Middle English Dictionary Entry
bọ̄k n.(1)
Entry Info
Forms | bọ̄k n.(1) Also (N) buk(e & bowk, bock(e, bac. Pl. bọ̄kes; early bẹ̄c, bọ̄c, bọ̄ken. |
Etymology | OE bōc, pl. bēc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Any collection of sheets or leaves, bound or unbound, making up a volume of writings; a book as a material object; (b) ~ bindere, one who binds books; ~ haspe, a clasp for the covers of a book.
Associated quotations
a
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1070 : Hi namen þære swa mycele gold and seolfre, and swa manega gersumas on sceat and on scrud and on bokes.
- 1122 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1122 : And for bearnde ealle þe minstre, And ealle þa gersumes þe þær binnen wæron for uton feawe bec.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)45 : Laȝamon leide þeos boc [Otho: þes bokes] & þa leaf wende.
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1325 : On ape mai a boe [read: boc] bi halde, An leues wenden & eft folde.
- c1300 SLeg.Fran.(1) (LdMisc 108)158 : Ane masse-bok huy gonne take. Þe bok was i-closed faste to; seint Fraunceis hine gan vndo.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.202 : An old man..That hadde a book with lettres of gold in honde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.635 : I rente out of his book a leef.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)966 : And cloven alle in lyttel cloutes þe clyffez aywhere, As lance levez of þe boke þat lepes in twynne.
- a1475 In place (Hrl 3954)3 : Quan a chyld to scole xal set be, A bok hym is browt, Naylyd on a brede of tre, Þat men callyt an abece.
- (1451) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 493 : For the byndyng of the boks v s.
- (c1452) Arms Oxf.in Antiq.37 (Hrl 2259)210 : Ye armys of Oxforth: They ber asur a boke overt with vij clospys gold betwyx iij crownys.
- (1471) Will York in Sur.Soc.45193 : j bowk covered with rede velwett.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)6/25 : And let wryte a gospell on a boke, and had þat wyth hym.
b
- (1251) CRR in NQ 15797 : Uxor Walteri le Bokbyndere.
- (1319) in Ekwall 2 Lond.Sub.R.(Lund 1951)309 : Dyonysia la Bokebynder.
- (1332) in G.Otto Handwerkernamen75 : Bukbynder.
- (1352) Reg.Edw.Blk.Pr.4.76 : [Two] bokapses [enamelled].
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester11 : Cardemakers..Bookbynderys, no scryveners nougt payen.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)42 : Bookbynder or amendere: Sosius.
- (1449) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 872 : To Johis pradte bokebynder of Oxford..for mendyng of the bokys.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1589 : Belmakers, bokebynders, brasiers fyn.
2a.
(a) A written composition or compilation (in prose or verse, occupying one or more volumes); a book as an authoritative source; ~ of laue(s; (b) maken a ~, to write a book; (c) setten, writen on (in) ~, to compose or record (sth.) in writing, write down; (d) knowen withoute ~, know (sth.) by heart; etc.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)3/3 : Seo boc peri didaxeon, þæt ys see swytelunȝ, hu fela ȝera wæs behuded se læcecræft.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)62/29 : Ðe wisæ Auȝustinus hit awrat on bocum.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)10/27 : Nis hit non sellic, þauh ic segge of boken..For ic was ilered of mine leoue fæder Feire on frumþe.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)pref.1 : Þiss boc iss nemmnedd Orrmulum Forrþi þatt Orrm itt wrohhte.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8934 : Bitwenenn þatt Judisskenn flocc Þatt læredd wass o boke; & tære he satt to fraȝȝnenn hemm off þeȝȝre bokess lare.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)101 : Swa swa us seggeð bec.
- a1225(?c1175) PMor.(Lamb 487)118 : Sculde he hit sechen o boke iwriten.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3725 : His dohter hine leide inne Janies temple, al-swa þe bac [Otho: bock] tellet.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4248 : Beoð on beoken [Otho: bokes] feole feld bisnen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)29302 : Nes hit nohwhar iseid, no a bocken irad, þat [etc.].
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)65/12 : Ðu miht witen alle craftes ðe on boche bieð ȝewriten.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)837 : Þe glistinde wordes þet beoð in ower bokes..Homeres motes, & Aristotles turnes.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)350 : Fox he is & fend iwis; ðe boc ne legeð nogt of ðis.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1926 : Me blameþ ham [women] so In songes and in rymes and in bokes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)124 : Ase zayþ an old filosofe, þet hette platoun, ine his boc þet he made of þe uour uirtues.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.head. : Here bygynneth the book of the tales of Caunterbury.
- (1389) Lond.Gild Ret.in Bk.Lond.E.(PRO C 47/var.)41 : [Thi]s is þe boke of ordinaunces of þe brotherede of Carpenteres of London.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.2 : Of hem that writen ous tofore The bokes duelle, and we therfore Ben tawht of that was write tho.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1470 : Enoch..was þe first þat letters fand And wrot sum bokes wit his hand.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.86 : How the boke bible of hym bereth witnesse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.827 : Þis manly man Enee..com in-to Ytaille And wan þat lond, as bookes tellen vs.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)348 : Þis buk..In seven partes divised es.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)23a/a : Þe whiche ben noumbred of Galien in þe book of swellynges.
- (1432) Rec.St.Mary at Hill28 : A boke of laweis, callyd decretallis.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)25 : This boke that is the bybyll cald..ffor holy wrytt we sall yt hald.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)134/29 : Do þus euery woke, and it xall holyn, as tellyth þe boke.
- (1457-58) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31245 : Resceyvynge for a Booke of lawe, of a preste, xl s.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)150 : Off such ensamples, mony of the bokes off cronycles be full.
- c1475 Rwl.Prov.(Rwl D.328)p.124 : He that lurnyth' without buckys drayt whater with a seyue.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)12/27 : Soo in the grettest chirch of London, whether it were Powlis or not the Frensshe booke maketh no mencyon, alle the estates were longe or day in the chirche for to praye.
b
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)44 : Y vndyr-toke On englyssh tunge to make þys boke.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1322 : Þer of þis mater & mo, he made fayr bokes.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)22 : Make a boke, and alle tho thate this boke shul se sholde the rather kepe hem from synne.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)pref.27 : Itt [the Gospel] iss sett o boc Þurrh fowwre Goddspellwrihhtess.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)3085 : Ysayas haffde seȝȝd & writenn uppo boke, þatt maȝȝdenn shollde berenn child.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)17686 : All iss itt..sett O boc, & tald & rimedd.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)25143 : Sibeli hit sæide..and sette hit on bocke [Otho: in boke], uolke to bisne.
- ?c1250 PMor.(Eg 613(1))226 : Aboke [vrr. on boc, aboken] it is i-write, þer me mai it rede.
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)572 : In boke is ðe turtres lif writen o rime.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)94a : Alle þat olde auctours haueþ..left be hynde hem, writen in book.
d
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)196 : Leorny bute bok vych del.
- a1400(?c1300) LFMass Bk.(Roy 17.B.17)625 : Þo robryk is gode vm while to loke, þo praiers to con with-outen boke.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.291 : This knew he wel ynough withoute book.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1608 : Jason..coude of love al the art and craft pleyner Withoute bok, with everych observaunce.
2b.
(a) A fundamental or authoritative source of knowledge or instruction; wis on ~, learned; (b) a model (good or bad) of conduct, an example.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(a1376) *PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)[11.155] 27b : Astronomye..Geometrie & geomesie..þat þinkeþ werche..wiþ þo þre þriueþ wel late; ffor sorcerie is þe souerayn bok þat to þat science longiþ.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)25 : Eny gouernaunce of the seide lawe of kinde..is more verrili writen in the book of mannis soule than in the outward book of parchemyn.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)31 : Alle the trouthis of lawe of kinde whiche Crist and hise Apostlis tauȝten..weren writen bifore in thilk solempnest inward book or inward writing of resounis doom.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)35.568 : Ypocras..was A wys man On boke.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)390/121 : Let me be youre boke, youre sampill take by me.
b
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)61 : Siþ þe lif of prelatis is bok & ensaumple of sugetis..& þei lyuen so opynly in pride, coueitise & idelnesse..þei ben open heretikis.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Prelates (Corp-C 296)92 : Þei techen to þe comunes bi here owen wickid lif, þat is a bok to here sugetis.
- a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)408 : Þe lif of þis herde is a bok to lewyd men, & a marke þat þei shulden sue aftir.
2c.
(a) drawen, putten, setten to boke, to teach (sb.) to read and to interpret writings, instruct, educate; (b) leren on ~, to teach (sb.) to read, instruct; lered on ~, learned, erudite; lernen ~, read or study.
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8690 : To boc is fader him drou, þat he was..god clerc ynou.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)11.129 : Plato þe Poyete I put him furste to Boke.
- a1400(c1300) NHom.(1) Abbess (Phys-E)p.164 : And sithen til boc scho it [this funding] sett, And mad hir nunne in that nunrye.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.187 : Wel may þe barne blisse þat hym to boke sette.
- c1400 ?Nassyngton SV (Cmb Ll.1.8)126 : Whan a chyld is set to boke, þe Pater Noster he schal first lere.
- c1350 St.Greg.(Cleo D.9)82/474 : Þe abbot..Þat child sette to þe boke And hym lerede fast and swyþe.
- a1425 Siege Troy(1) (LinI 150)518 : Þat vche clerk myȝte hit rede, þat to bok was set or to scole ȝeede.
b
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8932 : Þatt Judisskenn flocc Þatt læredd wass o boke.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10268 : All þatt follc toc niþ wiþþ himm Þat læredd wass o boke.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)6298 : Þeo quene..wes a boken [Otho: in boke] wel itaht.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)21858 : Þreo biscopes wise, a boke wel ilæred.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)4 : Ðog he ne be lered on no boken.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3499 : Whan that she leyser hadde..To lerne bookes was al hir likyng.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12172 : Til him bi-teche yee þis barn; Him lere on bok wil he not warn.
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)734 : Mi son vnto ȝow I bitoke For to lere hym on þe boke; Ȝe haue him teched on wrang manere.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)988 : Religiose wymmen þo dweltone þere..And ȝong maydenys, of boke to lere.
3a.
(a) The Bible; cristes ~, godes ~, holi ~, ~ of godspelles, ~ of lif, ~ o spell; -- with or without art.; (b) pl. the Scriptures; (c) the sacred book of any religion; (d) the Bible as used in giving a solemn pledge; sweren upon (the) ~, leien hond on ~, touchen the ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)6/4 : Þa wæs Godes sylfes gast, swa swa boc us sæȝð, ifæred ofer waterum.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)11924 : To don hemm tunnderrstanndenn wrang Þe bokess hallȝhe lare.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14390 : Godes boc.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)3 : Of þe firste tocume spekeð þe holi boc þus queðende.
- a1275 Serm.St.Nich.(Trin-C B.14.39)123 : Ase in þe boc þa apostel speket.
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)131 : Hit is write in þe bok..þe prophete hit seyde [etc.].
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)257 : Of oure lord, as þe bok seiþ, ymad is al þis.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2300 : Salomon..was a lechour..And if god ne hadde, as seith the book, Yspared hym [etc.].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6041 : Þan sent drightin a litel beist..Locust it hatt, in buk I faand.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12993 : Written it es in bok o spell, 'þi lauerd þou aght to fot at fall'.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)21864 : In þe bok o gospelles.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)19.67 : His firste name was ihesus..as þe boke telleth.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)7/4 : Here what haly boke sais.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)11/41 : Alas! al þe wyt of þis word fallus to foly, Þus sayþ Sapyens forsoþ in þe boke of lyfe.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)383 : So God me helpe & þe holy boke!
b
- a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1070 : An cyrce weard..nam þa be nihte eall þet he mihte, þet wæron Xpes bec and mæsse hakeles [etc.].
- a1150(?OE) Vsp.D.Hom.(Vsp D.14)66/27 : Hit sæigð on halgen bocan..þæt eall middeneard mid hæðenra þeode geðrynge by.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)72/10 : He ne cyðe..þa halȝa Cristes boc.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)94/27 : Þes wisdom is iwriten on haliȝe bocum.
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)102/22 : Symle Godes bocæ teachunge ȝeorne fylȝean.
- c1225 Body & S.(2) (Wor F.174)10/55 : So so bec mæneþ.
c
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1528 : Adratus..gan preie deuoutly on his book To the goddes.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)84/19 : Ȝif ȝee wil knowe a partye of here lawe..I schall tell ȝou after þat here book, þat is clept Alkaron, telleth.
d
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)581 : Heo scholden swerien heore oth opon þe boke.
- c1330 Horn Child (Auch)140 : & dede hem swere opon þe boke, Feute þai schuld him bere.
- c1330 Iesu þat for vs (Auch)65 : On þe bok falsli [they] sworen And ofte fals witnesse boren.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.667 : On this book he swoor anoon, She gilty was.
- (1416) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.55 : We make this testimone..We be owre oone will..haue touched the booke.
- a1425 Alle þt thenke (LdMisc 463)p.201 : To swere fals..He forsakeþ his cristendam..On bok whan he leiþ his hond.
- (1425) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.12 : To swere and make oth vp-on a boc be-for any juge Spiritual or temporal.
- (c1425) Doc.Lynn in Nrf.Archaeol.6223 : Sire, ȝe shal leie ȝour hond on þe book and ȝe shal swere [etc.].
- (1427) Proc.Privy C.3.325 : It liked unto my said lord..to open þe boke of evangile..and þerto swore by þeim þat he wolde [etc.].
- (1428) Doc.in Sur.Soc.852 : John Holgate come befor the sayd Mayr and he, sworn apon a buke sayd [etc.].
- (1433) RParl.4.476a : The seid Officers..bien opynly sworen afore the Communes of the said Town by her othes upon a boke..that thei shall [etc.].
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)67/7 : Þe preste swor..be þe boke in hys hand, þat sche was as fals as sche mygth be.
- c1500(?a1475) Landavall (Rwl C.86)289 : Twelue knyghtes were dreuyn to a boke, The sothe to say and no leese.
3b.
(a) Any of the individual parts constituting the Bible; ~ of widom; ~ of sighte, the Apocalypse; (b) a major division of a long treatise or literary work.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225 Sanctus beda (Wor F.174)7 : He was bocare and þe bec wende: Genesis, Exodus, Vtronomius, Numerus, Leuiticus. Þ[urh] þeos weren ilærde ure leoden on englisc.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)5901 : Heore fowwre bokess Off ure Laferrd Jesu Crist.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)61/32 : Eft seið ðe boc of wisdome 'Deum time!'
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)34b : Iudith..as hit teleð in hire boc, leadde swiðe heard lif.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2522 : Ðe boc ðe is hoten genesis, ðe moyses ðurg godes red Wrot.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)133 : Þanne þou miȝt..ete of þe trawe of liue, ase god zayþ ine þe boc of ziȝþe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)189b/a : Þe firste book of machabeos.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)3.330 : Se what Salamon seith in Sapience bokes.
- a1450(c1405) Purvey Determ.(Trin-C B.14.50)178/282 : In þe tyme of kyng Richerd..in-to a parliment was put a bille..to anulle þe Bibel þat tyme translatid in-to Engliche, and also oþer bokis of þe Gospel translatid in-to Engliche.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)10/2 : Seynt Iohn þe Euangelist, in þe booke of his reuelaciouns þat is cleped þe Apocalips.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)354/4 : In a book clepid Apocriphum.
b
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)4a : Þis an Boc is todealet in eahte leasse Bokes.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.1818 : My thridde bok now ende ich in this wyse.
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1093 : O God of science..Appollo..This lytel laste bok thou gye!
4.
(a) A service book of the Church, esp. the missal; masse ~; shriftes ~, the penitential book; (b) bok and candel, missal and candle as used in solemn excommunication; (c) ~ and belle, missal and bell (which is rung at the elevation of the Host); bi (with) ~ and belle, ceremoniously, solemnly, earnestly, utterly (often with reference to cursing or excommunication); (d) in oaths or as an emphatic: bi ~ and belle!, bau for bokes!
Associated quotations
a
- c1230 *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)16b : Ich habbe þus isunget, & segge o hwucche wise, as hit is iwriten ow in ower schriftes boc towart te ende þrof.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.559 : The gold..The which was leid upon the bok, Whan that alle othre sche forsok For love of him.
- (1395) EEWills5/13 : I bequethe to the same Iohane, a masse book.
- c1450(c1420) Proph.Becket (Hat 56)22 : This kene clerk of Caunterbery..byddes graithe hym an auter and dresses hym to synge..his boke þan hym laked.
- (1455) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15149 : One old lytyl mass boke un binded.
- (1458) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 499 : To wrytyng of a boke to an ely a syke man..xviij d.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1945 : Bok and candele he nam a-non and amansede riȝt þere Alle þat werreden holi churche.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10370 : He esste boc & candle, þe sentence to do bliue.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.430 : Haue he Cristes curs & mine, Wiþ boke & eke wiþ belle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6982 : Bok and belle..To goddes hous appourtenant.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)25038 : Pilate..cursed he is wiþ boke and belle.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)17110 : Curced in kirc þan sal þai be wid candil, boke, and bell.
- c1400 St.Anne(1) (Min-U Z.822.N.81)1401 : Curst be he with buk & bell.
- a1450(a1400) Athelston (Cai 175/96)681 : I swere boþe be book and belle.
- c1450(?a1400) Quatref.Love (Add 31042)33 : Scho blyssede his body with buke and with belle.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)6635 : He cursed hem with book and belle.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1017 : Quod Beryn in grete angir, & swore be book & bell [etc.].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1228/6 : 'Sir,' seyde the Bysshop, 'leve thys opynyon, other ellis I shall curse you with booke, belle and candyll.'
- a1500 O meichti ladi (Pen 98B)31 : Wee aske with booke, wee wishe with bell, to heaven full well to haue our flight.
d
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.135 : 'Ȝee! baw for bokes!' quod one was broken oute of helle.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)3023 : So bus þe do, by bel and boke.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)30 : Nane bot hym selfe one a blonke by þat birde bydis, Þat borne was in borgoyne, by boke and by belle.
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)341 : Hett rennyd and blewe stormus fele That well was hym, be bocke and belle, That herborow hade cauȝt.
5.
(a) A formal legal document, such as a charter, deed, will; (b) an official record or register; a diary; also fig.; (c) law a brief or writ; (d) theol. God's record of man's behavior on earth; bok of lif, ~ of liveres, the roll of those chosen for eternal life.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300(OE) Deed Crediton (CotR 2.11)120 : Mid hure elder boken.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Is.50.1 : What is this boc of the forsaking of ȝoure moder, that I lafte hir?
- c1425 Liber de Hyda in RS 45259 : The markys of these to hyde lond ben in the Boke of Draytone.
- -?-(1415) Will in Som.RS 16401 : Excepte ham that I have ynemmed in this bok to-for.
- (1469) Will Pembroke in Antiq.439 : Item, þat alle other thinges in the boke of my wil þat is wretin with my hand be doon.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)16a : A Boke: Cartula, Carta, Codex [etc.].
b
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7685 : & let it write clene ynou & þat scrit dude iwis In þe tresorie at westmunstre..So þat vre kinges..wat folc miȝte ȝiue..founde þere in hor boke.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1318 : Er the bisshop caughte hem with his hook, They weren in the erchedekenes book.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Esth.12.4 : The kyng wroot in bookis [L commentariis] that that was doon.
- (1425) RParl.4.269a : In ye Book of ye Peedegree, yeve into yis Court by..my said Lord Erle Mareschall.
- ?c1450(?c1390) ?Chaucer Merc.B.(Benson-Robinson)35 : Love hath my name ystrike out of his sclat, And he is strike out of my bokes clene For evermo.
- (1454) Lin.DDoc.64/12 : I beqwethe to the boke [i.e. bead-roll] of the same Church xij d.
- (c1465) Cart.Tropenell in BGAS 23200 : By an hole knyght fee, as hit apperyth in the chekker in the boke of fees made in ye tyme of King Edward ye furst.
- a1500(?1452) Lond.Chron.Arms (ArmsAr 19)296 : A good prechour..þat made in his dayes [3083] sermones, as it was founde in his bokes of his own hande writing.
c
- (1425) RParl.4.271a : My said Lord, and I ynne his name, shall answer to ye boke last mynystred by ye partie of my Lord Mareschall, and synglerly to eche Article yrof.
- (1425) RParl.271b : In yis said high Court was delivered anoyer Boke by ye Counseill of my said Lord..departed in foure Articles, in manere and fourme ensuyng.
- (1447) Shillingford13 : Y seide that my bokis were alle redy. And my lord bade to leye ham forth, and so we didde the articulis.
d
- a1300 PMor.(Jes-O 29)376 : [Those in heaven may] on lyues bee [read: bec] iseon al þat heo her nusten.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)68.33 : Ben hij don out of þe boke of liueand, and ben hij nouȝt wryten wyþ þe ryȝtful.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.68.29 : Be thei do awei fro the boc of lyueres [WB(2): the book of lyuynge men].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.138.16 : Myn vnparfit thing seȝen thin eȝen, and in thi boc alle shul be writen.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)207/6 : Þi name is wretyn in Heuyn in þe Boke of Lyfe.
- a1450 LDirige(1) (Dgb 102)111 : In bok of lyf þo þat be named, To ioye of heuene mon be sent.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)146.4 : Oure lord departis all chosen men fra ill..and all thaire namys ere writen in the boke of life.
6.
A register of financial or commercial transactions, an account book.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1272 : Up into his countour-hous gooth he..Hise bokes and hise bagges..He leyth biforn hym on his countyng bord.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1407 : How longe tyme wol ye rekene and caste youre sommes and youre bokes?
- (1429) RParl.4.352a : Diverse Customers of diverse partys of Englond..by the bokes of the same Customers in thescheqer to oure said soverein Lord answered.
- (1444) RParl.5.117a : For the more sikrenesse of the Custumers of oure Soverayn Lord the Kyng in the Citee of London, whanne that ony Merchauntz come to theme to entre theire Wynes in theire Bokys [etc.].
- (1444) RParl.5.126a : The Rolles and bokes of accompt of the Baillifs.
- (1447) RParl.5.129b : Ther remayneth due to the saide Executours..as by the bokes and obligations made to..theire Testatour, the summe of [etc.]..Bokes and suretees of the dettis due to the seid Executours.
- (1450) RParl.5.207a : All such sommes of money as shall be duely founden to growe in the seid Port of Sandewych, by the bokes of the Custumers and Countrollers ther [etc.].
- (1459) Let.Sou.in Sou.RS 22 (Sou SC.2/9/2)20 : In the Stywardes bokes.
- (1465) Paston4.175 : Wherof the certeyn somme is writen in my blak book of foreyn reseytes.
7.
Cpds. (a) bok-bindere [see 1]; ~ fel [OE], parchment or vellum; ~ hous [OE], library; ~ lond [OE], land held by charter; ~ leden [OE], the Latin language; also literary language; (b) ~ lered, ~ lerned, learned, erudite; ~ lore [OE], learning, erudition; (c) ~ makere, author; copyist; ~ making, composition; ~ man, ?copyist, scribe; ~ oth, an oath sworn on the Bible; ~ rune, letter; ~ sellere, book seller; ~ spel, a tale from a book, a story; ~ staf [OE], a letter of the alphabet.
Associated quotations
a
- (1207) Fine R.King John450 : Radulphus de Bocland.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)107 : Nv beoð xii unþeawes, þe we sculen eou seggan erest on bocleden and siðþan on englisc.
- a1225(OE) Lamb.Hom.VA (Lamb 487)117 : Episcopus is gerkisc noma þet is on boc leden speculator.
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)151 : Iacob on boc leden is icleped on englisse under-plantere of fule custumes.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)50 : Feþeren he nom mid fingren & fiede on boc-felle.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)52/29 : Ich iseh hwer ha..hire bonen..wrat o boc-felle, & hire lif-lade al lette don o leaue.
- (1255) Hundred R.Tower 249 : Thomas de Bocland.
- (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3214 : Johannes Boclonde.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)1 : Þis boc is..of þe bochouse of saynt Austines of Canterberi.
b
- a1200(?OE) Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)155 : Oðre lorðeawes þe cunnen holie boc-lore and þermide godes folc lereð.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)16902 : His biscopes, his boc-ilærede men.
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(*Glb A.19-Wanley)p.20 : At Sifforde seten þeines manie, fele Biscopes, fele Boc-lered.
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)13884 : Mon vnlered of boke lore [Vsp: boken lare; Frf: boke or lare].
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1551 : He bede his burnes boȝ to, þat wer bok-lered, To wayte þe wryt.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.26 : Boke-lornut [Dc: Boke lered] byrnus and bischoppus of the beste.
c
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)ded.104 : Loke wel þatt he An bocstaff write twiȝȝess Eȝȝwhær þær itt uppo þiss boc Iss writenn o þatt wise.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)4305 : Hælende Iss writenn o Grickisshe boc Rihht wiþþ bocstafess sexe.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4496 : Stille boc runen [Otho: one deorne lettre] heo senden him to ræden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)7637 : Þe stelene brond..þer on weoren igrauen feole cunne boc-stauen.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)19423 : Nu ich þe wulle tellen a þissen boc-spællen [Otho: bok-spelle], hu Vðer þe king uurede hine seolven.
- (1279) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms180 : Alan. Bokeman.
- (1279) Assize R.Nhb.in Sur.Soc.88267 : Rog. Bukeman.
- (1293) in Fransson Surn.129 : Will. le Bokmakere.
- (1327) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms180 : Joh. Bocman.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)8b/a : Auctor: a boke maker.
- c1425 Treat.10 Com.(StJ-O 94)31 : Agaynes þis commandemente doos þai þat wilfully putteth þam to book ooþe..bot it were in aful iuste cause.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1281 : Sith þou felys þe fressh, lete no feynt herte Abate þy blessid bisynes of þy boke-making.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)7481 : He sware many boke athe, Þat he did þe kirke na skathe.
- (1453) LRed Bk.Bristol2.205 : The saide procuratours..shall dueli..bi thair book oth maad, yelde accomptis.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)632/36 : Thei promisid..bi a boke oth, þat þei sholde neuer afturwarde gete no letters fro þe pope.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)16a : A Bokebynder or sillere: bibliopola, bibliator.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)223/19 : Ȝour namus wreton..be In þe bok of lyfe in heuen blys.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 5.(d).
- (1434) Invent.Scarborough in Archaeol.5166 : Duo candelabra magna de Cupro stancia coram altare summo et unum vers boke.
Note: New compound for sense 4.(a): verse ~, a liturgical service book.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)59 : Juramentum Contrarotulator..ye or your undyr-clerkes, as ofte as it requiryth, shall take the remanentes and vyewes in offices, and surely make the booke of wyne, and all thys present in the countyng-house, as often as ye be desyred by the Steward.
Note: New combination for sense 6., which this quot. postdates: ~ of wine, an account of the wines purchased for the king's household.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL