Middle English Dictionary Entry
wāse n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wāse n. Also was, waze, (N) waise. |
| Etymology | Perh. ult. from OE: cp. MDu., MLG wase & Norw., Swed. vase, Dan. dial. vaase, Icel. vasi; but also cp. MDu., MLG forms directly. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wrase n.
1.
(a) A bundle, bunch, or wisp, as of straw, pea plants, etc.; ?also, a clump of seaweed [glossing L alga; may belong to wose n.(2)]; ?also, flax [glossing L stuppa];
(b) a torch; a bundle of straw formed into a torch [occas. difficult to distinguish from (a)];
(c) some kind of fish trap, prob. made of bundled straw, reeds, etc. or perh. bunched seaweed;
(d) a nest or swarm (of wasps);
(e) in surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)28 : Vn varrot de pois suis arechez Et lez feues en warrot liez: A waze of pesyn vppon recheit And þyse beins in wazes byndyþ.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)68 : Þe oxeherde holdeþ hyt no trifle ffor wel to ffrote hys oxen wt a waze [F cordas].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)136a : A Wayse: alga, fasciculus.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)627 : Stupa: wase.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Brendan (Hrl 2277:Wright)p.23 : The lie of the fur stod an heȝ as hit a was were.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)8878 : Out of þat tree brast a blase þat brinde ham alle as a wase.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)18147 : Thei bad thanne…of stre gete him a wase And make on the walles ther-of a blase.
- a1450 When adam delf (Cmb Dd.5.64)33 : Al mon als was to powder passe, to dede when þow gase.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2351 : I fare like the man þat for to swele his vlyes…aftir stre…hies And goith a-bout þe wallis with a brennyng wase.
c
- (1458) Doc.in Wright Sources Lond.E78 : In aqua Thamis’ lez wases & al ingenia illegitima.
- (c1474) Doc.in Wright Sources Lond.E78 : Omnes…gurgites & were de huiusmodi, wasis, clatis, & &alijs nimis strictis ingenijs per que fria destruitur…inter Thamyse Dytton & hamptonwere sunt plures wases de nouo posite per quos ignorant &c…et quod le ffareweye ponitur cum Risis & wasis ad nocumentum &c.
- (1484-5) Doc.in Wright Sources Lond.E79 : Nether that no wases, lambes, Stake, nor any other vnlaufull Engynes be occupied within the wat’ of Thamyse.
d
- ?a1450 MLChrist (Add 39996)4556 : Vaspasian…hade…A lodly maner of maledye; Of waspes a grete wase Bredden alway in his nase.
e
- (1328) Pat.R.Edw.III286 : John Lightwase.