Middle English Dictionary Entry
wōde-asshe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wōde-asshe n. Also wodhassh(e, waddasse; pl. wodeas(s)hes, etc. & wodaschen, wodacsin, wodascoun, (error) woodeactyn. |
| Etymology | From wōd(e n.(1) & asshe n.(2), prob. modeled on MDu. weedassche, wedeassche. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Coll. and pl. A form of crude potash rich in mineral salts, from which dyers and others could produce a lye;—in most cases prob. the substance obtained by burning woad plants (Isatis tinctoria), occas. perh. extended to the ashes of similar consistency and utility obtained by burning wine-lees (the tartar left in empty wine casks) or other mineral-rich substances.
Associated quotations
- (1354) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.77 : [6 barrels of] wodaxes.
- (1368) Close R.Edw.III441 : [Three casks of] waddasse.
- (1394) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.39 : [Goods and merchandise of the said Scots…] wadde, mader, wodhassh.
- (1395) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.77 : Wodhasshe.
- a1400 Add.15236 Recipes(3) (Add 15236)255.141 : Ad deponendum pilos ubicumque fuerint in corpore, Recipe…de woodeactyn [?read: woodeaccyn] duas libras.
- a1400 Add.15236 Recipes(3) (Add 15236)256.141 : Cineres de wodacsyn et calcem vivum ponantur super illud fenum.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)176a/a : Mak lye as stronge as þu maye, þan…do þer to ij pounde woodasschen þat be hard & blackische.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)152/3 : Seþe ham wiþ lye of woode asshen [Ch.(1): wode asshez; L cinerum clauellatorum].
- c1430 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/2)p.79 : Euerich cart y-lade wyþ wodaskyn to sale iiij pens.
- (1431) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.259 : [William Gantry…by force and arms carried away…8 lasts of ashes called] wodeasshen.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)335 : They bringe wyth hem…woad…Woll-oyle, wood-aschen [vrr. waad asshen, woodaxen, woadaschen] by vessell in the see.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57370 : My mastyr assigned Robart Serjaunte viij barelles of wode ashes, to receyve them at Hereweche.
- a1500 in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.193 : Of a last waad asshen, iiii d.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)6/10 : To make…red water…wodascoun put þer-to, and euery colour out-take blew oþer blak.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Roy.17.A.3 Artist.Recipes (Roy 17.A.3) 233/30 : Grynde yt..on a marbil stoon with a moler with lie made of wodde aschen so þat no grauel abide.
- a1500 Hnt.HM.64 Artist.Recipes (Hnt HM 64) 279/28 : Take..of woode ashes 2 penywight, and grynde hem vppon a marbull stone.
- c1400 Harv.lat.235 Artist.Recipes (Harv lat.235) 294/6 : Take..two partes of wod askes, and a half a part of coprose, and grynde togedir.
Note: New spellings (wodde aschen, woode ashes, wod askes).