Middle English Dictionary Entry
viscǒunt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | viscǒunt n. Also viscounte, visconte, vicount(e, vicecount, vescounte, wiscount & (in names) viscunte, vesconte, vescunt(e; gen. viscountes, (?error) vicounte. |
| Etymology | OF visconte, AF viscount(e, viscunte, vicount(e, vescounte, vesconte, vescunte; for form in vīce- cp. ML vicecomes, -itis. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An administrator in charge of a county, a sheriff; also, ?a lord’s deputy in charge of a domain [quot. c1460];
(b) a nobleman ranking between an earl and a baron, a viscount;—sometimes used as title;
(c) as surname or occupational term.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.37 : Elianores fader, eorle of Peytho, ravesched his owne viscountes wyf.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)8.165 : Oon Wydomarus, viscounte of Lemovik in Bretayne þe lasse…foond greet tresour of gold.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.64/10 : These witnesses: Gerarde my nevowe, þe Vicounte of pinkeny, [etc.].
- c1475 3 Consid.(UC 85)203 : It is greetly nedfull that they have officers, with outen the whiche the lordes may never well governe, as seneshallz, ballifz, vicowntes.
b
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1984 : Sir Valyant of Vyleris…made siche avowez, To venquyse by victorie the vescownte of Rome.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3167 : He vetailles his biernez…one the vicounte [?read: vicountes] londes he visez to lenge.
- (1441) Proc.Privy C.5.173 : The Visconte Beaumond.
- (1450) RParl.5.189a : The seide Petition…shall not extende ner be prejudiciall to John Viscount Beaumont, ner to Henry Viscount Bougchier, ner to nother of them, ner to theire heires, of their creation or erection into the state of Viscount.
- (1450) RParl.5.189b : Viscountes were not erecte nor create, in the tyme of…oure Fadre.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.4 (Hrl 2169)228 : Le Wyscount de Beaumond.
- (1461) RParl.5.477b : William Vicecount Beaumont.
- (a1467) Proc.Chanc.in Cal.PCEliz.1.p.lxxviii : The peple of the countrey came to the seid viscount Lisle.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)218/24 : Sir Vyllers the valyaunte made his avow…to take other to sle the vycounte of Rome.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)1050 : Bisshoppes, Merques, vicount, Erle goodly, May sytte at ij messez.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)30 : A Viscount…shall have in the hall etyng, one chapleyn, one esquier, one yoman.
c
- (1196) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.794 : Johannes le uesconte.
- (1201) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.14250 : Johannes le Vescunte.
- (1205) CRR(2) 3293 : Willelmus le Viscunte.
- (1227) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms136 : Hug. le Viscunte.
- (1239) Lib.R.Hen.III.1 (PRO C 62)360 : John le Vescunt’.
- (1275) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.304 : Reynold le Viscunte.