Middle English Dictionary Entry
calketrappe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | calketrappe n. Also calk(e-trop(pe, -treppe; cal-trappe, -troppe, -croppe; castroppe. |
| Etymology | OE calcatrippe (var. coltetræppe) & AF calketrappe (cp. OF chauchetrape, -trepe); from ML calcatrippa (see Gamillscheg). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Mil. A device with sharp iron spikes set on the ground to cripple the feet of an advancing enemy; similar device used against trespassers, etc.; fig. a spiritual trap or pitfall.
Associated quotations
- ?a1300 Gloss.Neckam (Tit D.20)111 : Habeat pedicam [glossed: calketrap] sive descipulam, qua lupi capiantur.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)131/4 : Þise wordle..ne is bote..a forest uol of þyeues an of calketreppen and of grines.
- (1375) Close R.Edw.III210 : [Roger Leget has privily put and hidden engines of iron called] caltrappes [upon a dike by him newly raised].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6060 : Hij hadden..calktrappes [LinI: calke trappen] made ynowe, Jn wayes and vnder wood-bowe, Alisaunder men to afelle.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.296 : With crokes and with kalketrappes, a-cloye we hem echone!
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Arun 507)154/36 : With caltrappis & gildirs þe wai is ful sette.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)59 : Caltrap [Win: Caltrope] of yryn, fote hurtynge: Hamus.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)89a : Þey ordeined calketrappes [vrr. caltrappes, caltroppes] of yren, þe whiche þey þrewe and caste vndir þe whele of þe charus..A calketrappe [vrr. kaltrappe, castroppe] is an ordenaunce y-made of Iren and steel to hurte boþe manis feet & horsfeet ȝif þey trede þereonne; þis haþ foure tyndes or prickes yscharpid kene.
- c1475(c1420) Page SRouen (Eg 1995)p.5 : As thycke of caltrappys hit fulle was sette As meyschys be yn a nette.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)21a : A Calletrapp: hamus, pidica [Monson: pedica], medio correpto.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)773 : That no maner trayne nor caltrop theryn wore To noy nor hurt hym nor hys meyne.
2.
A plant with sharp thorns or spines, a plant with prickly seeds, a caltrop; -- prob. applied to several unrelated species.
Associated quotations
- a1300 Hrl.978 Vocab.(Hrl 978)557/14 : Tribulus marinus: calketrappe, seaþistel.
- a1400 Mirfeld Sinonoma (Pmb-O 2)37 : Saliunca: wilde popi vel spica celtica secundum quosdam [marg.] calketrappe.
- a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)159 : Saliunca: kalketreppe.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)35b : Kalketrap ys cold in the first degre and moiste in þe secounde degre.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)58 : Caltrap [Win: Caltrope], herbe: Saliunca.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)76/36 : For kankir..Tak sawge..kalcroppe [read: kaltroppe], bugill.
- a1500 Agnus Castus (LdMisc 553)p.201 : Reta bouis is an herbe þat me clepuþ cammok, whynne, or calketrap.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)197b/b : Saliunca, kawetrape: Breres in valew þat makiþ folk fallen.
Note: New form: Also..kawetrape.
Note: Quot. belongs to sense 2.
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.--notes per MLLK