Middle English Dictionary Entry
twist n.
Entry Info
| Forms | twist n. Also twiste, twest(e, tweist; pl. twist(e)s, etc. & twisten, tweistes, thistis & twist. |
| Etymology | Prob. from OE -twist (in mæst-twist, candel-twist, yl-twist); cp. MDu. twist thread, twine & AL twista, thuista eyed part of a hinge. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
That part of a hinge which consists of a plate or band affixed to a door, window, rudder, etc. and of an eye that turns on a pin or hook attached to a doorpost, etc.; ?also, a complete hinge [cp. hengel n., ride n.(2)].
Associated quotations
- (1295) in Salzman Building in Engl.297 : Twystes and hokes [for a window].
- a1300 Gloss.Bibbesw.(SeldSup 74)988 : Twistes [Cmb: En un gymel sunt les gouns [glossed:] hokes, Et deuz verteveles [glossed:] hengles [vrr. hengeles vel twisten, bandes of a dore]].
- (1337-9) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 2123 : Pro ij twist et ij hokes ferri pro batell'.
- (1346) Acc.R.Priory HTrin.Dub.(DubPRO)120 : In twistes & hokes unacum emendacione serure toralis apud Gorman, iii d.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)75 : Quaunt deux vertilez nous auoms: In þe chymptre we henge oure hokes Ȝyff tuo twystez we haue.
- (1415) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2322 : Pro uno cardine, et Tweste empto ad j domum, j d.
- (1420) Stonor1.31 : iiij d. pro j twest pro hostio panterie.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Amos 8.3 : The herris, ether twistis [L cardines], of the temple schulen greetli sowne in that dai.
- (1430) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2440 : Pro tweystes et clavibus emptis ad domum Willelmi Osborne.
- (1441-2) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 2124 : De diuers' ferr'..prouen' et infra et extra eandem Nauem inuent' et recuperat', videlicet, bolt', Clenche, et Roofe nec non Twistis ferr' pro le Rother dicte Nauis Regis.
- (1443) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 830 : For ij dorys, bords, hokys, and thystys and nayle.
- (1446) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 483 : For twests to the vyse dore.
- (1459-60) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2556 : Johanni Lyncolne pro factura hokes et twystes fenestre camere.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)478 : The Pardonere..wentto have fond þe dor vp by þe hasp; & eke þe twist Held hym out a whils, & þe lok also.
- (1460-61) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 7856 : Pro hokes et twists et clavibus pro reparacione unius tenementi in Bedford lane.
- (a1472) Acc.Bodmin in Camd.n.s.1418 : For twiste and crokis for the same dore, xxij lb. xxij d.
- (1482-83) Acc.Ashburton in D&CRS n.s.153 : [To] John Clyff [for a] tweyst [and for mending a] bakyng yre, [6d.]
- (1483) in Salzman Building in Engl.297 : A pair of twystes and hokys for the trapdore of the lodge.
2.
(a) A branch of a tree; a leaf stalk of a plant; a tendril of a vine; a young shoot; (b) something made from a young branch or shoot of a plant, perh. a twisted band for use in binding or wrapping.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2349 : He stoupeth doun and on his bak she stood And caughte hir by a twiste and vp she goth.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.48v : The myd violette ... Auicen: 5 or 6 or 8 or 9 twistys stondyng fer asoundre on eyþer syde, on ageyn anoþer. In euery ende a lef morde, rownde & þe leuys ende sperepoynt.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.44v : The litle ben is growyng in buskys in wode contres, neuer mor gret tre but as prympe tre or litel mor, & euery branche twysted & leuyd, mykel lyk þe twystis of valeryan, & frut fayr red as hulfur frut or red coral & pluskys as hawe pluskys.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1230 : As aboute a tree, with many a twiste, Bytrent and writh the swote wodebynde, Gan ech of hem in armes other wynde.
- a1425 NHom.in NM 73 (Ashm 42)p.207 : To be radde as foule on twist.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)36 : Bynde, a twyste of a wyne: Capriolus.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)360/2 : A man went to wede hys vynys, and..þis man happend to be smyten in þe ee with a twyste, so þat he mot not se.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)128a : A Twyste: Ramus & vbi bowghe.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)132b : A twyst: frons.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.33 : On the small grene twistis sat The lytill suete nyghtingale.
b
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1064 : A plant, whils it is grene, or it have dominacioun, A man may with his fyngirs ply it wher hym list, And make ther-of a shakill, a with, or a twist.
3.
(a) A place of bifurcation or juncture in the body; the groin, perineum; pl. the perineum of the cow; ~ of the brest, the place where the ribs join, breastbone; ~ of the eie, the corner of the eye; (b) one fork or end of a bifurcate or bipartite bone; also, a prong of the root of a tooth.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)228/32 : Þe ribbes..ben ibounde togedres in þe twist of þe brest with seuen tendre boones.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)409/19 : If þe ston..is in þe bladder, þe ache is in þe schare and þe twist bitwene þe genetras and þe hole at þe riggebones ende.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1257/23 : The cow is ymoeued to þe dede of leccherie after oon ȝere..And desyre of kyn is yknowe by swellyng of twistes [L tumorem inguinum] and by hire lowyng.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)21 : Quisez & nagez oue le ffurchure ffount grant ese pur cheuachure: Thies & buttokkes forth wt twyste Doth gret eze for Rydynge.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)504 : Twest, or twyste, of þe eye: Hirquus.
b
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)200/3 : Þe chin haþ tweye bones..and..þe endes of þese bones ben departid and hauen tweye forkes and twistes.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)203/12 : Þe foreteþ hauen but on litil forke and twist and on rote..þe grinders hauen þre forkes oþir foure.
4.
Naut. A rope forming part of the rigging of a sailing vessel; ?also, a brail; ~ line (rop).
Associated quotations
- (1294-5) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 297 : In Cordulis que dicuntur Twystlynen, Heuedlynen..et Hanekes.
- (1312-13) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 2127 : En J boltrop et J Twystrop, xij s.
- (1336-7) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 2127 : In vj cord' de canab' petra cont'..pro vno boltrop', vno Twystrop' et j lychrop' inde faciend'.
- (1358-9) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 2123 : vj baksteys, viij steys, iiij twysts, v hauns'.
- (1358-9) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 2126 : iij toppelynes, v twystlyne, vj tregetrop'.
- (1378-81) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 2124 : Johanni Salesbury ropere pro iiij pec' cordis pro loureline et twystes, pond' xxxix lb..pro batell' eiusdem nauis.
- (1378-81) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 2127 : Johanni Salesbury ij Twysteropes pond' CCxxij lb. et j bolterop' ponder' iiij.xx.xvj lb.
- (1419-22) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 2126 : Twystlyns Merlynglyn', canab', pice, bitumine, Rosyn, okom'..et alijs diuersis ferrament'.
5.
In surname and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.200].
Associated quotations
- (1280) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)655 : La Twyste.
- (1288) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.412 : Nicholas Twyst.
- (1386) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)650 : Twystgett.
- (1410) EPNSoc.7 (Sus.)516 : Twiste.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. twist.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 3.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. twist of the breast.