Middle English Dictionary Entry
warth n.
Entry Info
| Forms | warth n. Also warthe, (N) wharth & (in names) ward(e)-, waud-, wraud-, werth(e, worth, wirth, war(e)-, warre-, were-, -erthe. |
| Etymology | OE waroþ, weroþ, warþ, (Nhb.) worð. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A shore; ?also, a ford [quot. c1400(?c1390); cp. wath n.]; se ~ [OE sǣ-waroþ], the seashore;
(b) the sea floor;
(c) in surnames;
(d) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.246,255].
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)339 : Þe whal…a warþe fyndez, And þer he brakez vp þe buyrne.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)715 : At vche warþe oþer water þer þe wyȝe passed He fonde a foo hym byfore.
- a1450(?a1390) Mirk Fest.Suppl.(Cld A.2)299/9 : A body þat is foundon drownod on þe see-warth…may be beryed in seyntwary.
- a1500(?a1400) SLChrist (Hrl 3909)6855 : In a basket pryuely thay putten thys boy when he was borne, and on a warthe the water by thay layden hym ther to be forlorne.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)7/36 : As he walket on þe see-warth, he segh a drownet man cast vp on þe watyr.
b
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5717 : Anes at eland at full se, On þe wharth sodanly, A way wex dry.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5797,5799 : Amang þe wawes…he sawe þe wharth all dry…he went ouer þe wharth swythe, Of his delyueryng gled.
c
- (1309) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)223 : Robert atte Warde.
- (1330) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)82 : Richard de Warthe.
- (1345) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)224 : Walter fil. William atte Netherwarthe.
d
- (1131) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)157 : Warthwic.
- (c1170) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)157 : Pontem de Warthwyc.
- (1203) EPNSoc.40 (Glo.)252 : Haywarth.
- (1225) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)157 : Wardewyk.
- (1242) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)242 : Wardlegh.
- (1258) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)157 : Werewik.
- (1279) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)157 : Wardwyck; Wraudwyk; Waudwrik.
- (1280) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)183 : Little Burgherthe.
- (1292) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)157 : Warewyk’.
- (1323) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)207 : Scharnwyrth; Scharnewerthe.
- (1328) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)184 : Roggeworthmersh.
- (1335) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)157 : Warrewyk’.
- (1348) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)183 : Litleburghwerth marsh.
- (1470) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)157 : Warwikkebrig.