Middle English Dictionary Entry
bīs adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bīs adj. & n. Also bice, byse, bize. |
| Etymology | OF bis, bise adj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Dark, gray, ?blue-gray; a pigment of this color.
Associated quotations
- [ (1365-6) in Hope Windsor C.210 : Et in vii lb. asure de Bys. ]
- c1390 Marie Mayden (Vrn)54 : Þat burth was buried In Marbel bys.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.230 : At Westmynstere he lis toumbed richely, In a marble bis of him is mad story.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.2943 : Ther is a difference of colours in peynture, On table or wal..Tween gold & gold, atween bis & asure: Al is nat gold that shyneth briht, parde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)35 : Byce: coloure.
- (1443) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 829 : To make klene the rodesoler yn byse & vernesche.
- (a1475) Recipe Painting(2) in Archaeol.J.1 (Sln 73)155 : Lapis almanie, of whiche men maken a blewe bize azure. On this manere thu myȝt make azure bis. Take and grynd faire poudre of whit leed..with the juse of a blewe flour.
- a1500 in Thompson Materials Med.Painting152 : Grynde the byse..Azour or elles bys.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)609 : The wallys glemyd as any glasse, Wyth dyapir colour wrouȝte hit was Of golde, asure, and byse.
Note: ?New sense: 'byse' may refer to the color (usu. gray or blue-gray) or a material (such as stone). As well as referring to the colors gold and blue, 'golde' and 'asure' may also refer to the precious metal and to lapis lazuli, respectively.--per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Trin-C O.9.39 Recipes (Trin-C O.9.39) 50/8 : Anoþer manere of azure bysz. Do in þis wise in somer seyson.
- ?a1425 Cmb.Dd.6.29 Artist.Recipes (Cmb Dd.6.29) 70/25 : How þou schalt temper þi asur and bise.
- ?a1425 Cmb.Dd.6.29 Artist.Recipes (Cmb Dd.6.29) 71/8 : How þu may amende þi asur and þi bees ȝif þai been too liȝte.
- a1500 Rwl.C.506 Artist.Recipes (Rwl C.506) 178/25 : Forto multiply byis, take byys and powder of alym and grynde þem togedur with þe gleyre of an ey on a ston, [etc.].
- a1525 BodEMus.52 Artist.Recipes (BodEMus 52) 190/28 : Put þerto a lytell goode safferon and schaffe it þerin tyll yt be a fyne ȝelowe, þen take þat water and temper þi byesse þerwith and þat schall be a fyne grene.
Note: New spellings (bysz, bise, bees, biis, biesse).