs of helle.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)144/5 : Þurh þe strengðe of eadmodnesse he weorp þe þurs of helle.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)55a/b : Rauus: a þrusshe [Hrl 2270: A thurse, goblyn, a powke].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)491 : Thyrce [KC: thirse; Win: Tyrce], wykkyd spyryte: Ducius.
- ?a1450 Daniel Treat.Rosemary (Stockh 10.90:Holthausen)79 : Rosmarine..kepyth hym fro thresse and fro wykked spritys..for kyndely it is contrarious to deuelis and to wikkyd spritys.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)128a : A Thrwsse [Monson: hobb Trusse]: Negocius.
- a1500 *Medulla (Cnt D.2)43a/a : Dusius, i. demon: A thrusse, þe powke.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)126/37 : Well I can..the talgh from them [sheep] take; And yf sworne yt had the thursse, yett shall the talgh be in my purse.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.34.15 : Ther shul springe in his houses thornes and netles..and it shal be the bed place of dragownes..There shal lyn lamya, that is, a thirs [vr. thrisse], or a beste hauende the bodi lic a womman and horse feet.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1100 : Thykke theese as a thursse and thikkere in þe hanche, Greesse-growen as a galte, full gry[s]lych he lukez.
c
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)15/33 : Tak an herbe þat es called thros nedils & drynk it ix mornes with stale ale.
d
- (1191-1210) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)299 : Thursgayle.
- (1227) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)328 : Thursmare.
- (1292) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)84 : Thirshowe.
- (1292) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)268 : Thirsqueche.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)299 : Thurseghele.
- (1323) Pat.R.Edw.II328 : Walter Thurse.
- (1324) in Ekwall PNLan.85 : Thirsedeneheved.
- (c1350) in Ekwall PNLan.182 : Thursgyll.
- (1370) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)299 : Thurcelane.
- (1376) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)299 : Thruslane.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2180 : Þis lyf contemplatyue..Cuthbert in a priue place began, In a place with oute his cell Now calde þe thrus house, as men tell.