Middle English Dictionary Entry
chaine n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chaine n. Also chein(e, chei(n)gne, shein, chen(e, s(c)hene, shen, chin(e , (in cpd.) chane- , & keigne; pl. chaines, etc. & sheines, chinez , & chainen, cheinen.. |
| Etymology | OF chäeine, chäine (from L catēna). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A chain of metal links used (a) to raise and lower a drawbridge or portcullis; (b) to suspend (sth. or sb.); (c) to bar a passage; (d) to attach, connect, or fasten things together; ~ bond; (e) as part of a rigging or harness.
Associated quotations
a
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4513 : Sone to þe cheyne sterte he þo, & vp adrow þe brigge.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.183 : A drauht brigge, With grete duble cheynes drauhen ouer þe gate.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)97a : A strong portekoleys hangynge with yren rynges & strong ropes or chaynes of yren.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)615 : Ledes..Brayden vp brigges with brouden chaynes.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Patr.(LdMisc 108)262 : Some with chaines of Ire..hengen on heiȝ, Some bi Armes, some bi fet.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.221 : An ymage of yren..noþere i-holde with chayne [L catena] aboue.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.491 : Þe cheyne [Higd.(2): chene] brak, and þe box fil.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.5222/23 : Pro xj cheynis..ad pendendum caudrons.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)266a/b : Þe asse..falleþ þurgh þe cheynes of þe brugge into þe water þat he seeþ renne þer vnder.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)329 : A bacyne..With a cheyne..Þat wil reche into þe well.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)106/16 : He gart..feste þare-to lang cheynes of yren..and þan late it doun into þe See.
- (1447) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 11117 : A lawr of latton wt a chene of yrne hongyng by the churche dore.
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)476/8 : Two of these theves were..hanged with cheynes and colers of Iron.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Rich.(Auch)117/22 : A wel gret cheyn þai had don drawe Ouer þe hauen of acres fers; & was y fastned in to pilers, Þat no schip schuld in winne.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)4420 : Out of þe lane a [Beues] wolde ten, Þe chynes held him faste aȝen.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1690 : Þe brigge ys of fair entaylle, on brede fourty fete..x cheynes þar buþ ouerthwart adrawe, in stedes dyuers y-set.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.174 : Þe dikes wer all drawen with iren chynes þrin.
- (1423-4) Let.Bk.in Bk.Lond.E.(Gldh LetBk I & K)106/33 : At a Taillours house ouer for a-yens Petres Tauerne be Poules cheyne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.618 : Other wey is fro the yate noon Of Dardanus, there opyn is the cheyne.
- (1449) Will Uvedale in SAC 3155 : Volo quod executores mei..vendant totum tenementum sive tabernam vocatam le Sarazynes Hede cum suis pertinentibus prope Powles Cheyne in London situatam.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)388/18 : Þe King dede make..a myȝty Cheyne of Iren..& þat went ouyr þe Ryver of Sayne, þat no vessell myȝt passe þat way.
- c1450 Siege Thebes (Rwl D.82)269 : Repairing strongely his Cite..fortefying his bruges and barreris with many a mighty cheyne.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)19278 : I haue..many laas and cheynes, With whiche I compasse..To lette pylgrymes on ther way.
d
- a1425 This blessyd boke (LdMisc 286)28 : This same sauter..lyȝt in cheyn bondes in the same nonery.
- (1435-6) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 7837 : For i loke & i chayne for to loke the laderes.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)39/27 : Alexander garte brynge many grete treez, for to make a brygge..and garte tye þam Samen wit chenys of Iren & iren naylez.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)487/20 : & bynde it aboute with iij strang chynys.
- ?c1450 This present (Nott Me.LM1)2 : This present book..Here in this place thus tacched with a cheyn.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)1.425 : Hugo..bonde that ston to an other with grete cheynes of yrne.
e
- (1373) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.369 : [Rigging and tackle of a barge]: [one] cheyne [of 16 fathom].
- (a1400) Doc.in Flasdieck Origurk.103 : ij car chenys i þe prys of a peny.
- a1500(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Dub 213)27/746* : A grett horse..His choll chaltird & chauelez in chynez of yren.
2.
(a) A chain for fettering a prisoner or victim; chargen (choppen) in ~, put (sb.) in chains, fetter; (b) a chain to tie up or tether an animal.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)368/42 : With strongue chaines al fuyrie he is i-bounde.
- c1350 Ayenb.App.(Arun 57)264 : A þouzend dyeulen ssolle..brenge mid ham..bernynde hokes and chaynen auere.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1343 : Palamoun..is dampned to prisoun, In cheynes and in fettres to been deed.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.151 : Thei bounden him with chenes faste, And forth thei ladde him..Unto the king.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22054 : An angel..i sagh lendand Wit a mikel cheigne [Göt: cheingne; Trin-C: cheyne; Phys-E: keigne] in hand.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)21.448 : [Christ] bond hym [Satan] with cheynes.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)104/120 : Saint Peter..was..bundun fast Wit iren sheynes and lokkes to last.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Judg.16.21 : Thei..ladden hym boundun with cheyns to Gazam, and closid in prisoun.
- ?a1425(?a1350) SLeg.Guth.(Jul D.9)119 : Wit strong cheynen of yre þe deuelen him bette sore.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)1.m.4.24 : That man..enlaceth hym in the cheyne with which he mai ben drawen.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)178/23 : Þer was sche bowndyn handys and feet wyth chenys of yron.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)8650 : Aboute his nekke a chayne heng.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)293/16 : Who so repreue oure estate, we schall choppe þam in cheynes.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)320/12 : I sall charge hym in chynes.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)23/16 : Þe Abbott..feste hym be þe fute with a chyne.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)128.173 (v.2:p.334) : What vertu and grace this seyd shene hadde, yt was weel prouyd.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)137.72,74 (v.2:p.382) : Whi ledyst thou me boundyn with shenys? .. whether ledyst thou me .. boundyn with brynnynge chenys?
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)102 : Where Lucyffer lyth bovnden in his cheyne.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)69/31 : I haue be put ynto prison oft-tymes, and suffryd wondys of gret chaynes.
b
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)684 : His man hym brouȝth by a cheyne A grisely beest.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5275 : Þe kyng..sent hym..Jn a cheyne of golde tweie grefhounde.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.7.41 : Hercules..drowh Cerberus..by his treble cheyne.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)8/17 : A horse..was tyed on ilke side wit chynes of Iren, for he walde wery men and ete þam.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.A.1633 : As a whelpe That within the Cheyne woll roughlie growne and berke.
3.
An ornamental chain, such as a necklace; also, a chain with the badge of a craft [first quot.].
Associated quotations
- c1330 Otuel (Auch)1320 : I nam no toþ drawere; Þou ne sest me no cheine bere.
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3554 : With gilte cheynes on hire nekke hangynge.
- (1433) Will York in Sur.Soc.3041 : Girdels, baslarde, chene, and rynges.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)50.51 : Abowtes his Nekke A Chene Of goold.
- (1450) RParl.5.212b : The same mysdoers..robbed hym of a Coler of youre lyvere, a cheyne of gold, [etc.].
- (1457) Will York in Sur.Soc.30209 : Zonam..cum j chyne.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57154 : Item, my mastyr sold to my lord of Norfolke a schene of gold weyyng xix ownsys.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)43 : A seluer cheyne Eche on of hem hadde abowte his swete swyre.
4.
(a) A tie that unites, such as love or marriage; (b) a bond or force that constrains or dominates; destinal ~, destiny; ~ of sinne, bondage of sin.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2991 : With that faire cheyne of loue he bond The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.3552 : I shal..twynne assonder..þe false cheyne Whiche lynked was by colour of wedlok.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1744 : Trouth and mercy lynked in a cheyne Preserve a kyng..From al meschief and aduersite.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4812 : Love..is a syknesse..Which male and female with oo cheyne So frely byndith that they nyll twynne.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)49 : Of her too lovys was maad a stable chene.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.2546 : Dauid..of wedlok brak the lawfull cheyne.
b
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.616 : Þow shalt see in þi-selue treuthe sitte in þine herte In a cheyne of charyte.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3587 : Ful many man was lorn, Of cruel deth embracid in þe cheyne.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)1.509 : Now artow hent; now gnaw thin owen cheyne!
- a1425(a1400) Ihesu þat hast (Wht)127 : This preyer a cheyn be To drawe the doun of thi see.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3178 : I trowe nevere man wiste of peyne, But he were laced in loves cheyne.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.pr.6.118 : Destreyned with cheynes that ne mowen nat ben unbownden.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.m.10.3 : Ye that ben..ybounde with wikkide cheynes by the desceyvable delyt of erthly things.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)4.m.2.9 : Thise proude kynges..berin withynne hir corages ful streyte cheynes.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.2.6 : I wolde witen yif that the destinal cheyne constrenith the moevynges of the corages of men.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)233 : It hath broken..ffeteres, cheynes, and bondes mo Þat wroghton wrecched soules wo.
- a1450(1412) Glade in god þis (Dgb 102)5 : Oure enemys..Þat hadde vs in cheynes stoken, Wrappid in synnes many on.
- c1450(c1396) Chaucer Buk.(Benson-Robinson)9 : I wol nat seyn how that yt [marriage] is the cheyne of Sathanas.
- c1450(?a1422) *Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)2.774 : He..causith all thyng To haue beyng..And is the prince..That all enbraseth in his myghty cheyne.
- c1450 Primer Litany (Dc 275)231 : Late the mercy of thy pitee assoile hem that ben bounden with the cheyne of synnes.
- ?c1450(?c1390) ?Chaucer Merc.B.(Benson-Robinson)16 : So hath your beautee fro your herte chaced Pitee..For Daunger halt your mercy in his cheyne.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)13078 : Folks vnder my [Glottony's] demeyne, Swych as be lacyd in my cheyne.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)187/20 : Al þat wyll..kut away wyth þe sworde of confessyon the cheynes of dedly synne.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)260 : Lo! in how many cheynis that þe devil hathe I-teyde me Inne!
5.
Miscell. uses: (a) a row; (b) a clasp or clamp; (c) see quot.; (d) ~ net, a kind of fishing net.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)202a/b : Magnes..draweþ to it self Iren so þat it makeþ as it were a chyne [L catenam] of Iren rynges.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)140a/a : Be it [fallyng toþe] bounden wiþ a cheyne of gold with þe hole teþe.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)62a/a : Þe foot is maad of foure & fourty boones..tweyne ben..of þe cheynes [L manicularum] oþir ancle bone bones.
d
- (1388-9) Acc.Abingdon in Camd.n.s.5158 : j rete vocatum wade..cum alio rete vocato chanenet.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1420-21) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1 ()146 : In..alijs clauis vocatis Werknaill', Tillatneyll', boltes, Sheynes, et hacchenayll', et alijs ferramentis inde faciendis.
Note: Antedates sense 1.(d).
- a1500 Chaucer CT.Kn.(Hrl 7333)A.1279 : Sheins [vr. cheynes; Manly-Rickert: The pure fettres of his shynes grete, Were of his bittre, salte teeres wete.]
Note: New form: Also..shein.
Note: This quot. belongs to sense 2.(a).
Note: The Manly-Rickert quot.has already been taken under shin(e n.(1) ('shin'), none of which forms have '-ei-'.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. chain.