Middle English Dictionary Entry
coin n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | coin n.(1) Also coign(e, cuine, cune, cone, conye, cuny, quine. |
| Etymology | OF coing, coin, cuign, quin(g. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A wedge; ?also, an angle iron; (b) a wedge-shaped stone, as for an arch; a cornerstone, quoin; ~ ston; (c) the corner (of a wall or building); (d) a triangular piece of land.
Associated quotations
a
- (1304) Acc.Chester in LCRS 5943 : [For irons called] craumpouns..[for other irons called] Coynz.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52208/23 : Pro ij grossis quynes et pro iiij paruis.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)10b/b : Þe 7a bone is paxillare or basillare which, as it war a cune i. wege [L cuneus], is festenyng & sustenyng alle þe forsaid bonez above þe palate.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)103a/a : A cune i. wegge of tree.
- 1662(1280) Bk.Vale Royal in LCRS 68 (Hrl 2064)195 : [For 24] coyns [made, viz.] wegges [for the quarry].
b
- (1350) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.262 : [Also 600 of] coynston.
- (1427-8) Rec.St.Mary at Hill68 : With þe coynes with inne and withoute as many as be nedful to þe same gate.
- (1442) in Willis & C.Cambridge 1386 : And iiij c xvj fote of Seuerant table scapled with poynts aftur a molde therof..with xij coynes, iiij skouchonsanglers, and viij Square Anglers.
- (1463-4) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2562 : Pro qwyne stones et lynturnes.
c
- (c1370) Chart.in Capes Hereford Cath.232 : Ab ostio dicti claustri usque ad le kuyne juxta capellam beate Marie Magdalene.
- (1445) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 71.3b : Thei fynde there a Coyne of a wall of ston beside the Walbrok & a mudwall..whiche coyne and mudwall contenyth in length xix fote.
d
- (1460-1) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 85.m.4d : The southe est cornere of a Coyn of the said Tenement.
2a.
(a) An image or design stamped on a coin with a (?wedge-shaped) die; (b) a coin (with such an image); ~ of moneie, ~ moneie; (c) coined money, money, currency; prenten ~, to coin money; smiten in ~, to coin or mint (gold, silver); (d) a mint.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chart.Abbey HG (LdMisc 210)356 : 'Lete me seen a peny of ȝoure mony..Whos coyn is þis?'..'þe emperours.'
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)68a/a : As a gobet or a pece of gold or of siluer is in comparisoun to þe money wiþ perfite coyne, so is al disposiciouns of oþir beestis in comparisoun to man.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)2.46 : God askede of hem whas was þe coygne.
- a1425 PPl.A(1) (UC 45)4.112-3 : [Bere no seluer ouer see þat] coyn of kyng schewith, Neiþer grotis ne gold ygraue wiþ kinges coyn.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)49 : [Friars] wilen not touche an halpeny or ferþing wiþ þe coyn & armes of þe cros & of the kyng, & þis semeþ for dispit of þe cros or of the kyng.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)1074 : Than to the noble shall wee do no wronge, To bere that coigne in figure and in dede, To oure corage and to oure enmyes drede.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.1168 : The gold of hem hath now so badde alayes With bras that, thogh the coyne be fair at eye, It wolde rather breste atwo than plye.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)44b/b : Nummisma: money or kuyne.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)282 : Kuny or conye of mone: Numisma.
- (1444) RParl.5.108b : Men travailling over Contrees..of necessite most departe oure Soveraigne Lordes coigne, that is to wete a Peny, in two peces or elles forgo all the same Peny for the paiement of an Half Peny.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)164 : [The Jews] were also accused of clipping of money, for the Kyngis coyne thorw oute the lond weied lesse than it dede at his makyng, be the third part.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)84 : Every of the comons of Rome..brought frelie of gold, silver, and othir coyne money to the tresorers.
c
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.335 : Tofor the time, er gold was smite In Coign.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.80 : God coueiteþ nat þat coygne þat crist hym-self prentede.
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)133 : Lak of coyn departith conpaignie..And heuy purs..Quenchith the thristy hete of hertes drie.
- ?c1425(c1380) Chaucer Form.A.(Benson-Robinson)20 : A blisful lyf..No coyn ne knew man which was fals or trewe.
- (1450) Lin.DDoc.44/2 : All my Syluer wessell & xxxij sawcers..I wol that it be smytten in koyne and to be departed amonge poere housbondes.
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)6 : Leste vncunnyng come yn..And crie on your cunseil for coigne þat ye lacke.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)417/7 : Þe dean of Bononye..lent vnto a bruther þat he had xx marcis of cone.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)44 : Selle youre godes for coigne.
- c1525 Rule & T.St.Francis(2) (Fst D.4)68 : [I] commande..too all the bretherne, that in no wise they resceive any maner of coyne or money.
d
- (1423) RParl.4.256b : Gret scarcite of Whit money is wyth inne this land, be cause that silver is bought and soold unkoyned atte pris of xxxii s. the pound of troie, ther as it is no better att the koyn thenne xxxii s...Provydyng evir more, that thei..may have and take of the forsaid Maistre of the koyne [etc.].
2b.
(a) coin-clipper, one who clips or shaves precious metal from coins; ~ smiter, minter; ~ washer, one who 'sweats' metal from coins; (b) coin-worth, something worth money.
Associated quotations
a
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)90 : Coynowre or coyne smytare: Nummularius.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)681 : Pryuy symonyakes..coyn wasshers & clyppers, Wrong vsurpers.
- a1605(c1422) Hoccl.Dial.(Dur-U Cosin V.3.9)66 : Had I be for an homycede yknowe, or an extorcioner..or for a coin clypper.
b
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)710 : For þat my coyn & coynworþ is a-gon, Contrarien þei my wille.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1222) in Salzman Building in Engl. : [Quoins, or corner stones..occur at Winchester..as] kuinz.
- (1289) in Salzman Building in Engl.136 : [The purchase of..75..] coyne [made to measure].
- (1368) in Salzman Building in Engl. : [Quoins, or corner stones..occur at Ely as] cunes [but usually as] coynes.
- (1409) in Salzman Building in Engl.404 : [It is agreed that the..] coynes [at the angles of the belfry on the outside be cut back].
Note: Quots. needed for date in sense 1.(b).
Note: New forms: Pl. coyne, cunes (early) kuinz.
- (1366) in Salzman Building in Engl.105 : [The Eglemont quarries provided 956] coignes [whereof 216] whitecoignes [for work at Langley].
- (1444) in Salzman Building in Engl.105 : Pleyncoyns [are mentioned at Westminster.
Note: New combinations (no glosses needed) for sense 1.(b): "pleine (whit) ~."
- (1361) in Salzman Building in Engl.101 : [The] linthel [is the mantlestone, over the mouth of the fireplace, probably supported on corbels and on the great] coygnestons [or angle-stones, each standingon a] baas.
Note: Additional quot. for sense 1.(b).
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. Provisional revised form section (including Supplement forms): Also coine, coigne, koin(e, con(i)e, cune, kuni, kuin(e, quine; pl. coines, etc. & coignes, quines, cunes & (early) coine.--all notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. coin.