Middle English Dictionary Entry
wǒlfes-hē̆d n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wǒlfes-hē̆d n. Also wlvishevet, (early) uulfesheved & (?error) wolshede. |
| Etymology | From wǒlf n. & hēd n.(1); cp. wǒlf-hē̆d n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Law Outlawry; also, an outlaw; crien (maken) ~, taken ~ on, to declare (sb.) an outlaw, impose outlawry on; also in fig. context;
(b) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- 1130-35(OE) Leges Edw.Conf.in Liebermann Gesetze 1631 : Si postea repertus fuerit et teneri possit uiuus, regi reddetur, uel caput ipsius…Lupinum enim gerit caput a die utlagationis sue, quod ab Anglis uulfesheued [vr. wluisheuet] nominatur.
- (?a1325) Mirror Justices in Seld.Soc.7 [OD col.]125 (IV.iv) : E point ne vient, qe des adunc le tiegne lem pur lou e est criable Wolvesheved, pur ceo qe lou est beste haie de tote gent.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)700 : Tho were his bonde-men sory…Whan Gamelyn her lord wolues-heed was cryed and made.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)722 : Why hast þou do me þat schame and vilonye, For to late endite me and wolues-heed me crye?
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)7.1261 : Out of ther court banshed was prudence…Cried woluis hed was vertuous sobirnesse.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.BC (Trin-C R.3.20)117 : Þe wyves…Haue of assent made þeyre avowe For to exyle Pacyence And cryed ‘Wolffes heed obedyence.’
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)232/139 : This is a great skorne and a false trane; Now wols-hede [?read: wolfes-hede] and out-horne on the be tane!
b
- (1279) Assize R.Nhb.in Sur.Soc.88383 : De eodem vicecomite de catallis Galfridi Wlfesheved quia abjuravit regnum, ij d.