Middle English Dictionary Entry
wā̆ter-gāte n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | wā̆ter-gāte n.(1) |
| Etymology | From wā̆ter n. & gāte n.(1); sometimes difficult to distinguish from wā̆ter-gā̆te n.(2). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A sluice gate, floodgate; also fig.;
(b) a gate of a castle or a town wall opening on an adjacent body of water;
(c) in surnames and place names.
Associated quotations
a
- (1390) MSS Middleton in HMC100 : Et quod idem Johannes et heredes sui allocabunt predictis Roberto, Willelmo et Nicholao heredibus et assignatis suis, wateregates et heddryftes durante termino predicto.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.987 : Fro hevene out of the watergates The reyni Storm fell doun algates.
- (a1395) Acc.Savoy in Archaeol.24308 : In stipendio Stephi Lete, Cementur, reperantur et emendatur le Watregate de Savoie.
- (1408) Acc.Iron Master in EHR 14517 : Les spowtes lignea ducentia aquam a dicto Watergate usque dictam rotam.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)217/2,5 : Þe v watyr-gatys of ȝoure pytt arn ȝoure v bodyly wyttes…þise ben þe v watyr-gatys, þe fyve entrees wherby watyr of curse & wose of synne entryn aȝen in-to þi pytt of lustys, but þei be stoppyd.
- (1458-9) Mem.St.Mary Fountains in Sur.Soc.130146 : Pro factura le Wateryattes per Th. bute in fontans fell. ij s.
- (1468-9) MSS Penshurst in HMC1.236 : [For the repair of] le Watergate [in the park of Redeleff apud Cheynebregge].
- a1500 O fresch floure (RwlPoet 36)55 : God of hys marcy graunte you…In paradyse onys to haue a restyng place, Vp by the nauel fast by the water gate To loke after passage whan it cometh late.
b
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4651 : Þe roche was heȝ an hundred stryde, Stondyng by þe reuer…þan was þar a geant ful of pryde, And openede þe water-gate wyde.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)2/26 : In the morow erly that the[i] schuld come vpon the walles at the water gate…and thei schuld assey to skale the wall and to come vp into the tovne.
- a1500 Degrev.(Cmb Ff.1.6)934 : Þe maid…ledes hym out at a gate, In at a watur-ȝate, þer men vytayled by bate Þat castel with cornes.
c
- (1248) in Kökeritz PNWight110 : Watergate.
- (1274) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)1.18 : [To Thomas, his son, land at Bedinton with rents at] la Watergate [and at Gernemeue].
- (1279) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)52 : Watergate Ho.
- (1296) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1091 : Alano de Watergate.
- (1299) Let.Bk.Lond.C (Gldh LetBk C)51 : Henry atte Watergate.
- (1324) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)33 : La Watergate.
- (1327) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames221 : Thom. de Watergate.
- (1341) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames221 : Thom’ atte Watergate.
- (1422) in Ekwall Street-Names Lond.148 : Þe Watergatestrete anynst Berelane.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.130/279 : In þe watergate atte wolkeye stondeth a Paleys on þe Commune grounde hyndryng to þe commune peple.