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; Rumex crispus, Rumex 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.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)131.20 (v.2:p.340) : Seynt Dominic .. the aduersariys of treuthe dayly mokkyd .., throwyng at hym dung and al maner fylthe .., and knyttyn at hys bak .. burrys and wyspys and swyche othir thyngis.
- ?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.