Middle English Dictionary Entry
brēd n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | brēd n.(2) Also bræd, brid. |
| Etymology | OE bred, pl. bredu; the Cursor may have short e. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A board or plank; also, a log [quot.: 1250]; (b) a small board; a wooden book-cover; (c) a tablet (whether of wood or stone) for an inscription; also fig.; (d) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.118].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)965 : Sholde ich, for one hole brede, Forlete mine riȝte stude?
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)184 : Jonas..watz flowen..In-to þe boþem of þe bot, & on a brede lyggede.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2071 : The brygge watz brayde doun..Þe burne blessed hym bilyue, & þe bredez passed.
b
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f. 71rb : Qwan thei potte or floure, we sette bowes to bere hem fro þe ground, or ellis if we lete hem renne on þe ground we take stones brode & pleyn or bredes or sich thing & sette þe pottes softe & clene þeron.
- c1390 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Vrn)196 : His Bodi was Book, þe Cros was brede, Whon Crist for vs þeron was cleynt.
- a1475 In place (Hrl 3954)4 : Quan a chyld to scole xal set be, A bok hym is browt, Naylyd on a brede of tre, Þat men callyt an abece.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)48 : Brede or lytylle borde: Mensula, tabella, asserulus.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)prol.86 : In his hand he held a book ful eelde, With bredys rotyn, leues dusty and rent.
c
- c1175(?OE) Bod.Hom.(Bod 343)98/12 : Þa ealde laȝe þe he mid his aȝene fingre wrat on twam stænene bræden.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Jer.17.1 : The synne of Jude writen is with an irene pointel..grauen out vp on the brede [WB(2): breede] of ther herte.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16578 : Apon þe hefd o þis rode, ouer-thwart was don a brede [rime: redd; Göt: brid].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Trin-C.R.14.45 Recipes (Trin-C R.14.45) 132/16 : Forto make white Spaynessshe sope..Whanne hit is wel medled put hit inne a forme made for þe nonys of .iiij. bredis and drye hit up.
Note: Postdates sense (a).
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
- a1479 *Vegetius(1)(Lnsd 285) 113a : brede [Dc: Frame not þi schip ne ioyne not þi tymber togidre til þou be siker þat þi tymber & þi bord be drye inow.]
Note: New sense.
Note: Gloss: coll. lumber, wood.
Note: The Douce quot. has been taken back to books, the stencil and Lnsd form have not.--notes per MLL