Middle English Dictionary Entry
bīs n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | bīs n.(1) Also bise, bisse. |
| Etymology | OF bysse & L byssus (from Gr. býssos flax, linen). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A precious kind of linen or cotton cloth; ?batiste, cambric; also, a garment made of this fabric (as worn by the nobility along with purple); purpur and ~; brightest under bis, fairest to behold.
Associated quotations
- [ (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)233b/b : Þer is many maner flex; but þe fayrest of alle groweþ in egipte, for þer of is byssus y made, swiþe fair and white as snowe. ]
- [ a1500 Hal.Gloss.(Eg 829)7 : Bissus: qwite silke. ]
- a1350 Ichot a burde in a (Hrl 2253)17 : Glad vnder gore in gro ant in grys; he is blosme opon bleo, brihtest vnder bis.
- a1350 Most i ryden (Hrl 2253)58 : Hyre tyttes aren anvnder bis as apples tuo of parays.
- a1350 Wiþ longyng (Hrl 2253)38 : Þis wommon woneþ by west, brihtest vnder bys.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)2836 : Gode cloþes..Peloure of Matre, & pu[r]per & biis.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)242 : He þat hadde ywerd þe fowe and griis, And on bed þe purper biis, Now on hard heþe he liþ.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 16.19 : Clothid in purpur and biys ether whit silk.
- c1390(?a1325) Adam & E.(2) (Vrn)226/33 : Twey cloþes, of sendel and of bijs; þat on to do vppon Adam, and þat oþer to don vppon Abel.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.990 : Ther was a riche man..so delicat Of his clothing, that everyday of pourpre and bisse he made him gay.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)6636 : A ryche man was sum tyme of prys, Þat wered boþe purpure and bys.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.25.4 : Biys [WB(2): bijs]..the fynest lynen clooth of Egypte.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.1 : A riche man..was cloþid in purpur and bise, þat ben prescious cloþes boþe rede and white.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)2176 : A robe of purpure bis, Pelurid wiþ purid gris.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1194 : A curtull of purpur byse Enbroudrid wt golde.
- a1475 Asneth (Hnt EL 26.A.13)121 : Clothed comely in bright byse, lykyng to her lynage.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.2096 : Dives was riche and also named wyse..He vsed clothe of silk, purpur, and bise.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)255 : A faire childe in a cradille..keuerid with purpure and bisse..he is comyn of grete blode.