Middle English Dictionary Entry
carp n.
Entry Info
| Forms | carp n. Also karp. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI karp bragging. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Talking, chatting, conversation, discourse; (b) a statement, a saying; a message (spoken or written); (c) a story, tale, poem, song; (d) mention, news; (e) meaning.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390(?c1350) SVrn.Leg.(Vrn)83/1300 : He was scharp To ouercome heretykes wise of carp.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1013 : Wawen & þe wale burde Such comfort..caȝten togeder..Wyth clene cortays carp closed fro fylþe.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)748 : For þi kene carpe, chache nowe a schame.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3500 : Sone as oure kyng of his kniȝtis þis carpe vndirestondis, He mas to stand all þe stoure.
b
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)23 : Kryst kydde hit hymself in a carp onez.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)118 : Þat ofte kyd hym þe carpe þat kyng sayde.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)415 : Watz not þis ilk my worde..Þat I kest in my cuntre, when þou þy carp sendez.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1023 : Þe sleȝt of hys sapience þai selcuthely prayse, And clene a-cordis to his carpe, kniȝtis & othire.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2346 : Þai..red ouer þe pistill, Syne kest vp a crie..Sum in comending of his carpe, & on clene it spitid.
c
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)883 : As harporez harpen in her harpe, Þat nwe songe þay songen ful cler; In sounande notez a gentyl carpe, Ful fayre þe modez þay fonge in fere.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1455 : Ȝe þat kepis of þis carpe to knaw any ferre, Sone sall I neuen ȝow þe note þat is next eftir.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3469 : Now sall I kithe vs a carpe of a kyng riche, Of þe auntours of ser Alexander.
d
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)704 : And ay he frayned, as he ferde, at frekez þat he met, If þay hade herde any karp of a knyȝt grene.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)1069 : Þe fend with me may not dwelle Whan I here of þat name carpe.
e
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1794 : Quen his kniȝtis of þis clause þe carpe vndirstode, Þen ware þai frekly a-frayd.