Middle English Dictionary Entry
braunch n.
Entry Info
| Forms | braunch n. Also branch, bronch, brounch, bra(u)nce. |
| Etymology | OF braunche, branche, brance. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A branch or twig of a tree, vine, or other plant; a frond of a palm; also fig.; ~ of pes, the olive branch brought by the dove to Noah; ~ gaderer, one who prunes or gathers branches.
Associated quotations
- c1300 SLeg.MPChr.(LdMisc 108)593 : Ase þe braunche þat ne berez no fruyt, bote heo beo In þe vine.
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)111 : Tak bronches of the lorer tre.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1067 : And eek the gardyn ful of braunches grene.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4466 : A bogh þat was wit branches thre.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15024 : Bifor þair king þe childer kest Branches þai brak o bogh.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)487 : Þe dowve..broȝt in hir beke a bronch of olyve.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)16b : Comyn ys an erbe..and he haþe many branches comyn oute of a stok.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)29 : Euen as the sprai cometh out of the braunche, the braunche out of the bouȝ.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)23 : Vyolette..nyme þe braunchys with þe flowres.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)202/6 : Take grene brawnchys off brome.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2785 : The tre..Berith bowe & braunce, traylyng to þe ground.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)359/108 : A braunce of a palme owth of paradis.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)17b : A Branch gederere: frondator.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)20/21 : He taketh a branche of a vyne.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)98/4 : This is callid the day of brawnches of palmes.
- a1500(1445) ?Lydg.Marg.Entry (Hrl 3869)24 : The Doue that brought the braunche of pees.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)2446 : A branche of olyfe in hys hande he bere. That was a feyre tokenynge Of pees and of looueyng.
- a1500 Ouer all gatis (StJ-C S.54)p.95 : So fayer a brownch than know I non As Ivy ys.
2.
(a) A branch-like extension or part; a prong; a ramification (of a vein); ~ vein; (b) an arm (of the sea); (c) a tine (of an antler); (d) a hanging (of a scabbard).
Associated quotations
a
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3182 : Out of þe dragons mouþe tueye leomes þer stode þere..Þe oþer [leom] adde seue branches.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)26a/a : Tweye sinewis..sprediþ in bowwes & braunchis to þe vttemest sides & parties of þe tonge.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1482 : Þe candelstik..watz cayred þider..basez of brasse..þe boȝes bryȝt þer abof..Braunches bredande þeron.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)139a/a : Toþdrawer..leuatoriez symple & with 2 braunchez.
- c1400 Veynes þer be (Wel 406)p.190 : Fro basylica..a branche veyn spryngeth up ful bolde; To the thowme goth that on branche.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)278 : In the same tyme was layd in the Kyngis bed a hirun with thre braunchis, mad so scharp that [etc.].
b
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)12/7 : ii famous braunches of þe see, fer rennynge in to þe lande.
c
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)422 : He be-com an herte..and hadde v braunches in the top.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)436 : The hert brancus with xv braunches.
d
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)28.323 : A thowsend braunches [F renges] on this schawberk were.
3.
(a) A branch-like ornament, pattern, or marking; the representation of a branch; (b) a branched candlestick, candelabrum; (c) a branching piece (of coral).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1464 : Covered cowpes..þe coperounes of þe c[ov]acles..Wer..al bolled abof wyth braunches and leves.
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1213 : A chesebyll, the grond of rede Sylk with byrdes and branches of gold.
- a1450 Dc.291 Lapid.(Dc 291)25 : Accate..som..haue braunches figured as trees, leuys, & as hedes.
- (1455) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15149 : A nother coope of dyuers workes of yelowe and braunche.
- (1466) in Cox Churches Derb.86 : A blak cope of wulsted with braunches of golde opon hytt.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)1.41 : Crouned with a croune..The braunchis aboue boren grett charge.
b
- (1466) Rec.St.Stephen in Archaeol.5035 : j branche of iron be for Synt George in the chapell..j branche fast in the walle be for Synt John in the churche.
- (1478-80) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.3238 : For makyng and makyng clene of the braunche afore Seint Andrewe, ij s. ij d.
c
- (a1430) Invent.Randolf in Archaeol.61170 : j braunche of corall garnysside with silver and gilde.
4.
(a) A line of genealogical descent or ancestry; a race; (b) a descendant, offspring; (c) a seedling (of a tree).
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.1128 : Lo, in swich maner rym is Dantes tale: 'Ful selde vp riseth by his braunches smale Prowesse of man'.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5657 : Þat brance [Göt: branch; Frf: braunche] o kin cald juus was þat come o iacob sun, iudas.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)1a/b : Aborigenes: al maner of braunches.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)55.509,520 : For the Brawnches and for the Bownte Of þe goodmen that he Cam of..Now hath this Storye Ended Certayn Of declaracioun Of the Brawnch of Aleyn, For it hath Schewed..Al Aleyns kynrede.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)4484 : Of Ebrews born both ware þe men..Phylysteyns ware þo fayre wemen..ffor crist suld com..of both þe braunches.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)58/17,19 : A blyssyd braunch xal sprynge of me..Out of þat braunch in nazareth A flowre xal blome of me jesse rote.
b
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.40 : Eilred..wedded..Emme þe blaunche,Þre bouwes of þam spronge, þe ton [Edward the Confessor] es holy braunche.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.254 : If it be so no branche in wedlaike of þam be nomen.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)4.3058 : Seeld or neuer no braunche that is good Spryngeth of custum out of cruel blood.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)486/173 : I þanke þe [Mary] as bewteuous braunche for to bere.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)636 : Thus sal the branche that of the spronge Fondon for to do the wronge.
c
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)584 : Also mote bytide the As dyde the fyne appul-tre, For a branche that sprange biside The grettir les alle hir pride.
5.
Theol. One of the species or subspecies into which a generic moral concept is divided; one of the kinds of sin; a specific sin.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)9 : Þet is on of þe zeuen dyadliches zennes, þaȝ þer by zome bronches þet ne byeþ naȝt dyadlich zenne.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.114 : Of the roote of contricioun spryngeth a stalke that bereth braunches and leues of confessioun and fruyt of satisfaccioun.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.388,389 : Thanne is Pryde the general roote of alle harmes. For of this roote spryngen certeyn braunches as Ire, Enuye, Accidie or Slewthe..euerich of thise chief synnes hath hise braunches and hise twigges.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.304 : Of this branche I am gultif, to telle trouthe.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26363 : O gastly sin, als lust and pride, And þair bransches þat springes wide.
- a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)11/7 : Aȝein þe seuen dedlich synnes þat þou witie me wiþ þem and wiþ all her braunches.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.73 : Þe seuene synnes, And..þe braunches þat burgeouneth of hem and bryngeth men to helle.
- (c1434) Drury Wks.(CmbAdd 2830)76/28 : J xuld telle þe how many brawnchis euery dedly synne hath, but þu xuldist not conceyve it.
- (1439) RParl.5.30a : Late in a Parlement was at Westm', there was take on branche of disceit away that hurte many man sore.
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)24/13 : The thrid braunche of pride es ypocrisye.
- a1500(a1400) Wycl.FHC (NC 95)351 : [Þ]e þridde vertu of god is loue & charite, and it haþ two braunchis, as loue of god & loue of man.
6.
A small share.
Associated quotations
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)276 : Myȝt evel forgo the to gyfe of his grace summe brawnche.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)7385 : But I of love sum bravnche haue, Hit will me bryng in to my grave.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.16.8 : For þe suburbis of esebon ben desert & þe vyneȝerde of sabama; þe lordis of jentilis hewen doun his scourgis; vn to Jaser þei fulcamen: þei erreden in desert his railing braunchis [L propagines] ben forsaken, þei passeden þe se.
Note: New combination: railinge ~, fig. a group of the people of a nation, descendants.
Note: (A 'railinge' is literally a branch of a vine or a shoot.)
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 1.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)28.345 : The lettres that On sckawberke were..Seiden..'what man that Abowtes him bereth Me, he ne schal neuere ben schamed In non degre as longe as with these brawches [read: brawnches] he is gert and that On his body I hange Ouerthwert.'
Note: New form: Pl. (error) brawches.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2.(d).
Note: In this quot. and in the quot. from the same text which is already in sense 2.(d), it appears that "braunches" and error "brawches" is a mistranslation (perhaps because it sounds similar) of the OF "renge". See MED raunǧe n.(2): Pl. Hangings for the scabbard of a sword.
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 braunche, bra(u)nce, branch(e, bro(u)nch; pl. braunches, & braunchez, bransches, (error) brawches.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. branch.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense 2.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. branch vein.