Middle English Dictionary Entry
castōrie, -ium n.
Entry Info
| Forms | castōrie, -ium n. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Med. (a) = castor 2. (a); (b) erroneously: the testicle of a beaver.
Associated quotations
a
- [ ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)17/16 : Nim castorium oððer elleborum. ]
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)102a/b : Castoreum & brymston helpiþ, for eiþir is hote & drye.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)279b/b : Þat Castorium is best þat is double and hongeþ by oon senewe.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.69r-v : Aspalon .. is most lik whit þorn & it is of fyrene colour or ellys rody red; in tyme of ver it smellyth lik castorye [Add: castore; L (Bartholomaeus 17.25): redolet ut castoreum].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)41b/a : He commaundeþ for to adde with þise attractiuez, as..castoreum.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)102/3 : Giffe hym..castoreum, for it is triacle of iusquiamus & opii & sich oþer.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)66/14 : Pixliquidum, euphorbe, castorium, of all thies..tak of ilkane ane vnce.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)122 : Ther schalbe yoven hyme a comfortatyff for the brayne, as ben Castorye.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)228/7,13 : Take poudyr of castory and do yt vndyr þe tonge..Sethe castory in wyne, and wasche hem þer-with.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)234/738 : Put the powdre of castorye vnder the tunge and lat it be there till it be molten and wastid.
b
- [ (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)279b/a : Þe castor byteþ of his gendrynge stones þat we clepe castorea. ]
- [ a1400 Alphita (SeldArch B.35)35/8 : Castoreum, testiculus cuiusdam animalis quod castor appellatur. ]
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)177b/a : Castorium is þe testicle of a beste..it conforteþ membrez neruous.