Middle English Dictionary Entry
bou-sprẹ̄t(e, bǒu(e)sprẹ̄t(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | bou-sprẹ̄t(e, bǒu(e)sprẹ̄t(e n. Also bew-, bough-, boe-, bos-, -sprette, -sprit(t(e. |
| Etymology | Cp. MLG bōchsprēt, Du. boegspriet, Dan. bovspryd, Norw. baugspryd. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Naut. Bowsprit.
Associated quotations
- (1296) Newcastle Galley in Archaeol.Ael.4.2186 : Capiuntur..ad opus Galee..vnus Malus, j Lof, j Bousprete, vna virga.
- (1296) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.482 : [An old ship..to which belong a mast, a sail, a yard, a luff, a] boughspret [and a boat.]
- 1336-7 *Acc.Exch.K.R.19/31.m.4 [OD col.] : In vno lof et vno bowesprete.
- (1350) *Acc.Exch.(PRO) 25/32 [OD col.] : En deux bosspretes.
- 1407 *Acc.Exch.K.R.44/11(1).m.5b [OD col.] : j Sailleȝerd, j Bowesprite.
- (1420) *For.Acc.(PRO) 3 Hen.VI K/2 [OD col.] : In..j malo quodam bowsprete inde habendo.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)12061 : Þe sail on ȝerde þey feste ful fast..Bowlyne on bouspret to sette & hale.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)2055 : A grete tempest..brake theyr maste..Anker, bowesprette, and rother.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)51/93 : With topcastle and bewsprytt [vr. boe-spritte], with coardes and ropes I haue all meete.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1294-6) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 224 : In j. Boghespret vj. d.
- (1405-10) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 225 : J. Mal' cum le Topcastell, J. Bowesprite, J. velum, ij. Ankres.
- (1420-21) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 225 : De j. malo, j. Bawesprit, j. sailȝerd.
Note: Quots. needed for form: Also..bowesprite, bawesprit, (early) boghespret.
- (c1330) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 225 : Þe sail on ȝerde þey feste ful fast..Roþeres, helmes, right for to stand, Bowlyne on bouspret to sette & hale.
Note: Quot. needed for date.
- (1378) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.56
: [Philip de Courtenay took a] mast [and] topcastel [of the ship and Peter de Courtenay a] boxsprete.
Note: New form: Also..boxsprete.Note: Quot. needed for date.Note: The forms containing bough- and boghe- are an indication that box- is an acceptable spelling of this element, but this could be a bowsprit made from box wood (resulting in a confusion/conflation of the two terms). Note that sprẹ̄te n. (sense (c)) also means 'bowsprit'.
- (1495) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 227 : ij. hausers weyng DCCC weight employed for makyng an hallyer for the fore sayle And A tye for the bow Spret sayle.
Note: New combination: ~ seile, the sail positioned under the bowsprit.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section (including Supplement forms): Also bowespret(t)e, bowsprite, bawesprit, bewsprit, boxsprete, boespritte, (early) boughspret, boghespret.--notes per MLL