Middle English Dictionary Entry
brinke n.
Entry Info
| Forms | brinke n. Also bringe, brenke. |
| Etymology | Prob. ON *brink- (cp. OI brekka hill, slope) as well as MLG brink shore, bank, etc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The shore (of the sea); seashore, coast; se ~; ?also, the top (of a mound) [quot.: 1607], ?a precipice [quot. a1425 Wycl.]; (b) the bank (of a stream); (c) the edge (of a spring); (d) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.51].
Associated quotations
a
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)141 : Schup..Bi þe se brinke No water þe nadrinke [Hrl: þe adrynke].
- a1350 Ich herdemen (Hrl 2253)70 : Ruls ys oure ruȝe & roted in þe stre, for wickede wederes by brok & by brynke.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7900 : Þe water was Swiþe depe, Þe brink heiȝe, þe strem stepe.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)2946 : To brink..þou wilt me lede.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.205 : Þis Scandinauia is i-cleped an ilond..for in þe pleyn of þe brinkes [L marginum] he is alwey i-wasche wiþ wawes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.271 : Þe fourþe bataille was uppon þe see brynke [L ripam maris].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.858 : Stood hir castel faste by the see..she..caste hir eyen dounward fro the brynke.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Heb.11.12 : Beþ many y-boren..as þe grafel in þe brynke of þe see þat may noȝt ben y-nombred.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)38a/b : Litus: a brinke of se.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.39 : Sum men feden to myche þer fleishe and sum men punishen it to myche..man þat wole wende sureli wandriþ fer fro þe brynke.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4377 : Þe playn purperyn see..sesis at þe brinkis.
- ?c1450 Trivet Constance (Harv Eng.938)229 : The marineres..were nere the brynke of the londe in her shyppes.
- (c1460) Let.Sou.in Sou.RS 22 (Sou SC.2/9/2)22 : [The Castell]..stondith vpon the see brynke.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.307 : liij other yles..in the brynkes [Trev.: clyue; L littore] of the lesse Asia.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)75/288 : Is that your will, your owne childe here for to spill vpon this hilles brynke?
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.53 : Seuarne is ofte vppe and passeþ þe brynkes [vr. brymmes].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.161 : In his either abbay in þe brynke [L in ripa] of þe ryver Wyre.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)153b/b : Þat ryuer is profitable while he passeth noȝt þe boundes of brynkes, brerd, and brymmes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)322b/a : Foules þat beþ y fedde nygh þe brynkes and brymmes of watres.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)1766 : Þe rain it fell sua fers and fast, Þe burnes ouer þe brink [Frf: brenkis; Trin-C, Göt: bankes] brast.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.41.3 : Thei [the oxen] were fedde in the brenke [L ripa] of the flood, in moost plenteuows grene places.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Josh.3.15 : Jordan forsothe fulfillide the brenkis [WB(2): brynkis] of his trowȝ in tyme of heruest.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)52 : Brynke of watyr, supra in banke.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)390 : Þe child..with him he toke, For to play him be brenke and broke.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.183/26 : j acre..the which hitselfe strecchith in-to þe Brynge [L in ripam].
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)531/9 : Toward the brynke of Thamyse.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2310 : He syh wher sprong a lusty welle..and be the brinke..leide him lowe forto staunche His thurst.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.5653 : Atte laste he fond a cristal welle..Vpon the brynkis he fill doun.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)56.381 : Thanne tornede he Anon to A fowntaygne..down he Enclynede to the Brynkke.
- a1425 Ihesus woundes (Arun 286)7 : Bowe þu doun to þe brinke & mekely taste of þe welle.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)1417 : About the brinkes of these welles..Sprang up the grasse.
2.
(a) The rim or edge (of a pit or ditch); (b) pittes brink, the edge of the grave; ben on pittes brinke, be on the verge of death.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)170b/b : Þe more þe londe is arered a boue þe brynke, þe depper þe dyche is with ynne.
- a1425(a1400) Titus & V.(Pep 2014)2459 : I schalle Do make a dyche aboute þe walle..ypalyssed by þe bry[n]cke Hye and stronge.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.79 : A diche..with the brinke.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)699 : Boȝes him vp to a brenke..To þe hiȝt of þe depe dike.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1401 : I am hoor and old And almoost..on my pittes brynke.
- ?c1400 Earth(3) (StJ-C E.24)st.5 : Whan erþe upon erþe is browȝt with-in þe brinke, Þan schal erþe haue of erþe riȝt a foule stink.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1584 : Late men þat arn on þe pyttis brynke ffor-beryn boþe mete & drynke, & do penaunce.
- a1450 SLeg.Barlaam (Bod 779)601 : For monnes wif & childrin & erþelich þing it beþ; To þe pittes brinke wit þe dede þey wille go.
3.
The rim or upper edge (of a vessel); also, side [quot.Pallad.]; to, bi the ~, to the brim; hertes ~, the brim of an overflowing heart.
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)2 Par.4.2 : Tenn cubitis fro brynke [L labium] vnto brynk.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.6880 : Or she died she caste for to write A litil lettre to hir brother deere..The salt teris from hir eyen cleere, With pitous sobbyng, fet from hir hertis brynke, Distillyng doun to tempre with hir ynke.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)32 : Berde or brynke of a wesselle: Margo.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)5.199 : A brasen vessel streyte with brinkes hie.
- c1450 Capgr.Rome (Bod 423)50 : On þe brinke of þis uessel he sette a lombe al of gold whech..pored watir down in to þe uessell.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)214/677 : An oþer pot..sal be do in the erth vp to þe brynkes.
- (1459) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 9418 : Unum maser cum gylt brynkes.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12817 : My name..ys Glotonye. My sak I ffelle vp to the brynke.
- a1500 The best tre (BodPoet e.1)p.56 : Fyll the cope by the brynk.
4.
(a) The margin or outer edge (of an area); end (of a bone); border, boundary, limit; (b) the end (of life); upon the ~, on the verge (of death, etc.); ben at the ~, be imminent.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)13/7 : Aboute þe wounde leie a medicyn defensif..so þat þe medicyn touche þe brynkis of þe wounde.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)127/8,10 : Euene þe brynkis [of a fractured bone] with schauynge, þat þou mowe not leue no maner scharpnes in þe brynkis.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)384 : Er uch boþom watz brurdful..And uche a dale so depe þat demmed at þe brynkez.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ex.37.11 : He..made to it [the boord] a goldun brynke [WB(1): brerde; L labium] bi cumpas.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)326 : Margyne or brynke: Margo.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.813 : Mark out thi tablis vchon..mak euery brinke Too foote in heigth.
- (c1443) Pecock Rule (Mrg M 519)51 : If y schulde ymagine þis secunde wey to sprede hym in brede so largeli..þat þer is no brynkis of it.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)80/204 : The cloute that keuere the brynkes of the mormall.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.39/27 : Restreyne ye þe same fro the brynkes [or] bondis [L a limitibus] of þe church.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)373/8 : In a tilthe that is ayenst the brynke of merston.
b
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.122 : Hunger was at þe brynk.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7406 : Deth..I may nat nowe eschewe..Vp-on þe brinke falle, of Fatis hondis.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.1474 : Þe Grekys..Vp-on þe brinke of her perdicioun.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)40/318 : Ther is now no consolacioun..For ȝe of dethe stonde vp on the brinke.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)5.775 : I am ful ny my lyues brynke.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1390 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Vrn)135 : I presse wyn for kniht and knape, Vp-on a Blodi brinke, I presse a grape with strok and stryf.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 3, the first gloss of which should therefore be modified to: "The rim of upper edge (of a vessel); also fig.;".
Note: In the same sense, modify second gloss: "also, the side of a vessel [quot. Pallad.];" and the collocation hertes ~ is "in fig. context."
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)34a/a : The neþemoste boon of þe thorace haþ in his middil a gristle y rotid and hanginge doun vpon þe brinke of þe stomac.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 4.(a).
Note: Gloss: ~ of the stomak, ?the diaphragm.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED. Provisional revised form section: Also brink(ke, brincke, brenk(e, (error) brycke; pl. brinkes, etc. & brinkez. --notes per MLL