Middle English Dictionary Entry
twis n.
Entry Info
| Forms | twis n. Also (in names) twisse, tuis, tuis(s)e. |
| Etymology | Prob. from OE getwisa a twin or getwis having the same parents, but could also be a shortened form of OE twisla. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A place where two streams meet, a fork; (b) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.200].
Associated quotations
a
- 1240-50 Cart.Cock.in Chet.n.s.43561 : Sciatis me dedisse..Deo et Sanctæ Werburgæ..quatuor acras terræ in Alreton..a quadam Twis, descendendo sikam usquam ad crucem, et sic versus occidentem usque ad aliam crucem, et sic descendendo recta linea usque in rivulum juxta domum Hugonis forestarii, et sic sequendo rivulum usque in prænominatum Twis.
b
- (1184) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)234 : Tuisebrok.
- (1258) in Ekwall PNLan.97 : De Twisse.
- (1270) in Ekwall PNLan.79 : Tuyston.
- (1278) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms44 : Rog. del Tvysse.
- (1314) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms44 : Hugh del Twys.
- (1351) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms44 : Ric. del Twysse.
- (1368) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms44 : Gilb. del Twysse.