Middle English Dictionary Entry
wrọ̄̆t n.
Entry Info
| Forms | wrọ̄̆t n. Also wrot(t)e, (in place name) wroth. |
| Etymology | OE wrōt |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The snout of an animal, a sea mammal, a worm, etc.; the trunk of an elephant; also used fig. of a military formation [last quot.];
(b) a person’s nose;
(c) in surnames and place name [see Smith PNElem. 2.279].
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1285 : Jesus al one to heom eode, þis bestes [lions] heore wrot to him gonne beode And ech of heom to him gan go.
- c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)232 : Þe Crapoudes…stoungen heom þoruȝ heore heortene with heore foule wrottes grete.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)681/2 : Þe see swyne…froteþ vnder watir in the grounde as it were a swyne…and gadrith no mete but picceth þe wrotte in grauel.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)682/4 : Delphyns knowe by smelle ȝif a dede man…in þe see ete euere of delphyns kynde…and ȝif he dede noȝt, he [dolphin] kepeþ him and defendeþ him fro etynge and bitynge of oþer fysshe and shuueþ him and bringeþ him into þe clyff with here owne wrotz.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1176/3 : The males [hart] leueþ þe ragynge of lecchery and wexiþ cruel and diggeþ vp clottes and stones with here feet, and þanne here wrottes beþ blake forto þey ben ywaisshe wiþ rayne.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1191/31 : The elephant hatte elephas…and his snowte and wrotte hatte promuscida.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1253/2 : The wonte…haþ a wrotte as a swyne and diggeþ þerwith þe erþe and casteþ vp þat he digge.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1266/14 : Some [worms] takeþ what hem nedeþ wiþ teeþ and some wiþ clawes and wrottes.
- a1400 *Suo sit fairhed (Cmb Gg.4.32)2 : Svo sit fairhed in womman sot Suo þe geldene begh in suynes wrot.
- a1425 A gulden begh (Add 33956)p.410 : A gulden begh in a soghes wrot, a faire wyman, and a sot.
- a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)153/2 : Some smyte of þe snowtes or þe wrotes of þe olifauntes wiþ swerdes.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1933 : The boorys hed is a triangulere Of men, a boorys hed as thaugh it were; If that come on, with tuskys forto breke The breste or egge or wynge or outher horn, A sharre clippe hem of, right by the cheke, And with the same his wrot away be shorn.
b
- ?c1335 Elde makiþ me (Hrl 913)p.170 : Moch me anueþ Þat mi dribil druiþ And mi wrot wet…Mi pilkoc pisseþ on mi schone.
c
- (1157) in Ekwall Dict.EPN514 : Wroth.
- (1193) in Ekwall Dict.EPN514 : Wrot.
- (1200) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames394 : John Wrote.
- (1202) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames394 : Walter Wrot.
- (1297) Name in LuSE 3589 : Wrot.