Middle English Dictionary Entry
yemps n.
Entry Info
| Forms | yemps n. Also yemus, h)yeme. |
| Etymology | From L hiems, hiemps. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Winter; also, cook. a representation of winter as an old man [quot. a1475; cp. sotilte n. 5.].
Associated quotations
- (1346) Will York in Sur.Soc.433 : Item, lego Johanni le Baker robam meam pro yeme cum pertinentibus.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.19va (1.4) : In hyeme, pores of þe erþe ar sperede and closede þorȝ colde.
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.80vb (2.13) : Comunly it is gendred in yeme & in vere, i. in þe last ende of þe ȝer and in þe first ende of þe ȝer.
- a1425 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Wel 225)365/5639 : When yemps is moiste & wet…of syk wedrynge is caused excess of wykked blude.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.SSecr.(Sln 2464)1456 : Yemps endith the Ende of ffebruarye.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)765 : Y must conclude with þe fourth compleccion, ‘yemps’, þe cold terme of þe yere, Wyntur with his lokkys grey, febille & old, Syttynge vppon þe stone bothe hard & cold.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)51a/b : Þer beþ iiij tymes of þe ȝeer whiche þat acordiþ to iiij complexiouns and also to þe iiij Elementis, þat is to wyten, Estas, Veer, Autumpnus, And yemus…Yemus is cold and moist acordynge to þe complexioun of fleume & to þe Element of þe watir, and in his bigynnynge he is more cold and lesse moist þan in his endynge.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)52b/b : Flewme…bigynneþ to encrese þe firste day of yemus, þat is to seie, þe 5 Ide of Nouembre, and duriþ vn to þe 6 Ide of ffeuerer.