Middle English Dictionary Entry
bōt n.(1)
Entry Info
Forms | bōt n.(1) Also boyt, boet, N bat(e. Pl. bọ̄tes, (dat.) baten. |
Etymology | OE bāt, pl. bātas. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A boat; (b) a small vessel carried by (or accompanying) a ship, a ship's boat; (c) a ship; (d) fig. the body of man, man's life or personality (tossed on the sea of the world, etc.); Christ's body, the incarnation; soule ~, the ship of souls, the Church; etc.; Wades ~, the boat of the hero Wade, ?trickery.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)28624 : Þat wes an sceort bat [Otho: bot] liðen, sceouen mid vðen.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)354 : His maister þan þai fand A bot.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4756 : Otus steward..hadde y-passed þe riuere In a bot þat he fond þere.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4632 : Bliue boute bot þe brode water i passed.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 6.24 : Thei stiȝeden in to bootis [L naviculas].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.81 : Of a gobet bytwene tweie knottes of a rede..me makeþ a boot [L alveo navigabili; Higd.(2): bootte], þat ouer depe watres bereþ þre men.
- (c1390) Chart.Abbey HG (LdMisc 210)355 : & þei lette here boote be stille in þe see & wente forþ wiþ Crist.
- (c1391) Gower CA Suppl.(Bod 294)40* : In Temse..As I be bote cam rowende..My liege lord..I mette.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)115b/a : Þanne þe mone is vpriȝt as a boote [L nauicula] & hath hornes vpward.
- (1423) Pet.Sutton in Fenland NQ 7308 : At this tyme men may rowe in a bote in ccc acres of londe.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)9/82 : With grete noumber of smale botes, All þai houed on þe flode.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)195 : The same goodys ben caryed to the shipp by botys [OF a la nefe par bateux].
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)69/26 : Sum wolde, sche had ben in þe se in a bottumles boyt.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)69/29 : Þay saw a littill bate in þe riuere.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)47b : When þey come to ryueres..þan wiþ þilke ropes and chaynes þey frette þilke bootys to gidre, and nayled ouerþwart hem brode bordes and longe, and þereon þey caryed ouer þe wateres þe oost.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)105 : Nauis in her langage is a schip, and nauicella a litil schip whech we clepe a boot.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)193 : Roger Mortimer..met with a boot at his consent, and aftir in a schip seiled into Frauns.
- 1468 Medulla (StJ-C C.22)49 fn. : Carabus: A boot made of wekerys.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)278 : Ther come a wynd..And blewe þe boot fro þe londe.
b
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 27.30 : Thei hadden sente a litel boot [L scapham] in to the see.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.197 : Cesar..wente into a boot [L scapham].
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5226/19 : Pro emendacione vnius bot pro naui domini.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)242a/a : Þerof þey makeþ..seyles and botes for schippes.
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester9 : Every schyp that comth yn with any charge shal payen iiij d, and for his bot ij d.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.124 : He did þan tak a bote [OF schaphe] & did þam alle þerin..& whan þei were o tuyn, þer schip ferd on þe flode.
- c1425 Bible SNT(1) (Cmb Dd.12.39)Deeds 27.30 : Þo schipmen wolden hafe fledde oute of þo schippe, ande hade put oute þo bote of þe schippe into þe see.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)748 : The pryce schippez..fondez wyth full saile..withowttyn harme þay hale in bottes.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)392 : By water he ordeynede the shippes goon, The bootis bownden to the maste.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)187/1065i : Att eueri tyde the shyppis all Yoven asaught on to þe wall, Drowen vp her botis to the myd mast, And shett men with dartis and arblast.
- (a1500) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.192 : Of every schip comyng in to the havene, iiii d, And if it have a bot folwyng, ii d.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)23855 : Arður nom ænne bat [Otho: bot] godne..and he þat scip stronge scaf from þan londe.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)69/760 : Arisen stormes..þet te bordes of þis bat [Roy: schipes bord] bursten.
- c1225 St.Juliana (Roy 17.A.27)68/582 : Sophie..nom þis meidenes bodi & ber hit in a bat [Bod: schip].
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)202 : Vs he dude lede In to a galeie..Horn ihc am ihote, Icomen vt of þe bote.
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)23859 : Arthur..þane bot [Clg: scip] stronge scaf fram þan londe.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)738 : Bateles: bot.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))John 6.17 : Whanne thei hadden stiȝed vp in to the boot [L navim], thei camen ouer the see in to Capharnaum.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)10.162 : God..bad him [Noe]..to schapen A schup..Bringen hem to þe Bot And byden þer-Inne.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)13287 : Bate [Vsp: schipp] þai left & folowed him.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)184 : He watz flowen for ferde..In-to þe boþem of þe bot.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1299 : The Troiens..folowet..To the banke of the brode see, þere botis were leuit.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)10a : A Bate: Cimba [Monson: simba], facelus, lembus, etc., ubi shipe.
d
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)43/32 : Swo maniȝe litle dropes of maniȝes kennes ȝemeleastes mihten cumen in to ðe saule bote, ðat hie mihten sinken mid alle hire biȝeates.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1424 : Thise olde widwes..konne so muchel craft on Wades boot..That with hem sholde I neuere lyue in reste.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.416 : Al sterelees withinne a boot [It. in frale barca] am I, Amydde the see, bitwixen wyndes two.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.3 : Owt of thise blake wawes for to saylle..the weder gynneth clere, For in this see the boot hath swych travaylle..that unneth I it steere.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.46 : In þis boot Crist wente over þe water of peynes of þis worlde.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)303 : Þou shalt not fall out of þe ship or þe boote of charite.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)303 : Thou behovest to passe the see of this world in a bote of holy lyf.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.17 : My feble bote full fast to stere and rowe, Helples allone, the wynter nyght I wake.
2.
In phrases: (a) bote(s) and barge(s), boat(s) and barge(s), small vessels; ~ or barge, small craft of any kind; (b) brigge ne ~, neither bridge nor vessel; buten brigge and ~, without any means of crossing; (c) ship and ~, ship and boat, any kind of vessel; bi (in) shipes and botes, by (in) ships and boats, by sea; in ship or in ~, in any kind of vessel; (d) taken ~, to go aboard a boat or ship; (e) to ~, aboard.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.241 : Botes [OF batels] he toke & barges, þe sides togidere knytte.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)338 : A strong schip was mad swythe..With his boot and his barge.
- ?a1430 ?Hoccl.Poems PS Compl.Virg.(Hnt HM 111)222 : And right as þat a ship or barge or boot Among the wawes dryueth steerelees.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)264 : Who hath no ship mote rowe yn bote or barge.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)171/316b : Theryn myght seyle boþe bote and barge, Grete sheppis þer-in myght rouwe.
b
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)55/586 : Þu leddest..bute brugge & bat þurh þe reade sea al his cunredden.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)265/346 : A gret watur was in his gate; þer was nouþur brugge ne bate.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14746 : Mid scipen & mid baten heo gunnen smiten & sceoten.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.189 : Men..fleigh to hym in schippes and bootes [L in ratibus].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.153 : Seþþe me comeþ to þat ylond by schippes and bootes [L navigio; Higd.(2): by schippe].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.994 : Ye remoeue alle the rokkes stoon by stoon, That they ne lette ship ne boot to goon.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)188a/a : Þerynne he ne suffreþ..foules noþer shippes noiþer bootes [L aues nec nauigia].
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)102/13 : Fra þis citee may men ride in schippe or in bate by þat riuer.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2215 : For thogh so be that ship or boot here come, Hom to my contre dar I nat for drede.
- (1432) RParl.4.405a : Charges to be hadde and payed..of every Shipp and Boote resortyng thider.
d
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.46 : Þe takyng of his boot bitokeneþ his manheed.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)958 : Jason..Busket to the bank and the bote tok.
e
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.3731 : The flees he tok and goth to Bote.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.156 : Philip..To boote mad him bone [OF vers la mer se launce].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3492 : To boot his men duden hem blyue.
3.
In cpds. and combs.: (a) ~ ful, a boatload; (b) ~ hire, charge for use of a boat and services of boatmen, boat hire; (c) ~ man, one who owns or manages a boat or ship; also, a sailor; (d) ~ maister, one who manages a boat or ship; (e) ~ rop, rope for the rigging of a ship; (f) ~ smith, ?shipbuilder; (g) ~ spiking, spikes or nails for a ship; (h) ~ swein, a minor officer on a ship, a boatswain; prob. also (in early quots.), a sailor; (i) ~ ward, boat guard; (j) ~ wright, a builder of boats or ships.
Associated quotations
a
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.122/27 : A botfull of rysshis.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)4398 : Thre botefull of ffysche.
b
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.175/1090 : Item, for bothyr..from Westmester to london, viij d.
- (1425) Grocer Lond.in Bk.Lond.E.204/293 : Also For Bothyr at dyrgee off our kyng.
- (1433) Merchant Taylors in Archaeol.674 : Item, spended on mete and drinke and bot-hire when men went to see Kennington kechyn roof, 18 d.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)45 : Boothyr [Win: Boethyyr]: Potomium [Win: petonium].
- (1447-9) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.519 : Paid Matthew Turgis, for bote-hire from Sandwich to Romene, bryngyng home of gere of men of this towne goyng in the ship 21 d.
- (1464) Acc.Howard in RC 57249 : The same day ffor botehyre to London, iij d.
- (1468) Acc.All Sts.Tilney35 : Pro cariagio le torches & bothyre, ij d.
- (1480-82) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.32148 : Paid for bote hire to lamehith for the chirche, ij d. ob.
c
- (1274) Close R.Edw.I72 : John Botman.
- (1288) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.522 : Ricardus Botman.
- (1310) Sub.R.Bdf.in Suf.GB 1851 : Matheus Boteman.
- (1315) Pat.R.Edw.II307 : Gervase le Boteman.
- (1355) R.Arms Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.14298 : Semannus Botman cum baculo & cutell'.
- (1374) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.562 : Willelmus Coyt, Botman.
- (1381) RParl.3.112a : Johannes Pecche, de Fulham, Boteman..Johannes Horsman, Boteman.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52104/20 : Et diuersis botemen nauis domini..vj s. viij d.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52160/5 : Johanni Repon botman de Linne, pro cariagio diuersorum harnesiorum.
- (1416-7) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100286 : Expense..in tribus garniamentis emptis pro forestario, carpentario, et bateman, 22 s.
- (1422) Plea & Mem.in Bk.Lond.E.122/30 : Than paid to the botman but xxvj d. for xxx birdyn.
- a1425 Gloss.Bibbesw.(AS 182)738 : [Li mariner]: boteman [vr. shipmon].
- (1444) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms86 : Iacob. Boteman.
- (1450) Pat.R.Hen.VI in Archaeol.Cant.7247 : Robertus Egell, de Wolwiche, boteman.
- (1475) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms86 : Nic. Botman.
- a1500(c1445) Lydg.Mir.Edmund (Ashm 46)62 : Casuelly a botman fforby went.
d
- (1248) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms86 : Rog. le Botmeyster.
e
- 1336 *Acc.Exch.K.R.19/31.m.4 [OD col.] : In xxx petris corde de canabo..emptis ibidem pro vno Botrop inde faciendo.
- (1356) *Pipe Roll (PRO) 32 Edw.III m.34/2 [OD col.] : xxv boteropes, xxxij lollers, xlvj shetes, lviij boyropes.
f
- (1327) in Fransson Surn.164 : Ric. Bot'smith'.
g
- (1296) Newcastle Galley in Archaeol.Ael.4.2184 : In ccc clavis de Batespyking emptis de Johanne de Soureby, vj d.
h
- (1304) *Acc.Exch.(PRO) 44/18 [OD col.] : Radiis unius pagii qui voc. botswayn.
- (1319) Pat.R.Edw.II321 : John Botsweyn.
- (1332) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms84 : Petr. le Botsweyn.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57191 : The botswayne of the Mary Talbot, a jaket.
- (1466) Acc.Howard in RC 57213 : My mastyr yaffe the boteswayn and his felawes to drynke, xx d.
- c1500 Men may leue (Trin-C R.3.19)21 : Bestowe the boote, Bote-swayne, anon.
i
- (1346) Inquest Lan.in LCRS 7090 : Robert Batward.
j
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)45 : Botwrythe [Win: Booth wryth]: Navicularius [Win: Navicrepita].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1356-57) Freeman R.in KRec.18 ()208 : Willelmus Botstalle.
Note: New cpd. for 3.