Middle English Dictionary Entry
boie n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | boie n.(1) Also boi, bey(e, bay, bye. |
| Etymology | OF em)buié, em)boié fettered, shackled (ppl. of embuiier). See E.J. Dobson in Med.Aevum 9.121 & 12.71. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A servant, attendant, underling, churl (applied to a cook's helper, butcher's boy, messenger, gate keeper, more often young than not); (b) used in addressing a servant or an underling; (c) addressed to a draft horse.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)1075 : He com to þe gateward þat him answerede hard..þe boye [Ld, Hrl: porter] hit scholde abugge; Horn þreu him ouer þe brigge.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)37/826 : Þemperour..het mani a wikke boie [rime: traye]..lede toward þe hangging.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)385 : A boy for to bere a lettre.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)464 : Buxum..to his bidding, as boie to his master.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1705-7 : Sche..borwed boiȝes cloþes..& bogeysliche as a boye busked to þe kychene.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)prol.77 : Hit nis not bi þe Bisschop þat þe Boye precheþ.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.670 : Oon of hem gan callen to his knaue..'Sire,' quod this boy, 'it nedeth neuer a del.'
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)2377 : To lede him forth war boyes ful boun.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)9.2924 : He that was a boy..And afor-tyme in the kechyn lay Among the pottis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)35 : Bye or boye: Bostio.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1972 : [Malus Angelus:] Belyal, as a bolde boy þi brodde I bere a-bowte.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)358 : More bunne at his bede þan boy til his maister.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)4417 : [Samson] prayd a boy [L puero] þat lufed hym best, vnto þe pyler hym forto lede.
- (1460) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1304 : No bowcher ys boy shall not syll no flesh afor none nethyr aftyr none.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)295/36 : He was putt into the kychyn and lay nyghtly as the kychen boyes dede.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)40/152 : Record of my boy [L adolescens] here wytnes þis he xal.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)368/379 : The devyl boyes mot breke youre bonys!
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.JHare (LdMisc 683)5 : A ffroward knave..A Turnebroche, a boy for Hogge of Ware, With louryng face.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.762 : Ye shall for your seruauntes hoolly answere..ffor now euery boye..Anon as he can walke..Taketh an ensample of eche othir to swere.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)153 : Sche seyȝ a boy, loþly of face, A quysteroun.
b
- ?c1335 Whose þenchiþ vp (Hrl 913)p.135 : Þo spek þe lion..To þe fox..'Tel me, boi, what hast ido?'..Þo spek þe fox..'Lord king, nov þi wille [etc.].'
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2065 : [Belyal to his followers:] buske ȝou, boyes, on brede!
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)7/169 : But loke, boy, þat þou her ne take, Wharfore þe lady myȝt awake!
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)71/219 : Moyses: kyng pharao, to me take tent! Pharao: Why, boy, what tythyngis can thou tell?
c
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1563 : That was wel twight, myn owene lyard boy!..Now is my cart out of the slow, pardee!
2.
(a) A person of low birth or rank, a commoner; a foot soldier; also, a person lacking refinement, an ordinary fellow; (b) a fellow.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7064 : Wawain hadde wiþ him..Of orped boies þousandes fiftene.
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)266 : Knihtshipe is acloied..Kunne a boy nu breke a spere, he shal be mad a kniht. And thus ben knihtes gadered of unkinde blod.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)11.61 : For nou is vche Boye Bold..To talken of þe Trinite, to beon holden A syre.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)82 : Þe King commaunded him turne agayn, Boy, knyȝt, ȝong man, and swayn.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.298 : Þe Scottis sent ouer þe se A boye [F ribaud] of þer rascaile..Of Edward, whore he ware, bring þam certeynte.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3204 : Many gentil kniȝth and many vile bey [vr. boy; rime: palfray], Many baroun..Many ledron.
- c1400(a1376) *PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)[8.76] f.20b : Þei ne wedde no woman þat hy wiþ delen, But..bringen forþ barnes þat bois [Vrn: Bastardes] ben holden.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.197 : Gentil men vche one, No beggere ne boye amonges vs.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)878 : Wost þou not wel þat þou wonez here a wyȝe strange, An outcomlyng, a carle..Þat com a boy to þis borȝ, þaȝ þou be burne ryche?
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.194 : These lolleres..as cotiers thei lybben, For hit beth bote boyes atten ale.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.1033 : A boy..Such on as was most ougli off maner.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3122 : Pouerall and pastorelles..Boyes..bourden full heghe At a bare synglere.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)15 : Boyes..Schall wedde ladyes in londe..Thene dredfull domesdaye it draweth neghe aftir.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)227/71 : Þus a bey to a jentylman to make comparycion.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)15/23 : Ther were many lordes wroth and saide, it was grete shame unto them all and the reame to be overgovernyd with a boye of no hyghe blood borne.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)17/22 : They had no joye to receyve no yeftes of a berdles boye that was come of lowe blood.
- a1500 Thos.Ercel.(Hat 56)129 : Then shall boyes fayre ladies wedde, when ther lords are deade and gone.
b
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)141 : Wele, boyes, here ys he Þat wyl fyȝt and not fle.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)168 : Þe boyes were so wery for-fught, þat þay myȝt not fyȝt mare oloft.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)191 : Among þes wery boyes he wrest and he wrang: He threw þam doun to þe erth.
3.
(a) A worthless or wicked fellow; rascal, ruffian, knave; urchin; ~ knave; also, jester, buffoon; (b) used derisively or contemptuously in addressing a person.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1899 : Þer mithe men wel se boyes bete..And hauelok on hem wel wreke.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (Hrl 2277)p.5 : Ȝunge childerne and wylde boyes..suede hire and scornede hire therto.
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)12 : Þe gedelynges were gedered..pages ant boyes wiþ boste.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)55/1217 : Was nowt þe boi of wit bireued Whan he tok his fader heued, In a vil gonge slong hit inne?
- c1390 Chart.Abbey HG (Vrn)358 : Þenne wente boyes and harlotes and spitten on his face.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1752 : Is this to yow a thyng that is honest, That swich a boy shal walken as hym lest In youre despit, and synge of swich sentence Which is agayns oure lawes reuerence.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1322 : An erchedekene..hadde a somnour redy to his hond. A slyer boy was noon in Engelond..To telle his harlotrye I wol nat spare.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)806 : In Jerusalem watz my Lemman slayn & rent on rode wyth boyez bolde.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.266 : Theese prouerbes wolle ich shewe To beggers and to boyes þat loth ben to worche.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.127 : For hit aren murye-mouthede men, mynstrales of heuene, And godes boyes, bordiours, as þe bok telleþ.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)111 : Goþ and beteþ þis boy..And lat him leren anoþer tyme to answer me bet.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3849 : For thanne this boy-knave so booldely Ne shulde not have be hardy.
- a1425 Nicod.(1) (Add 32578)135 : Þes boyes lat þaire schaftes lowte, To do till ihesu wyrschippynge.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)29 : Bey or boy: Scurrus.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2856 : Þofe ȝone gadlyngez be gaye on ȝone gret horses..Bees noghte baiste of ȝone boyes!
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A rascalle of boyes.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)262/204 : [Anna:] Bidde þam bring in þat boy [i.e. Christ].
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)33/153 : [Cain speaking of Abel:] þis boy is slayn.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)552 : Her he takyt a screwde boy with hym.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)72/260 : Pharao: Certis this is a sotell swayn [i.e. Moses]; bot thyse boyes [i.e. the Israelites] shall abyde in bayll.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)150/309 : Certys, that boy [i.e. Christ] shall dere aby..Shall he be kyng thus hastely? who the dewill made hym knyght?
b
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1730 : [Darius to Alexander:] Ich habbe þee ysent A top and scourge to present..pleye, Jch þee rede, ȝonge boye!
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4369 : Lye þare, vile beye [LinI: bay]! Shaltou neuere efte kyng biwreye.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)488 : It is moche skaþe, boy, þat þou art on lyue!
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)34/19 : Boy with þi blac berd, I rede þat þo blin And sone set þe to schriue with sorow of þi syn.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)265/291 : [Caiphas to Christ:] Boy, be not agaste if we seme gaye!
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)273/60 : Why, go bette, horosonne boy, when I bidde þe!
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)24/747 : In a rage Clement hente a staf..And seyde, 'Boy, tellest þou noȝt sef, My craft to lere?'
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)538 : Ha, boyes..thow art fell and for-swollen..yef thow or Agravian do ought to my sone.
- a1500 Play Sacr.(Dub 652)493 : What, thu boye, what janglest here?
4.
A male child; boy, youth [perhaps an affectionate use of the word in sense 3, for which cp. MnE rogue, rascal].
Associated quotations
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)230 : Whil þou were a ȝong boy, a moche schrewe þou were.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)365 : Scho wiste neuer whare to wonne, when scho wiste hir ȝonge sonne Horse ham brynge..Bot the boye was neuer so blythe [etc.].
- c1450(a1425) MOTest M.7 Boys (SeldSup 52)st.31 : Now with ȝond ȝongest boye þe bus with fayrnes fand to foyl þat fode, ffor men vses chylder ȝyng [etc.].
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)259/1 : For to know wethyr a woman be with chyld, a boye or a wenche.
- c1460 Who so can (Dub 432)93/16 : A childe not norisshed in vertu..þis cursid boy doþe gret synne..Vndre þe horse tayle he putteþ a brynne.
- a1475 Friar & B.(Brog 2.1)p.48 : 'To the fylde schalle go the chyld'..Furthe than went the lytelle boy.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)p.123 : De prauo puero cepe peritus homo: Of a scrod boey comyt a god man.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)p.65 : Here rennyt owt..vi small boys.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)25/781 : To fede þus ydell boyes tweye.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)84/185 : Gar serche youre land in euery stede, And byd that boy [i.e. the Christ Child] be done to dede.
5.
In names. [Some quots., esp. early ones, may contain the OE personal name Boia; see A. H. Smith PNElem. 1.40.]
Associated quotations
- (1154) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms129 : Will. boie.
- (1175) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms129 : Will. Boie.
- (1198) Bk.of Fees1.4 : Alanus Boye.
- (1198) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.932 : Alanus Buie.
- (1200) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.1274 : Walterus Helleboie.
- (?1205-6) Doc.in Bateson Rec.B.Leic.118 : Fil. Roberti litelboie.
- (1209) Pipe R.Winch77/20 : Alfredus, fil. Boie.
- (1233) Close R.Hen.III185 : Galfridus le Boye.
- (1235) Chart.R.PRO1.195 : Richard Lateboy.
- (1269) Close R.Hen.III127 : Agatha uxor Willelmi Godeboye.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 16139 : Steph. Boye.
- (1319) Pat.R.Edw.II475 : Roger Jolifboie.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3271 : Galfridus le Boye.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10113 : Joh. le Boy.
- (1341) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms129 : Henr. Boy.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Terms Assoc.(3) (Lamb 306)233 : A boye is beddid brawlynge.
Note: If 3.(a) or 4., postdates sense.