Middle English Dictionary Entry
cleue n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cleue n. Also clewen, cliw(e, clue, clowe clawen. |
| Etymology | OE cliwen, clewe(n, clowe ball, clew. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A ball of yarn, thread, etc.; a clew; ~ of threde, yarn; (b) a clew of thread used to guide one's way; (c) fig.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)578 : Þu art dim an of fule howe, An þinchest a lutel soti clowe [Jes-O: clewe].
- (1323) Chamber J.Edw.II in EHR 30675 : Pur iiij clewes et vj skeynes de fil de Cambre.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)157 : Un lussel de wudres: a klewe of yarn.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)547 : Serence, lussel, et voydere: Hechele, clewen, ȝarewyndul.
- (1354) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100382 : iij clewes albi fili.
- (1357) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100384 : j clew de rubeo filo.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)194a/b : A clewe of þrede.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)31a/a : Globus: a clawen or an hepe.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)103b/a : Þat þer be put a fast clwe [L glomerus; OF peloton] vnder þe armehole.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)103b/b : Be þer put a litel clewe in his arme hole.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6775 : Of his hors fel that kynge, As it were a clewe of thred.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)358/28 : Þer was ij women pleyd befor a iuge for a clew of threde.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)26b : To wynd Clowes: Glomerare.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.385 : Laborinthus..Ȝif eny man wente þider yn wiþ oute a clewe of þrede, it were ful harde to fynde a way out.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.5343 : A clue of thred, of which withinne Ferst ate dore he schal beginne With him to take that on ende [etc.].
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2016 : By a clewe of twyn, as he [Theseus] hath gon, The same weye he may returne anon.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2140 : His wepne, his clewe [vrr. clyw, clywe]..Was by the gayler in the hous yleyd.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)1.2688 : Loboryntus..Who that entred, his retourn was in veyn Withoute a clue for to resorte a-geyn.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)115 : Bynde at the entering in of the gardin the begynnynge of the clewe.
c
- c1500 Befor my deth (SeldArch B.24)48 : Euir about I wynd My threde of lyfe..Bot he that hold the sceyne vnto my clewe [etc.].