Middle English Dictionary Entry
torch(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | torch(e n. Also torge, torghe, (error) torthee; pl. torch(i)es, torchus, torch, torschis, torges, torqis, tourcheis, thorches. |
| Etymology | OF torche, torque, pl. torges, AF torceys; also cp. ML torchia, torcha, torga. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. torteis n.
1.
(a) A large wax or tallow candle; (b) an inexpensive torch, perh. made by wrapping a reed with grease [some quots. may belong to (a)]; also, a pine torch [quot. 1446]; (c) fig. a sunbeam; (d) in cpds. & combs.: ~ berere (holdere), one who carries a candle or torch; ~ ende, an unused remnant of a candle; ~ light; ~ silver, ?a rent for providing candles in the church; ~ weke, a wick for a candle; also, coll. the material, probably tow, used for making wicks in candles [quot. 1443-4].
Associated quotations
a
- (1323) Chamber J.Edw.II in EHR 30676 : lx lb. de cire achatez..pur faire ent Torches, tortz, priketz, et chaundell pur seruir loustel monsire Hugh le Despenser le fiz.
- (1348) Will York in Sur.Soc.450 : Item, lego luminari circa corpus meum, die sepulturæ meæ viij torches ceræ.
- (1376) Will York in Sur.Soc.497 : Item, lego sex libras argenti pro xij torches..circa corpus meum die sepulturæ meæ.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.48 : Þe dene shal do þe Thorches comyn to þe Derige.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.203 : To a torche or a tapre þe trinitee is lykned; As wex and a weke were twyned togideres, And þanne a fyre flaumende forth oute of bothe.
- (1402) Will in Bk.Lond.E.211/26 : To þe forseyd Chirch y ȝeue for to serue atte þe heye Awter and in othir place of the chirche in the most worschip of god ij torchis of wax, pris xiij s. iiij d.
- a1425(c1300) Assump.Virg.(1) (Add 10036)127/598 : Loke þat ȝe haue candele, Torches boþe faire and fele.
- (1435) Will York in Sur.Soc.3054 : Lego..xlviij s. ad emendum duodecim torch, precii cujuslibet iiij s. ad ardendum ad hujusmodi exequias.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)497 : Torche [Win: Torch]: Cereus.
- (1454) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15158 : Item, for joynyng to geders of iij stumped torches, ij d.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)825 : Now speke I wylle..Of þo chandeler..Þat torches and tortes and preketes con make.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)754/24 : Cerulus: a lytyl torche.
b
- a1300(c1250) Floris (Vit D.3)235 : Ne þarf me aniht..berne Nouþer torche [vr. torthee] ne lanterne.
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)188 : In one olde porche huy stunten al þat nyȝht, withoute liȝht of torche, with-oute fuyr and candle briȝht.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)85/1659 : Þar inne he seȝ torges i-liȝt.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1261 : Florippe het a damesel..fette A gret torche.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)331/2 : Þe nynthe is plente of liȝt of candles and of prikettis and of torchis for it is a schame to soupe in derknes.
- (1415) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2322 : Item, pro ij torqys Thome Berwe, iiij d.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.3544 : With-oute torche or liȝt, To Medea he hath þe weye take.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2610 : The torches brennen, and the laumpes bryghte; The sacryfices ben ful redy dighte.
- (1438) EEWills130/1 : That þer be xiij pore men clothid in white, holdyng eche of hem a torghe brennyng at the dirige & at the masse yn the day of my obyte.
- (1444) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 851 : Halso of thomas bo'sse for waste of ij torschys, iiii d.
- (1444) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 852 : Halso..the same nykole for waste of a torge.
- (1446) Acc.All Sts.Tilney5 : Item, pro vna noua teda, anglice Torche, cum emendacione duarum et vna noua candela cerea quatuor librarum, viij s. iiij d.
- a1450 St.Etheldr.(Fst B.3)807 : Seynt Wilfride come þo anone þat tombe to..With copus and teneclus of ryȝt gode aray And torchus & sencerus, mony & fele.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1563 : Þar passis þe procession..Of childire..with baners & blasand torchis.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1015/17 : The house was as bryght as all the tourcheis of the worlde had bene there.
- (1471) Will Sus.in Sus.RS 43206 : I will that thies torchies brenne att my burieng.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)188 : Wyth lanternes & wyth torches lyȝt..He gan vpbreke The dore.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)6038 : Agamynon..the gomys commaundyt..Torchis and tendlis the tenttes to light.
c
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)27 : Whan Phebus, with his firy torches rede, Ransaked every lover in hys drede.
- c1450(c1385) Chaucer Mars (Benson-Robinson)83 : Phebus..was comen..With torche in honde, of which the stremes bryghte On Venus chambre knokkeden ful lyghte.
d
- (1420-21) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.502 : De Lodowico Wedynghous pro ii fardellis cum torchewekes pr. £ iiii x s.
- (1422) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.145/131 : The Chamberlayn fande to vs, and to alle other Craftes, white gounes for torchebereres.
- (1422) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.145/160,162 : Þe torche endes wer broghte hom aȝene to london..and þenne þe said torche endes wer sold to þe vs of þe Comunalte of our said Crafte of Breweres.
- (1439) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.4 : Itm., paide to ye Torcheholders, xx d.
- (1443-4) Compota Dom.(1836)18 : In vij petris di. iiij lb. di. huiusmodi torchweke emptis..vij s. xj d. ob.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)56.300 : Hire tresses..weren schineng As torche lyht.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)372/28 : He..was caryed..fro Westmynstre..to Caunturburye..with moche torchelyȝt brennyng.
- (1463-4) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.523b : Paid John Wolvyne of the debt to the church from the torcheselver, for settyng of the torchis, woodewerk, ironwerk, and labour of W. Benet, 3 s. 6 d.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)983/19 : This mayde..armed hym by torchelyght.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)208 : The Duke of Yorke com unto hym that same nyght by the torchelyght.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)149 : She brought hym to his bedde with torche light.