Middle English Dictionary Entry
waith n.
Entry Info
| Forms | waith n. Also waithe, wath(e, (in names) wa(i)-, warthe-, watte-, we(i)-, wer(de)-, wet-, wothe-, wum- & (error) waire. |
| Etymology | Chiefly N & NM. ON (cp. OI veiðr) & OE wāþ. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Game taken in a hunt; the spoils of venery;
(b) the act of hunting, a hunt; ?also, good hunting [1st quot.];
(c) pl. prey, as of wild animals;
(d) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.230, 247].
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3522 : Esau went for till hunt…Bot þat dai wayth [Göt: gamen] þan gatt he noght.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3628,3629 : Þi fader has bidden þi broþer gang To get him waith [Göt: mete]…þat, if he ani waith [Göt: wath; Trin-C: what] mai gete, He suld him dight þar-of to ete.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1381 : Here is wayth fayrest Þat I seȝ þis seuen ȝere in sesoun of wynter.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)37/486 : Dowfys oone or two…God send you som wathe!
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2350 : Went we to wod the wilde for to cacche, And…myght we not fynde ffor to wyn as for waithe in þat wode…Tyll…it fell me…a hert for to se.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)3524 : Esau went for to hunt…Bot þat day gamen fand he noght, For…Ilk day es noght tyme of waith [Frf: waire; Trin-C: spede].
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)434 : Here in the wode walkande one our wathe [Dc: waithe; Ir: wayth], We hunte at the herdis with hundes and with horne.
c
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3233 : Woluez and whilde swynne and wykkyde bestez Walkede in that wasternne, wathes to seche.
d
- (c1180) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)103 : Wathford.
- (1189-99) in Ekwall PNLan.198 : Waytheholm.
- (a1200) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)103 : Wetford.
- (c1230) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)439 : Warthebuthewait; Werbuthethwait; Weibuththwait.
- (a1272) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)308 : Werdeholm.
- (1279) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)439 : Wumburthweyt; Weburthweyt.
- (1285) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)308 : Waytholm.
- (1287) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)103 : Watteford.
- (1325) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms95 : Joh. del Wotherode.
- (1383) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)439 : Wayberthwait.
- (1406) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)439 : Wabirthwayth.