Middle English Dictionary Entry
wren(ne n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wren(ne n. Also wrene, wranne, (early) wrænna, (in place name) wrein-. |
| Etymology | OE wrenna, wrenne, wrænna. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A small brown bird of the genus Troglodytides, a wren; also as a type of small or insignificant creature;
(b) as error for bren, var. of bran n.;
(c) as surname and in possible place name [see Smith PNElem. 2.278].
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Stw.57 Gloss.(Stw 57)412 : Parrax: wrenne.
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)543/6 : Parrax: wrænna.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)564 : Wat dostu godes among monne? Na mo þe deþ a wercche wranne.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)p.164 : Levere is the wrenne Abouten the scholke renne Than the fithel draut Other the floute craf.
- c1350 How GWife(1) (Em 106)166/110 : After þe wrenne had veines þou schalt leten here blod.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2227 : The litel wrenne in his mesure Hath yit of kinde a love under his cure.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)55b/a : Regulus: a wrenne, a lytel kynge, or a serpent.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)533 : Wrenn [Win: Wrene], bryd: Regulus.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603 : A herd of wrannes.
- a1486 Sln.Bk.Hawking (Sln 3488)144 : Which metes ben good…fore…haukez…Wodecokkes and Wrennes ben poyson.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)573 : ‘Now lete be all this,’ seide kay, ‘for thus shull the knyghtes of the rounde table go to a-venge the deth of the wrenne’; and than be-gonne thei all to laughe.
- a1500 When nettuls (BodPoet e.1)pp.269,270 : Whan spawyns byld chyrchys on a hyth And wrenys cary sekkes onto the myll…Whan…wrennys ses goshaukes be fors and myght…Than put women in trust and confydens.
b
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)33/16 : Cantabrum, i. furfur tritici: anglice, wren.
c
- (1225) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.7 ()214 : Henrico Wrenne.
- (1230) EPNSoc.46 (Ches.) ()119 : Wrennebury.
- (1257) Close R.Hen.III182 : Robertus Wrenne.
- (1302-3) Freeman R.in KRec.18 ()180 : Egidius Le Wrenne.
- (1379) Nickname in SAU 63207 : Joh. Wrenne.
- (1404) EPNSoc.46 (Ches.) ()119 : Wreynbery.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 2448 : Willelmus Wrenne.