Middle English Dictionary Entry
wath n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wath n. Also wathe, wadth & (in names) waða, wat, waht, waz, waith, wait, weth, we, with, worth(e, uat. |
| Etymology | OE wæð (var. of wæd) & ON (cp. OI vað ford). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. wade n.(1).
1.
(a) A ford;
(b) in surnames and place names [see Smith PNElem. 2.230].
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)2755 : On the thryd day suld þei passe furth ouer the flud…Thei fand þer wath and redy way.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5757 : Þe thefe pryked fast ouer þe sande…Bot or he was þe wath all past, Þe wawes come agayne him fast.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)136b : A Wathe: vadum, flustrum.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)799/41 : Vadum: a wadth.
b
- (1170-80) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)153 : Mulewath.
- (1175-83) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)158 : Pouzthuat.
- (1177) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames373 : Ioseph de Waða.
- (a1180-94) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)21 : Flathwayth.
- (1180-90) EPNSoc.30 (West Riding Yks.)118 : Waht.
- (1188) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)70 : Lambewat.
- (1200-1222) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)147 : Slaipwath.
- (1226) in Sedgefield PNCum.& West.184 : Ywaneworth.
- (1234) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)269 : Le Haye de Langwathe.
- (1245) in Sedgefield PNCum.& West.183 : Wynderwe.
- (1253) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)219 : Waz.
- (1258) in Ekwall PNLan.164 : Hawath, Houwat.
- (1284) EPNSoc.30 (West Riding Yks.)118 : Flandirwath, Flandreworthe.
- (1301) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames373 : Walter del Wathe.
- (1316) in Ekwall Dict.EPN421 : Stenwith.
- (1322) EPNSoc.21 (Cum.)358 : Thoraldwait.
- (1332) EPNSoc.20 (Cum.)221 : Del Crokwath.
- (1370) EPNSoc.43 (Wm.)55 : Askeby Wynanderwath.
- (1393) EPNSoc.34 (West Riding Yks.)23 : Sandewathe.
- (1443) in Ekwall PNLan.164 : Haweth.
- (1468) in Ekwall PNLan.164 : Hawith.