Middle English Dictionary Entry
coif(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | coif(e n. Also coiffe, coiphe, keife, coive. |
| Etymology | OF coife, coiffe. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A covering for the head, such as a cap or hood; (b) specif., the headdress of a priest, lawyer, etc., as part of his official dress.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (c1290) Britton 1 (Lamb 403)35 : Et cum aucuns felouns vendrount en jugement..volom nous qe il veignent dechaucez et deceyntz, sauntz coyfe, et a teste descoverte. ]
- c1330 Why werre (Auch)117 : At even he set upon a koife..Adihteth him a gay wenche..And there hii clateren cumpelin whan the candel is oute.
- ?c1350 Why werre (Peterh 104)p.8 : A kerchyf and a comb..and a coyf To bynd with hys loks.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)30a/a : Galerus: a coyfe of leþer.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.738 : His gold her tressid lik an emperour, A coiffe [vrr. corff, coive] enbroudid al riche off stonis.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)615/38 : Tena vel Tenia: a ffrenge vel a coyfe.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14676 : I [Flattery] kan sette, or folk take hed, A Coyffe vp-on a skallyd heed.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)279 : His heed bare, with-oute coyfe, his hatte at his sholderes hanginge be-hynde by the laces.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)507 : She wolde make a coyf for hir suster, the wif of kynge looth.
- a1500 Hrl.1002 Gloss.(Hrl 1002)629 : Keyfe: thena.
b
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.28.37,39 : A plate of moost puyre gold..shal be vpon the coyif [WB(2): mytre; L tiaram] stondinge ouer to the forheed of the bishop..the coif [WB(2): myter] of bijs.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)86 : Coyfe: Tena, corocallum, capicella.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1141 : In al þe king-is court þere coiphes been..Mvm is maister.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.320 : Þey cared for no coyffes þat men of court vsyn.
- a1486 Knts.Bath in Archaeol.57 (Mrg M 775)68 : Dubletis..a reed cote..a white ledir girdill..a white Coyfe up on his heed..a mantell of reed tarteryn.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)83 : On his [a judge's] coyfe wos kest a coron.
2.
A close-fitting skullcap (of mail or leather) worn under the helmet, coif; ~ of maille, a hood of chain mail.
Associated quotations
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)898 : Ys helm, ys coyphe, ys habryioun, alle þay hadde to-rente.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1605 : Roland smot hym on þe helm..Helm & coyfe ther wyþ a clef.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10896 : Þe helm he claf & þe basyn, & þe coyfe þat was so fyn.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)25403 : That non More on hadde..but a Coyfe of yrne on his hed braced and his helm abouen þere-onne j-laced.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)382/24 : Hit wente thorow his helme and thorow the coyffe of steele.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)164 : He slyt the sercle and the koyf of Iren to the heed.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)368 : He..cutte a-sonder the laces of his helme and caste it a-wey..sore he douted his heede, whereon was no more but the coyfe of mayle.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)476 : Gawein..a-valed the coyf of his hauberke be-nethe his shuldres.
3.
A cap-like surgical dressing.
Associated quotations
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)69b/b : Þat after þe byndyng þe heued be couered with a coiffe of a shepe skyn.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)73a/b : Þat þay þat ar wounded in þe heued haue in þe heued a coife or a cap of strong lynnen cloþ.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)96b/b : In burse of þe testiclez with a coyfe, In þe ȝerde wiþ a sachel and a brekegirdel ybounden.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)493 : Trest or corfe: Coma.
Note: New sense
Note: Belongs to sense 1.(a).
Note: Gloss: also, ?a lock or length of hair, possibly braided or coiled.
Note: Add to form section: Also..corf(e.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. coif.