Middle English Dictionary Entry
bōst n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bōst n. Also boist, (pseudo-northern vr.) bast. |
| Etymology | AF bost boasting, ostentation (prob. from Gmc.: cp. MHG būs swelling, Norw. baus haughty). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A brag, a boast; boastful speech, bragging, self-praise; (b) casten ~ at, be boastful toward (sb.), insult; maken ~ (of), brag (of, about); more ~ is, etc., a pot of wine causes more boasting than a flitch of dried beef; on ~, boastingly; (c) praise of someone else.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)108/276 : Ho hys [þat] neuer ne kedde woȝ In boste to hys sugges?
- (1357) Gaytr.LFCatech.(Yk-Borth R.I.11)88/467 : And of this syn comes mani sere spices: Bost [Wycl.: Bostynge], and auantyng, and unbuxumnesse.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.291 : Archelaus was..nevere monarchus, but..by his owne boost [L jactantiam].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.764 : Nat for youre boost, he wol hym no thyng hyde.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.298 : I koude almoost A thousand olde stories the allegge Of wommen lost through fals and foles bost.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)33a/a : Jautancis [read: Jactancia]: bost.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)45 : Bost: Jactancia.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)274 : Wee schulde ryght sone have pease for all here bostes.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)2222 : We may boldly vs byld with bostis out of Reason.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)430 : Þi leue hase þou loste For all þi brag or þi boste.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)16b : A Bost: Ampulla..jactancia.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)337 : Lat be thi bost, thou Hors, & thi iangelyng!
b
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.532 : Þan þou it hast, Þan make þer-of þi bast.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)121 : Þat þou makest offe þis bost, Tel me nou ȝef þou wost.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.401 : The triumphe of Iulius, Of which that Lucan maketh swich a boost.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.98 : Of myn estat ne wol I make no boost.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1712 : Þou, Baltazar..hatz hofen þy hert agaynes þe hyȝe dryȝtn, Wyth bobaunce and wyth blasfayme bost at hym kest.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)469 : Mare bost es in a pot of wyne þan in a karcas of Saynt Martyne.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)793 : Bot þen said Percyuell on bost, 'Ly still þerin now and roste.'
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)603 : Thou madiste thi boost To conquer the Romaynes.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)983 : Hast þou any Tyme bost I-mad Of any good þat þou hast had?
- c1460 Ipom.(3) (Lngl 257)331/6 : A man that has pride in his wele dooing and makes boist therof, both he displeses god and hyndres his astate.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)32/97 : I..xal..make no bost Off all my cornys þat may be fownde.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)362 : But of o þyng, Sir Knyȝt, i warne þe: þat þou make no bost of me.
- a1550 *Ripley CAlch.(BodeMus 63)53a : Sithe they so miche Richesse can worke, As they make Boste of & Avante.
c
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)1.111 : He brak Boxumnes þorw bost of him-seluen.
- (a1424) Stonor1.35 : William Alisandre semes most bost and wurship.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.397 : Þis word sowneþ not to boost of Matheu.
- (c1462) Let.in Ellis Orig.Let.ser.1.115 : The King maketh right grete bostes of you for the truest and the feithfullest man that any christen Prince may have.
2.
(a) Arrogance, presumption, pride, vanity; (b) for ~, through pride, because of pride; withouten ~, without arrogance, meekly; (c) abaten (baten, beten) ~, diminish (someone's) pride, humble (sb.); fallen (leien) ~, cast down (someone's) pride, overcome (sb.); slaken ~, reduce (someone's) pride.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)688 : He is blac..Hinderful and of bost I-novȝ.
- a1350(1265) BLewes (Hrl 2253)22 : Þe kyng..wende wiþ is prude ant is muchele bost.
- c1330(?a1300) Rich.(Auch)116/79 : For ȝour bost & ȝour orgoyl, Man schal þrest in ȝour coyl.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1129 : For bobaunce & bost, burnes he sent enuiously to þemperour.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3799 : God daunted al his pride and al his boost.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.427 : Þese wordes..haveþ more of brag and boost [L arrogantiæ] þan of trust.
- c1390 In a Pistel (Vrn)92 : Vr Bost, vr Brag, is sone ouerbide.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6224 : Quen he had mad al bun his ost, He went wit mikel prid and bost.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)22.251 : Nother bost ne debat beo among hem alle.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)5/8 : Þe boste of ȝowre baner es betin all doune.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.248 : Thorugh me thow stondest now in weye To faren wel; I sey it for no bost.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)1110 : The spirit witȝ boost gan to crye and crake.
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)15 : Boyes of blode, with boste and with pryde, Schall wedde ladyes in londe.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)176/248 : For all his boste of blysse ful bare, He lyth now ded.
b
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)10882 : Þe aungel vnswered wiþouten boost.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4536 : For bost he prekyd a gret pas.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)5251 : Nouthir scottys ne þe englysch oste, Outhir for drede or for boste, Durst to othir ryde.
c
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1078 : Þei bigunnen for to hie Toward king garsies host, For to a-baten of hare bost.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1141 : God for his grace graunt ȝou wel to spede, to a-bate þe bost of þat breme duke.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3289 : He of Centauros leyde the boost adoun.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.441 : With a nedles point..May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.3482 : And thus was leid the grete bost Of him and of his tirannie.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)60/8 : Sche was þe mor bold to preyn owyr Lord..to slakyn her bost.
- a1450(1414) Whanne alle a kyngdom (Dgb 102)123 : So mow ȝe abate ȝoure enemys bost.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1370 : Ilke Crystene kyng he..byddes..wende..For to ffelle þe Sarezynys bost.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4324 : Þare was na wyght, þair boste to bete Na þaim to confounde.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4916 : If god walde gyue him grace forto bate þair boste.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)285 : Lat Hors & Sheep ley her bost a-doun.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)1599 : Thy bost shall sone be layde.
3.
Ostentation; an ostentatious action or thing; display, pomp, parade, show; kepen (maken) ~, make a display, put on a show.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Swithin (Hrl 2277)43,46 : Whan he halewede enie churche, bost ne kipte he non; Bi nyȝte afote..he wolde þider gon..þe bost of hors ne of squiers..he tolde þerof lute.
- a1350 I-blessed beo þu (Hrl 2253)26 : Iesu Crist..bring vs to þin riche..let vs neuer hit misse for non worldes bost!
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)356 : Fortiger & his ost Oȝain com wiþ gret bost & held fest mani a day.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)71 : Huet is ous worþ oure pouer, worþssippe, noblesse, richesse, blisse, and bost?
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.333 : Þe holsomnesse of þat lond..is worþ al þe boost and richesse of treen, of herbes, of spicerie..of þe est londes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.251 : Grete worschippe he dede to Stigandus, for he wold..come aȝenst him..wiþ greet boost and array [L longa serie pompæ].
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)462 : Ȝe..wendeþ to Grece with bost.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)3184 : Lord! muche bost was þare, Gret pruyde and gay gere.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)51a/a : Pompa: bost preysynge victorie.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)45 : Bost:..ostentacio.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)12.388 : He hadde Sent forth A spye..To Aspien Tholomes & his Ost There that they lien with so gret bost.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)795 : Þoȝ þey þis bost make, Hit beþ bot wyles of werr.
- a1475(1450) Scrope DSP (Bod 943)16/27 : Be in praier without grete auaunte or boost [DSPhilos.: pompe].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)16b : A Bost:..Pompa, magnificencia.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)119 : Thow forsakist the devil & al his bostys & pompis.
4.
(a) Loud talk, outcry, noise; ?also, impetuosity, violence; (b) maken ~, make a noise, cry out; of ~, ?speedily; with ~, ?violently, ?impetuously.
Associated quotations
a
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)12 : Þe gedelynges were gedered..ant boyes wiþ boste.
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1376 : Þe king cam stilleliche wiþ his ost, & garsie cam wiþ gret bost.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2142 : He withoute noise or bost Al priveli..his swevene tolde To themperour.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5281 : Now ariseþ cry and boost Amonge Alisaunders oost..Of tigres, olifauntz..and beres.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1448 : Mony watz þe miyry mouthe of men & of houndez, Þat buskkez after þis bor with bost & wyth noyse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6233 : For worldly lust, þouȝ it be now blowe With pompe and pride, & with bost & soun, Anon it passeth.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)80 : Her gouernour, the host, Stonding in halle, ful of wynde and bost..spak to me.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)887 : Tysbe ryst up withouten noyse or bost.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)385/214 : Howe! belamy, a de, With al thy booste and bere.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)2745 : The hethen with grete booste and crying..Euer they come.
b
- c1390 Chart.Abbey HG (Vrn)360 : Crist wente as mekeliche to his hongynge as a lomb..for he made nouþer bost ne noyse.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4063 : Erly he riseþ and makeþ boost, And hoteþ quyk armen al þe ost.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)14.247 : And whether be liȝter to breke? lasse boste it maketh, A beggeres bagge, þan an yren-bounde coffre!
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3461 : Suffre, I rede, and no boost make.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)173 : Into the regnes of bost have ronne here soune.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4265 : Sere Thomas no bost gan make, Anon hys ffolk he gan to awake.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4529 : Wiþ bost com Sere Cudary Agayn a Crystene knyȝt.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)2830 : Kyng Egfride ordaynd an hoste, Agayn þe peghtis to fyght with boste.
5.
Menacing, threatening, threats; a threat; craken ~, utter a threat, speak menacingly.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1802 : Þe oþere a-biden him alle at douere with þretninge and bost i-nouȝ.
- c1300 SLeg.Edm.Abp.(LdMisc 108)533 : Þare was þretningue and bost i-novȝ.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3137 : Vp þai sterten wiþ gret bost, Euerich king wiþ al his ost.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)14/371 : He ne may nauȝt yweid be wiþ blanding ne wiþ boste.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)2322 : William..seie breme burnes..brandissende wiþ gret bost.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4001 : He craked boost and swoor it was noght so.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.2083 : With gret manace and mochel bost He drowh pouer..And cam in rescousse of the toun.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1901 : Þan ys þere chydyng and boste.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.94 : Wyndis of mennis bost maken us to drede of worldely harmes.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)5316 : He ȝaff not a flax-bete Off alle her bost ne thaire threte.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)35/12 : Þe Athenyenes..drede þe manschynge and þe boste of Alexander.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7962 : Þi wordes me not feryn, Ne thy boste me abaistes with þi bold speche.
- a1475 In the name (Rwl B.408)32 : I make þis [Cross] to defende me Fro myne enemyes and þer boost.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)213/285 : For his bost be not abast.
- a1500 St.Kath.(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)171 : Maxent tho wyth grete boste Made hur to be bownde to a poste.
6.
blouen ~, to make loud boasts or threats.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)1203 : Wiþ scheld & spere bataile to bede, Gret bost he gan to blawe.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)91 : Þar-to ys stede þan tyeþ he & gan to blowe bost.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)113 : How foule þat þe freke him furde, blowyng such a bost.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1154 : Prove þat thou saiest in dede, For boost thou blowest.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)269 : What bost he gan blowe.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)64/16 : He shall be thrawne That harkyns not my sawe..Therfor no boste ye blaw.
7.
~ of soudioures, a band of soldiers.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)604 : A boste of Sawdiers.
8.
As personal name.
Associated quotations
- (1246) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 1040 : Ad le Bost.
- (1301) Valuat.Dartford in Archaeol.Cant.9289 : Nicholas Bost.
- (1327) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10197 : Walt Boost.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475(c1450) ?Scrope Mirror World (Bod 283)3252 : To his power he lesseth the goodnes of oothir, and trewly with his boost [F: par boidie] he reyseth and encresceth the evilles of oothir.
Note: The phrase 'with his boost' here has the meaning "with deceptive or fraudulent speech" apparently translating French par boidie. Assuming this is an example of MED bost (n.), this sense of 'deceptive speech' does not appear in MED. New sense.