Middle English Dictionary Entry
wẹ̄-hẹ̄ n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wẹ̄-hẹ̄ n. Also wei, whehe, wihe, whi. |
| Etymology | Imitative |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The sound that a horse makes in neighing, a whinny; also, the sound or sounds associated with rutting animals [quot. c1400, 2nd]; also used as interj. or exclamation suggesting sounds of unrestrained or drunken merriment [last quot.].
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4066 : Whan the hors was laus, he gynneth gon…forth with wehe [vrr. wehee, wihe] thurgh thikke and thenne.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)4.21 : Hange on hym þe heuy bridel to holde his hed lowe, And ȝet wile we make many wehe [vrr. wey, a whi, wey & whehe; B vr. wehee] er we come þere.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)8.74 : Þei ne wedde no womman þat hy wiþ delen, But as wilde bestis wiþ wehe [vrr. whe he; woo, vche] & worþ vp togideris And bringen forþ barnes þat bois ben holden.
- c1450(?a1370) Winner & W.(Add 31042)282 : Thou wolle to the tauerne…Then es there bott ‘fille in’ and ‘feche forthe’, florence to schewe, ‘Wee hee’ and ‘worthe vp’, wordes ynewe.