Middle English Dictionary Entry
chẹ̄se n.
Entry Info
| Forms | chẹ̄se n. Also chise, chiese, ceose, cuse, cyse, (in name) jese-. |
| Etymology | A cēse, WS cīese, cȳse (ult. L cāseus). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Curds or cheese as food; water of ~, whey; (b) fresh, grene, neue ~, fresh cheese; olde ~, aged cheese; hard ~, mene ~, softe ~; etc.; (c) got ~, goat cheese; ~ of bugle, bison cheese; Essex ~; (d) in prov. sayings: feinen chalk for ~, pretend, delude; finden ~ in welle, look for something in the wrong place; smel of the ~, etc.
Associated quotations
a
- 1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1131 : Þa scyrte ða flesc mete & se ceose & se butere.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)35/8 : Þanne sceal he etan driȝne hlaf and cyse.
- ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)an.1137 : Þa was corn dære, & flec & cæse & butere.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)643 : Bred an chese, butere and milk.
- c1300 SLeg.Bridget(1) (LdMisc 108)11 : Þat Maide let gaderi..þe Milk ant þe chese.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Judith 10.5 : She putte on to hir fre maiden a botel of wijn..and loues and chese.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.21 : Hony, melk, chese.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3628 : Vitailled..With breed and chese and good ale.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.448 : I wol haue moneye, wolle, chese, and whete.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.502 : The beste wordes wolde I pike..And serve hem forth in stede of chese, For that is helplich to defie.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1747 : Yif vs a busshel whete, malt, or reye, A goddes kechyl, or a tryp of chese.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)320b/a : Chese is þe drastes of melk.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)320b/b : Chese is contrary to venyme.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)21/1 : Þe roundeles of chese haþ bi him-silf wei of worchinge.
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.70 : Chese, botere, grece, and smere.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.444 : Butter, melke, and chese.
- (a1402) Trev.DCur.(Hrl 1900)60/19 : Brede, flesche, oþer chese.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)180/35 : Þei eten Ryȝs & hony & mylk & chese & frute.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)113b/a : Water of chiese [L aqua casei].
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)117a/b : Water of chese i. wheie.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)193 : Of eche weye of chese, buttyr seld by the self, iiij d.
- (1439) RParl.5.24a : Chese, Buttur and Hony goyng oute of the Reaume of Inglond shuld have recours to the seid place of Caleys, and to no place elleswere.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)924 : Lenten metis..Mith him not plese, but he mut nedis..Ete butter and chese.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)6.141 : Alfresh the mylk is crodded now to chese.
- (1442) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1387 : For brede and hale and chese for warkemen.
- a1450 LDirige(1) (Dgb 102)83 : Riȝt as chese þou croddest me fast.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.145/7 : Þe takyng of þe..lasse tithis, namely as to chese and piggis.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)187 : Me had lever þen a ston of chese, þat dere Tyb had al þese.
- c1425(a1400) Wycl.Pseudo-F.(Dub 245)304 : When þei visiten pore men..þei don to gete goodus of hem, as corn, monee, chese..þat nediþ more hem þen þe freris.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)84/7 : Eggys and chese byn molton flesche.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)53/5 : There beþ two kyndis of flesche meltyd, scilicet, one whiche is meltyd be craft, as porke..The toþer is naturaly meltyd, as chese or mylke.
- c1500 King & H.(Ashm 61:Hazlitt)228 : Bred and chese forth he brouȝt..Non othyr mete saw he.
b
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)15/4 : Nim niwne cysan and screda hyne on weallendan wætere.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.644 : The coc..His lordes thonk schal ofte lese, Er he be served to the chese.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)320b/a : Shese hatte Caseus, and haþ þat name..of carendo, vnhauynge..ffor chese is y wronge..for to it be wheyles..Olde chese is scharp and druye.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)320b/b : Mylky chese moysteþ þe wombe..mene chese y ete after mete þrusteþ dounward þe mete.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)321a/a : Þe sauour þerof is lest y feled in newe chese and grene.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)94b/a : Olde chise, therfe brede.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)187a/a : Caseus recens, newe chese, heleþ olde chese.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)141 : Take soft chese þat is fresshe & noynt hyt wyþ hony, and bynde hit to þe sore al nyȝt.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)122/3 : Take tart chese..swete crem.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)102 : Alle maner metis þat þy tethe on egge doth sette, take..hard chese..hit wille voide hit awey.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)137/116 : Here is bread this day was baken..and greene cheese that will grease your cheekes.
c
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)16/13 : Niwe gate cuse.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.93 : A weye of essex chese.
- a1500(1422) Yonge SSecr.(Rwl B.490)178/23 : Cesar..helde hym appayed of commyn brede..and chese of the bugle.
d
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)53 : Þurh þe sweote smel of þe chese he bicherreð monie mus to þe stoke.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.416 : Lo, how thei feignen chalk for chese; For though thei speke and teche wel, Thei don hemself therof no del.
- ?a1400 Bozon (Hrl 1288)p.215 : For was hyt never myn kynd, Chese in well to fynd.
2.
(a) A cake or lump of cheese; forme of ~; (b) pl. [as in CL] curds, cottage cheese; ?also other kinds of cheese.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)7.268 : Twey grene cheeses.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)1 Kings 17.18 : Ten chesis [WB(2): litel formes of chese; L formellas casei] thes thou shalt bere to the tribune.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7041 : With tartes or with cheses fat.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)666/7 : Hic caseus: chese.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)380 : 'Of þy manace..þey make bot lyte..Þus han þey certifiet þe & sende þe þis cheses.' Wode wedand wroþ Waspasian was þanne.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14250 : A Reuene [vr. Ravene]..Bar a chese with-Inne hys mouht.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)24a : Chesse: caseus, caseolus, formella.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.65vb : Dauid, take this potage , x loues of breed & x cheses [L (1 Sam.17.18): formellas casei].
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.652 : Hacked leek or tendir chesis Let fede hem [peachicks] with.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)7.117 : Craft to make cheses be..used now.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)127/33 : They dide bere brede and wyne in botelles, in barelles and in pottes flesche and cheses.
3.
In cpds. and combs.: (a) ~ and bred (crome, knave), as surname or perh. sobriquet; ~ cloth (clout), cloth for straining curds, cheesecloth; ~ cruste, cheese rind; (b) ~ fat, a porous container for straining or molding curds, such as a cloth, wicker basket, or colander; ~ fleke, ?a shelf or rack for storing cheese; (c) ~ cake, a pancake or ashcake containing cheese; ~ gavel, a rent on making or selling cheese; ~ hacche (rak), a cheese rack; ~ hous, a room or house for cheesemaking, dairy; (d) ~ lip [OE cȳse-lybb, cp. OHG kēsi-luppe] rennet; (e) ~ makere (man, mongere, wrighte, wringere), one who makes and/or sells cheese.
Associated quotations
a
- (1255) Pat.R.Hen.III395 : Walter le Chesknave.
- (1303) Feudal Aids 6152 : Galfridus Cheseandbrede.
- (1322) Pat.R.Edw.II87 : William Chescroume.
- (1323) Pat.R.Edw.II374 : John Chesecromme.
- (1330-4) Surnames in Disc.23 : Robert chesandbred.
- (c1330) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100518 : In cheseclathe..pro Deyria.
- (1341) Doc.Manor in MP 3453 : Chesecloth.
- (1373) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103577 : Chesecloutes emp. pro vaccaria.
- a1500 Feast Tott.(Cmb Ff.5.48)95/277 : Ther come chese crustis in charlett As red as any scarlett.
b
- (1272-3) Doc.Manor in MP 3457 : Chesefat.
- (1334) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100525 : In Coagulo et Chesfattes emp. pro Deyr.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)493 : Trowe, mele, and cheseuat.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)320b/a : Chese is y wronge and y pressed in þe chesefat for to it be wheyles.
- (1402) Topias (Dgb 41)p.99 : Thi tong likkith the chesefat.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)28a : Fiscella: chesfat.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)42b/b : Mulcrare: a chesfat or a dysh or a payle.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)666/4 : Hoc multrum: chesfat.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)73 : Chesefatte [Win: Chesfate]: Casearium, fiscina.
- (1446) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.9985 : Pro ij bus chesfattes.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)36 : Feche þe croddys of þe deye..& lay it on a chesefatte..in lynen cloþe..& leche it.
- (1466) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.9991 : Pro j chesefleke..pro le flekys pro fenestris coquine.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)24a : A Chesfatt: Casearium, sinum, ficella.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)626 : Casiarium: chesewate.
c
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2500 : Adam del Cheshus.
- (a1300) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 244 : Chesgavel.
- (1322) Acc.Wellingborough in North.RS 8124 : Pro coopertione..domum vocata le cheshous.
- (1345) Doc.Manor in MP 3441 : Chushache.
- (1380) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.92 : Chesehous.
- (1404) in Rec.B.Nottingham 220 : j chesehek, ij d.
- (c1425) Stonor1.43 : j longa tabula cum j pare trestell in le chesehous.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)73 : Chesekake: Ortacius, ortocaturia, artocaseus, artocira.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)266 : Chesekake or eykake bakyne vndyr askys: Flamicia.
- (1456) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 93365 : A chese racke precii iii d.
- ?a1500 Trin-C.LEDict.Suppl.(Trin-C O.5.4)588/39 : Ignacia: a chesekake.
d
- (1395) Cart.Whitby in Sur.Soc.72615 : Pro keslep empt. pro muliere.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)666/17 : Hec lactis: cheslypp.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)36a/b : Lactis: a cheslepe.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)591/15 : Lactis: a chesleb.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)24a : A Chesslepe: lactis.
e
- (1186) Surnames in Disc.23 : Baldwin le chesemangere.
- (1228) Pat.R.Hen.III212 : Ricardum Chesewricte.
- (1262) in Fransson Surn.66 : Pet. Le Cheseman.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 1350a : Robertus le Chesemaker..Robertus le Jesemaker.
- (1279) in Fransson Surn.66 : Thom. Kesemakere.
- (1281) in Fransson Surn.67 : Roc. le Chesewryngere.
- (1288) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.513 : Willelmus le schesemongere.
- (1293) in Fransson Surn.66 : Augustinus le Chesewryghte.
- (1302) in Fransson Surn.66 : Rob. Chesman.
- (1306) in Webb Rec.St.Barth1.438 : Adam Chesemaker tenet vnum Mesuagium.
- (1319) in Ekwall 2 Lond.Sub.R.(Lund 1951)224 : De Johanne le chesmonger.
- (1319) in Fransson Surn.66 : Joh. Chisman.
- (1332) in Fransson Surn.66 : Joh. Chusman.
- a1385(c1275) Cust.Chichester in Sus.RS 3187 : Wm. Chuseman.
- -?-(1387) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.9685 : Rob. de Cotyngham, cheseman.
- (1437) Close R.Hen.IV113 : Alexander Reve [citizen and] chesemonger.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1324/34-5 : In euerich mylke is a þynne party and watry, and a þikke party [þat] is ycleped chese, and þe more þikke mylk is, þe more chese is þerinne.
- (a1398) Trev.Barth.(Add 27944:Seymour)1326/6 : Þe substaunce of whey is wattry and makeþ þynne; þe chese is cold and þikke, and stoppeþ.
Note: Although these are actually additional quots. for sense 1.(a), they ought to be included because they are good explanatory quots.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section is incomplete and needs revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL