Middle English Dictionary Entry
wī̆ke n.(2)
Entry Info
Forms | wī̆ke n.(2) |
Etymology | ON: cp. Icel., Swed., Norw. dial. vik & Icel., Norw. dial. munnvik, Dan. mundvig; ?also cp. OE wīc bay., creek & ON: cp. OI vīk inlet. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A corner of a part of the body; the ~ of the eie; the thinne wikes, the temples; share wikes, ?the groin.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1690 : Faxe fyltered and felt flosed hym umbe, Þat schad fro his schulderes to his schyre-wykes.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1572 : Þe froþe femed at his mouth vnfayre bi þe wykez.
- a1425 *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)155/834 : Of þe forsaid veyns þat gas sa to þe hede, sum of þam lyes be þe tempyls, id est be þe thyn wykys, & þa are called vene juveniles.
- ?a1425 Chauliac(3) (Htrn 95)29/24 : Þe yʒe haþ…spoungious fleische aboute þe wikes þe yʒen fillinge þe spaces.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)113b/a : A fistule in þe wike of þe yʒe, it cummeþ of concourse of rennynge of humours to þe corner of þe yʒe beside þe nose.
- a1450 MS Sln.2463 in EETS 102 (Sln 2463)252 n.4 : A ffystule in þe wyke of þe eye…maken an emynence, as hit were a lupyne.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)417 : A Wyke of ye eghe: hirquus.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. wike of the eye.