Middle English Dictionary Entry
twīn(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | twīn(e n. Also twinne, tuine. |
| Etymology | OE twīn, tuīn; for form twinne cp. OI tvinna to double & tvennr, tvinnr twofold. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A type of fine cord or thread consisting of two or more twisted strands; also, one such cord [quot. ?c1475, vr.]; ?coll. snares made of such cord;—used fig. [quot. ?a1430]; puli ~, cord for a pulley; seile ~, ?twine used for binding a sail to a rope; (b) ~ (twines) thred, thred of ~, a thread made by twining; (c) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- (1373) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.369 : [2] wyndyng poleys, [2] skeynes [of] poletwyne.
- (1388) Invent.Westm.in Archaeol.52270 : Tredecim zone de twyn.
- (1389) Will York in Sur.Soc.4130 : ij stane of prus garne & a stane of twyne.
- (?a1430) Hoccl.BV(1) (Hnt HM 111)71 : Lady myn, My soule fro the net..Of him þat waytith it to slee, thow keepe, His sotil snares and cacchynge twyn.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2016 : By a clewe of twyn [vr. threde], as he [Theseus] hath gon, The same weye he may returne anon, Folwyng alwey the thred.
- (1432) *Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls Bundle 19, no.1 [OD col.] : iii-bundellys de Burgoyn twyne.
- (1465) Acc.Howard in RC 57293 : iiij dobylle gyrthes of browne twyne..ij dobylle gyrthes of whygthe twyne.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)132b : Twyne [Monson: a Twynne]: bilex.
- (1485) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 362 : Raddelyne, Marlyne, & Sayletwyne.
- a1486 Arms Chivalry (Mrg M 775)43 : The armynge poyntis muste be made of fyne twyne suche as men make stryngis for crossebowes.
- a1500 Who carpys (Trin-C O.9.38)p.27 : My sperhawke bellys [weren] of Meleyn, Limes and gees of sylke and twyne.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7096 : Of þere hude he kærf enne þwong..nes þe þwong noht swiðe bræd, buten swulc a twines [Otho: twined] þræd.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2030 : Depeynted..Saugh I conquest sittyng..With the sharpe swerd ouer his heed Hangynge by a subtil twynes [vrr. twyne; twyned; twynyng] threed.
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)64/134 : His modur þhouhte þat heo stod Vppon a tyme..In an euen forþriht lyne Þat hedde beo marked wiþ þred of twyne.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)30/3 : Þe leche shuld haue euermore þrede of white silke, small and strong; if he haue noȝt, forsoþe, þan take he strong þrede of lyne or of tuyne.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)34/396 : A let honge a nakyd swerd bi a litel twyn þred & þe poynt donward.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)63a/b : Þe hwich þreed yf he were of silk schulde be myche þe bettere, But yn defaute of silk þou schalt take good strong twyn þreed of flex, but loke þat þilke þreed be riȝt smoþe & wel y-twyned, wiþouten knottis & wel wexid.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)65b/a : Take a soft twyn þreed of silk.
c
- (1367) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames358 : Agnes Twynmaker.
- a1400(1323) Court R.Ambree in Archaeol.Cant.29105 : Willielmus Twyne.
- (1422) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames358 : Edmund Twyne.