Middle English Dictionary Entry
burre n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | burre n.(1) Also borre, (error) brure. |
| Etymology | Scand.; cp. Dan. burre, Norw., Swed. borre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The common burdock (Arctium lappa); ?also, some similar plant; (b) ?some member of the genus Rumex; ?R. crispus, ?R. obtusifolius; (c) cleavers (Galium aparine); (d) Christ's thorn (Paliurus aculeatus).
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Mirfeld Sinonoma (Pmb-O 2)12 : Bardana, anglice clote, gert burr.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)22/21 : Tak þe rute of waybrede & þe rute of burre & vynagre & salt.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)109 : Eanynot i. burres.
- ?c1450 Iff a man (Stockh 10.90)922 : Scharp brure [Add: burre] who so take, þer-wyth he may maystres make.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)122/10 : Take..moushere, burre-leuys, wylde tansye.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)20a : A Burre: Bardona.
b
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)33b/b : Thederik draweþ oute þe Iuse of Walwort & of eldre & of burres [L lapacio].
c
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)28a/a : Filantrephos: a burre.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)49b/a : Philantropos: a burre.
d
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)48 : A Burre:..paliurus.
2.
(a) A seed-pod of such a plant, bur; (b) ~ in (one's) throte, hoarseness.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8280 : To gider þai cleued in þat werre, So wiþ oþer doþ þe burre.
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)20/19 : Barba elexis, bardana, lappa inuersa, lappa maior, angl. clote, cuius fructus uocatur anglice Burre.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)56 : Burre: Lappa, glis.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)20a : A Burre:..glis, lappa.
b
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)20.306 : Þorw smoke..smerteþ hus syghte, Tyl he be bler-eyed..and þe borre [vr. burre; B: hors] in hus þrote.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. bur.