Middle English Dictionary Entry
yespon n.
Entry Info
| Forms | yespon n. Also ȝespon, ȝespen, ȝispon & (errors) thepsene, thespen, thespone, thespun; pl. yepsones, etc. & (errors) thespenes, thespyns. |
| Etymology | Origin uncertain: perh. from OE (cp. MDu. gespe, MLG gespe, gepse & OI gaupnir, OHG coufanōm). Cp. ME spanne n., sense 3. of which should be deleted. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. goupen n., yespe n.
1.
A measure of volume equivalent to that contained in a person’s hands cupped together.
Associated quotations
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)120 : Ambes deus les meins pleins, E Francze apel hom galeins [glossed:] the spone [vrr. spun, spone, spenes, spyns; Arun: the thepsene].
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)123 : Galeins [glossed:] the spen [read: yespen].
- c1325(a1300) Cust.Bleadon202 : Quando arat ad seminandum fabas domini vel herciat et seminat fabas domini tunc tinctor ejus habebit tot fabas sicut prepositus vel messor potest accipere duabus manibus junctis de fabis domini ter; scilicet, tres yepsones fabarum.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)60 : Galeyns [glossed:] ȝespons.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)12.561 : A yespon [L gloss: quantum manus utraque capere possit] al to grounde Of cyner.
- a1500 Cmb.Diseases Hawk (Cmb Ll.1.18)47 : Take a ȝispon off frodill…Cut hym and lay hym on thi tong.
- a1500 Cmb.Diseases Hawk (Cmb Ll.1.18)47 : Take a ȝespen off percyll…and bule.