Middle English Dictionary Entry
wain n.(1)
Entry Info
Forms | wain n.(1) Also wain(n)e, wayen, wein(e, wan(e, wagn, wen(e, vain-, (Orm.) waȝȝn & (in names) waign-, win-; pl. waines, etc. & (errors) weyes, weyues. |
Etymology | OE wægn, wægen, wǣn, LOE (in place name) wēn-; for form wagn also cp. MDu. wagen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A two- or four-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses or by oxen, generally used for conveyance of cargo or passengers, a cart, wagon; also in fig. context [quot. a1425 Templ.Dom.]; waines and cartes, cartes and waines; ~ and plough, bothe) plough and ~, all that one owns, everything; also, completely, thoroughly [last quot.]; a wei ful brod that waines mighte meten, a wei wide inough waines to meten, etc., a roadway broad enough to permit wagons to pass one another;
(b) in fig. uses: a chariot as the vehicle that bears the sun, the corporeal body of the Virgin Mary into heaven at the Assumption, etc.; also, the sun; the constellation Ursa Major; pl. the stars constituting the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor [quot. ?a1425, 3rd]; charleman(es (develes, phebus) ~; charle ~, q.v.;
(c) a vehicle equipped for use in warfare, a battle chariot;
(d) in proverb: ?a hearse; ?the coach of Death personified;
(e) a cultivating or threshing implement of some sort, perh. a wheeled plow.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)pref.21 : Þatt waȝȝn iss nemmnedd quaþþrigan Þatt hafeþþ fowwre wheless.
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)551/36 : [P]laustrum, uel carrum: wein.
- c1275 Þene latemeste dai (Clg A.9)89 : Hwer beoð þine weines þat þe leoue were?
- c1300 SLeg.Jas.(LdMisc 108)186 : Þis desciples nomen seint Iemes bodi and opon þe wayne it leide; Þe bestes it drowen forth wel mildeliche.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2362 : He bad cartes and waines nimen And fechen wiues and childre and men.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7559 : Waines and cartes and somers also Fif hundred he dede after go, Charged wiþ alle [read: ale] and win red.
- (1381) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.4 : This endenture witnisseth þat john Remmesbury…hath deliuered to william Hunte…a goud irebounde wen.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)227a/b : Hey…is…y-ladde home in cartes & in waynes [L plaustris ac vehiculis] and y-brouȝt in to bernes for dyuers vse and needes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11653 : A wain [Ld: wayen] þai had þair gere wit-in þat draun was wit oxen tuin.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)9b/b : Biga: a wayne [Hrl 1738: a wagn] or a karte.
- a1425 Templ.Dom.(Add 32578)247 : Carte ne wayne sall non be made Any tymbre þere-to to lede.
- c1435 Lydg.St.George (Bod 686)128 : Then he made þe dragon to be drawe With waynes and cartes fer oute of þe toun.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)86/19 : He mote also ordeyne for cariage to þe oost of charyettis, cartis, and waynes for scho and nail, for tool also as spades, schoueles, [etc.].
- a1450 St.Etheldr.(Fst B.3)776 : Hit shalle ryȝt sone be þere, For my waynne shalle be heddurre anon y-fatte, To þe abbay of Hely hit forto bere.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)7067 : Þere þese ylke knyȝtes rod, þere was slayn a way full brod þat ffoure waynes [vr. wenes] myȝte on mete.
- (1450) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 491 : For an yren tak to Spenser ys wene, ij d.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1324 : Þurȝe þaim he rynnes And makis a wai wyde enoȝe waynes to mete.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)5423 : Smithes smertly þei slogh and of Iren ylk thyng, Both fro wayn and ployȝt…gart yt to þem bryng.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.137 : Thei haue noo howses, caryenge theire wyfes and children in waynes.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)907 : Ouer alle where these knyȝtes rod There was y-mad a way ful brod That waynes myȝten mete.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)102/62 : Who so says hym agane were better be slane; Both ploghe and wane Amendys will not make.
- a1500 Wast bryngyth (Cmb Ff.2.38)st.10 : What kyngdome þat ys waryed so Þe commons dystroyed plogh & wayne, Than wakeþ all þe gentyls woo For ofte the graceles ben yslayne.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5897 : Þa fowwre menn…Þatt writenn off þe Laferrd Crist Goddspell o fowwre bokess…Sinndenn gastlike i gastliȝ witt An waȝȝn wiþþ fowwre wheoless Þatt bereþþ i þiss middellærd Drihhtin fra land to lande.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)502/26,33, 503/1 : Arthurus is…comounliche iclepid ‘Charleman Wayne’…a signe imade of seuene sterris…Þe sercle of þese seuene sterris…is comounliche iclepid in englische ‘Cherlemaynes Wayne’…Olde men clepid þe same sercle somtyme Boetem, for it is nygh a signe þat hatte ‘þe wayne’.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21264 : Four ar þai tald, þe wangelistes, þat draues þe wain þat es cristes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.631 : Þe schene sonne…had made in þe crabbis hede His mansioun and his see ryal, Wher halowed is þe standyng estyval, Of fresche Appollo with his golden wayn.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.2387 : Phebus, to voide nyȝtes sorwe, Doth Pirrous hys wayn ageyn vp drawe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.9.38 : Thow by evene-lyke causes enhauncest the soules and the lasse lyves and, ablynge hem heye by lyghte waynes or cartes, thow sowest hem into hevene and into erthe.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.1.34 : The schynynge juge of thinges, stable in hymself, governeth the swifte cart or wayn (that is to seyn, the circuler moevynge of the sonne).
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.5.6 : Whoso that ne knowe nat the sterres of Arctour…and wot nat why the sterre Boetes passeth or gadreth his waynes [vrr. weyes; weyues] and drencheth his late flaumbes in the see…schal he wondryn of the lawe of the heie eyr.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Antichr.(1) (Corp-C 296)258 : See now þe secunde wheel in þis deuelis wayn.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.253 : Boetes resteth noght his weyne.
- c1450 Myldeste of moode (BodR 22)28 : In solempne wyse…was þi body and thy sowle aungellys amonge vnto thy son browte vp yn febus wayne.
c
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2898 : Nyne hundred waynes he hadde for the werre, Strongli enarmed with hookes…Who that approched…to wounde.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.1565 : Efft ageyn…he…Mette with Cornelie callid Scipioun, With waynes, cartes maad for the werre long, Shod with hard iren, sharp sithes set among In trauers wise.
d
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.55 : Nouȝ is to late For to preiȝe and to preche; Nou þe wayn is ate ȝate.
- a1400 Wonne þin eren (Hrl 7322)7 : Wonne þin eren dinet…And þin hond quaket…Al to late al to late: þen is te wayn atte yate; For may þor no man þenne penaunce make.
- c1450 Ryl.Prov.& R.(Ryl Lat 394)102 : Alle to late all’ to late, when þe weyne is at þe ȝate.
e
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.28.27,28 : Forsoþe not in sawis shal ben þrosshe gith ne þe wheel of a wayn vp on þe comyn shal gon aboute…Bred forsoþe shal ben to-mynusht but not in to euermor þe þresshere shal þresshen it ne shal trauailen it þe wheel of þe wayn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.41.15 : I haue sett þee as a newe wayn thresshing, hauynge pikede polis sawing.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Amos 1.3 : Thei threshiden in yren waynes Galaad.
2.
As a measurement of quantity: the cargo required to fill a cart, a wagonload; ~ lode; ~ stones.
Associated quotations
- (1424) *Mun.B.Bridgewater1427 : Item, for þrow of stonys, j d…for ij men for bar’ stonys to hepe, iij d…for ledyng’ of a wene stonys, iij d.
- (1433) Doc.Merchant York in Sur.Soc.12938 : Item, for a wayne lade of lyme, iij s. vij d.
- (1446) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 483 : Item, for the schaperyng and the brynggng home and for the cariage of a weyne of the seyde oke, iiij s. vj d.
3.
In cpds. and combs.:
(a) ~ bodi, the body of a cart; ~ bote, a grant of wood sufficient for the repair of a wagon; ~ boue, a yoke for a cart; ~ clout, an iron plate affixed to the axletree of a cart to prevent wear; ~ dai, an allotment of time for the preparation of a vehicle to be used in the provision of compulsory cartage for a lord; ~ felwes, wheels for a wagon or cart; ?~ hedes, ?the forward portions of a cart to which a part of the harness is attached; wain(es man, a wagon driver, a carter; ~ mere, a horse trained or used to draw a wagon; ~ pain, q.v.; ~ rop, a rope used to secure the cargo to a wagon or to attach the draft animals, harnesses, etc.; ?~ shef, ?a payment in grain made in return for cartage and/or harvesting of an overlord’s grain crop; ~ silver, a fee or rent paid to release a tenant from compulsory carting service; ~ streng, a wain rope; ~ tou, ?a chain used to secure a wagon to the draft animals; ~ yok, a yoke for draft animals;
(b) coupe ~ (bodi [see coupe n.(1) 1.(c)]; croude ~, q.v.; honde ~ [see honde n. 8.(a)]; muk ~, a manure wagon; ?tou ~, ?a wagon used for towing; turf ~, a turf or peat wagon.
Associated quotations
a
- (1235-52) Cust.Glastonbury in Som.RS 583 : Debet habere j wenday, scilicet, unum diem ad carrum suum preparandum antequam cariet, quietum de omni alio opere.
- (1235-52) Cust.Glastonbury in Som.RS 588 : Non dat cherisetum, nec aliud debet recipere pro serviciis suis nisi wensenes [read: wenseues] quando cariat bladum et stramen de mughthress.
- (1235-52) Cust.Glastonbury in Som.RS 5133 : Homines de Dultingge dicunt quod debent habere wenbote, scilicet, ad unumquodque plaustrum quod debet cariare fenum et bladum domini quolibet anno ante autumpnum, unum lignum.
- (1235-52) Cust.Glastonbury in Som.RS 5135 : Debet cariare per totum diem et habere ij garbas que vocantur wensewes.
- (1277) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 263 : [A plena terra of 48 acres gives ½ d.] waynselver.
- (1322) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100375 : ij par de Waynboghes cum aratr’ ihockes empt. 3 s.
- (1371) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99129 : ij cartrapes, ij waynraps.
- (1378-9) Doc.in Collect.Topogr.172 : Plaustrum…viij Waynclouts empt…v d.
- (1390-91) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100392 : In factura unius waynbody, 6 d.
- (1392) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52180/8-9 : Duobus waynemen de Dansk pro eodem viagio, iiij marcz pr…Cuidam waynesman de Dansk in eodem viagio, ij marcz pr.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21272 : Four flummes i se in paradis, And wainman wit four quelis wises.
- (1416) Invent.Jarrow in Sur.Soc.2991 : In custodia prepositi…iiij gang de waynfelys.
- (1440) *Mun.B.Bridgewater76 : Þe saide Robt to delyn’e a ȝen to þe saide John þe saide Wayne Maris & Oxen in as gode strengþe & myght…as he recevith hit.
- (1444) Will York in Sur.Soc.30113 : I ordeyne…to William Semer a pot, a panne, my wayn jokis and ropis.
- (1446) Invent.Lytham in Chet.n.s.6080 : In the haghous…j Semesadell, j waintowe… iij waynropes…iij plates of yren to the wayne henedz [?read: heuedez]…xviij yokkes quereof xiij are rynget & stabult & iij for the henedz [?read: heuedez] yokkes.
- (1446) Will Durham in Sur.Soc.295 : j Coupwayn cum waynstryngez, pr. iij s.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5833 : Whils þe childe lay vndir neth, Þe oxen bront forth with a breth; Þe wayne men wer noȝt ware Þat þe child was in þat case.
- (1465) Doc.Finchale in Sur.Soc.6p.ccxcix : Husbandria apud Fynkhall…xiij vaynclouts.
- (1467-8) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2566 : Pro cariagio eorundem, ij s., Et pro jantaculo de le waynemen, ij d.
b
- (1446) Invent.Lytham in Chet.n.s.6080 : In the haghous…ij barowes, iij Muk waynes…ij Turf waynes.
- (1472) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.7371 : Wt a pair of brode dores to cum wt a wayn lathen at the ton syde and anodir pair dores of the todir to go furth with a tom [?read: tow] wayn.
4.
(a) In surnames;
(b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.236].
Associated quotations
a
- (1237) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames367 : Ailmar Wanwrecthe.
- (1246) in Fransson Surn.161 : Will. son of Lewaynrith.
- (1281) Pat.R.Edw.I451 : Richard le Waynman.
- (1314) in Fransson Surn.161 : John the Waynwricht.
- (1317-27) Nickname in LuSE 5590 : Emme Fillewayn.
- (1327) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms91 : Joh. atte Wayneȝete.
- (1327) Nickname in SAU 63200 : Joh. le Weyne.
- (1333) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms91 : Will. atte Waynhous, Will. othe Waynhous, Joh. le Waynhous.
- (1338-9) Name in LuSE 3546 : Del Wodwayn.
- (1386) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames367 : Richard Wayn.
- (1400) Comp.R.in Frost Hullapp.4 : D’ Roberto Wayneflete.
- a1425 Ghost in EHR 37 (Roy 15.A.20)418 : Coegerunt Rogerum Wayneman cariare illum vsque ad Gormyr[e].
- (1470) Paston (EETS)1.562 : William Wayneflete…oon of th’executoures of the testament of the same Ser John Fastolf, now sole hathe taken vpon hym th’execucion of þe same testament.
- (1472) Bailiff R.Nhb.in Sur.Soc.1346 : Iohannes Wayneman.
b
- (c1115) in Ekwall Dict.EPN468 : Weinflet.
- (1142-53) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)181 : Waynford.
- (c1150) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)181 : Wainesford.
- (1191) EPNSoc.28 (Der.)494 : Waingrif.
- (1218) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)265 : Weingate.
- (1242) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)343 : Wynscarth, Wainscarth.
- (1274) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)69 : Waynescart.
- (1306) EPNSoc.58 (Lin.)110 : Waynuelle stych’.
- (1311-12) Freeman R.in KRec.18194 : Johannes Monek de Wenchiape.
- (1350) EPNSoc.28 (Der.)494 : Waigngreue.
- (1378) EPNSoc.39 (Glo.)151 : Weynlodebrugg’.
- (1410) EPNSoc.28 (Der.)494 : Wayngreve.
- (1459) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)181 : Waynsforth.