Middle English Dictionary Entry
clēt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | clēt n. Also clede, ? clyte. |
| Etymology | OE *clēat; cp. OE clēot pittacium & OHG klōz clod, lump. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A wedge, cleat; ~ nail, a cleat nail [?error for clout nail]; (b) a lump, bit, small portion; ne counten at o ~, to regard (sth.) as worthless; yeven nought a ~ of, not to give a damn for.
Associated quotations
a
- (1302) *Pipe Roll (PRO) 30 Edw.I m.2 dorso [OD col.] : Vno Bowesprete..ij cletes et aliis minutis.
- 1337 *Acc.Exch.K.R.20/27.m.1 [OD col.] : Pro xvj clauis vocatis cletnaille.
- (1411) Fabric R.Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.15175 : [It. paid..for great spiking for stages and] cletys.
- (1419-20) Mem.Ripon in Sur.Soc.81146 : In j clete emp. de Will. Joy.
- (1423) *For.Acc.(PRO) 1 Hen.VI I [OD col.] : Cletnaill.
- (1432) *Mun.B.Bridgewater805 : To þe Plommer for castyng of a Clede xij d.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)81 : Clyte or clote [Win: Clote; KC: clete], or vegge: Cuneus.
b
- c1390(1377) Death Edw.III (Vrn)54 : To þat Schip þer longed a Barge, Of al Fraunce ȝaf nouȝt a clete [rime: forȝete].
- a1450(1410) This holy tyme make (Dgb 102)110 : Holy writ biddeþ god sende..stryf..Among prynces..Þat nele not leue goddis sawe Ne counte his gynnyng at o clete [rime: trete].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)25b : Clettes of qwete.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)82/10 : Take herbys..Þe fyrst herb a clet or to or iii, also mykyl of hemp..halfe als mekyl of sely leuys.