Middle English Dictionary Entry
brībe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | brībe n. |
| Etymology | OF bribe alms. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Something given to a beggar or mendicant, morsel; something extorted by threats; (b) a bribe.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425 Chaucer CT.Fri.(Petw 7)D.1378 : This somnour, euer wayting on his pray..wold haue a bribe [crit.ed.: wolde brybe].
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)147 : Thilke that hideth brybes in his sak And..that biseecheth bred for the loue of god.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.JHare (LdMisc 683)20 : Of euery dyssh a lypet out to take..Of euery brybe the caryage for to make.
b
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)3.3054 : Fauoure wrong for bribes & for meede.
- (1451) Paston2.243 : But he [the sheriff] lokyth aftyr a gret brybe.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.150 : Me thowt..that they wold have had a brybe of yow..for to have bedyn at home, for they have non othyr levyng but brybys.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)740 : Haue þey [jury] a brybe, haue þey no care Wo hath wronge or ryght.