Middle English Dictionary Entry
veir n.
Entry Info
| Forms | veir n. Also veire, ver, vair(e, ware, (N) fare, (SWM) feir, (early SW) fer & (?error) voir. |
| Etymology | OF vair, veir, ver; cp. ML varium, verium. For form voir cp. AF menyvoir, var. of OF menu vair. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Fur, prob. that of some species of squirrel, used to make or trim a robe, hood, etc.; also, an article of clothing made from this fur; ~ and gris; meni ~ [see meni-ver n.];
(b) a weasel.
Associated quotations
a
- a1275 *Body & S.(4) (Trin-C B.14.39)14 : Þer is þi…prute, þi veir & þi gris?
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)208 : Þou ssalt habbe þi wil of fer & of gris…of al þat feir is.
- a1350 Maximian (Hrl 2253)89 : I…werede feir & grys.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1381 : Kniȝtes þo chosen þai…A schip wiþ grene and gray, Wiþ vair and eke wiþ griis, Wiþ alle þing…Þat pende to marchandis.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)25466 : Nu ask i noþer gra ne grene…Ne riche robe wit veir [Frf: veire] and grise.
- a1400 Preste ne monke (Cleo B.2)53 : Somme frers beren pelure aboute, For…ladys…To reuerce with þair cloþes…For somme vaire, and somme gryse.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)866 : Ryche robes…sete on hyn [read: hym] semly…Þe ver by his uisage verayly hit semed…alle on hwes.
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)21374 : Him suede…knightes fair…alle cledd in vair [L uario].
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)411 : Scho schewede hym þe menevaire…‘Sone, þer þou sees this fare In thaire hodes lye.’
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11194 : Þenne come chaumberleyns…Wiþ riche robes…Of meneuer, stranlyng, veyr [F vairs], & gris.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)141/8 : Thes…Knyghte[s] wer cled in singulatones furred with wyld ware.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)2832 : Voir and grys enough lede we.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)1378 : Gye…clothyd hym…Wyth ryche robys…Furryd…wyth veire and grys.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.335 : þere beeþ veyres [Higd.(2): weselles; L Mustelas] litel of body and ful hardy and strong.