Middle English Dictionary Entry
boist(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | boist(e n. Also buiste, bust(e, bouste, bost. |
| Etymology | OF boiste |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A jar or box (as for cosmetics, salves, the Host); also, ointment [quot.Destr.Troy]; (b) a case or box (as for letters or bread); (c) a cupping glass; bleding ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)61b : He haueð so monie buistes [Nero: bustes] ful of his letuaires.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)113a : Ne claðes ne boistes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.307 : And euery boyste ful of thy letuarie.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.947 : Thanne is she the vessel or the boyste..that fulfilleth holy chirche of good odour.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.507 : The king a strong puison him dihte Withinne a buiste.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2814 : Venus, which hield a boiste clos..Tok out..An oignement.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Devil Phys.(Phys-E)p.148 : Boystes on him sele he bare And ampolies, als leche ware.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)14003 : A bost [Frf: boiste] sco has o smerles nummen.
- a1400 Recipe MS Hal.in Rel.Ant.1 (Hal 335)53 : When hit es keled, do hit in boystes.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)2035 : Þat bouste with þat swete so gude..þat fro hys [Christ's] face ȝode.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1761 : Þe boyst..And þe unement.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)43/281 : Water of saynt Thomas; In a boyst was it gudely grayd.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)56/23 : A boyst of Iasper grene.
- ?a1425 GGuy(1) (RwlPoet 175)148 : Þe pryor full preuely In a bost [vr. buste] tok godes body Vnder his gere.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)43 : Boyste or box: Pix, alabastrum.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)15.465 : Myn precious stones, and also a whit Booyst and a Ryng.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)15.479 : Owt of that boist there Isswed..Owre holy Saviour..In forme Of bred.
- a1450 I wole be mendid (Dgb 102)65 : While obley in yrnes or boyst ys stoken, Hit nys but bred.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)883 : He..anoyntide hym anon with his noble boyste.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)14792 : A boyst with oynementys.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)329/56 : To myghtfful god omnypotent I bere a boyst of oynement.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)20a : A Bust..hostiarium pro hostijs.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)203/31 : A buysty wyth vnement, such as men vsyn yn þat contre for hete of þe sonne.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)1322 : Terri..seȝ þe boiste..Me þenkeþ, þow ert a masager.
- (1374) Doc.Coldingham in Sur.Soc.12p.lxxv : j par de coffres quae vocantur buysse.
- a1450(a1387) PPl.A(2) (RwlPoet 137)12.68 : I haue a gret boyste At my bak, of broke bred þi bely for to fylle.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)2129 : These pardoners..With boystes crammed ful of lyes.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)38 : Bledynge boyste: Ventosa, guna.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)53/23 : Be ventousede by-twix þe schuldres with boystes to þe blode be drawen owte.
2.
A socket.
Associated quotations
- a1450 MS Sln.2463 in EETS 102 (Sln 2463)176 : Boystes, in þe whiche þe endes of þe bones of the þiȝes ben receyved inne.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1500 Hrl.2252 Artist.Recipes (Hrl 2252) 80/37 : Grynde hym in a dry brasyn morter to powdyr, and put in a boyste.
Note: Additional quot., sense 1.(a).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. boist.