Middle English Dictionary Entry
colt n.
Entry Info
| Forms | colt n. Also cowlt. |
| Etymology | OE colt |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The young of a horse, ass, or camel; asse ~, hors ~; (b) ~ bridel, the headgear for a colt; ~ halter, a halter for leading or tying up a colt; ~ haver, oats for colts; (c) ~ hirde, ~ man, one who tends colts; -- as surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)3 : Þe asse and here colt..þe asse fole.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)482/71 : Wilde coltes and strongue he liet fette.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)185/34 : Þe ilke zelue boc zayþ þet on mere draȝþ uorþ þet colt of anoþre huanne hi is dyad.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ecclus.23.30 : As an horse colt [L pullus equinus] he shal be dryue and..he shal be caȝt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)266a/a : Þe asse foleþ sielde ij coltes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)283b/a : A Colte hatte poledrus and pullus equi..& haþ þat name while he soukeþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)292b/b : Hirdes..setten here coltes to souke asses..and asse coltes to souke mares.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)685 : His man hym brouȝth by a cheyne A grisely beest, a rugged colt..Bucyfal þat hors hete.
- (1409) Invent.Jarrow in Sur.Soc.2982 : j equa, ij fylyes, j colt trium annorum.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.32.15 : Camels..with her coltis thretti.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.370 : Lik a corsour makth coltis that be wilde With spore & whippe to be tame & mylde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)88 : Colte, yonge horse: Pullus.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2814 : As kene koltys þow þey kynse, a-geyns me [death] is no defens.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)7722 : Fro the Nauell netherward he was an able horse..Thof his face was fourmyt as a fre mon, Hyt was colourt..as a kowlt red.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2881 : And on a cursoure þe kniȝt with a collt foloȝes.
- a1500(a1470) Let.Marg.Anjou in Camd.86 (Add 46846)131 : Brynge hir [a mare] with hir colt unto us in all goodly haste.
b
- (1422-3) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103619 : In 3 quart. 6 bus. de Coltehauer.
- (1440-1) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103627 : Pro 1 duodena de Girthwebbes et 1 colthelter.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)27a : A Colte brydyll: lupatum.
c
- (1301) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms61 : Petr. Coltehird.
- (1322) Pat.R.Edw.II166 : Geoffrey Coltman.
- (1359) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms61 : Joh. Colthird.
- (1461) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms61 : Will. Coltman, brewer.
2.
Used contemptuously of human offspring.
Associated quotations
- c1225(?c1200) St.Juliana (Bod 34)49/530 : Wel bisemeð þe to beon, ant bikimeð, to beo streon of a swuch strunde. Ah eauer beo acurset colt of swuch cunde.
3.
Idioms, sayings, proverbs: techen ~ endaunture, to tame a colt; haven a coltes toth, to have youthful desires, be lascivious; the flesh is as wild as ~; etc.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)5710 : Þan lopen about hem þe Lombars As wicked coltes.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)220/22 : Þet child lyerneþ ine his yeȝeþe, he hit wyle healde ine his elde..Vor ase me zayþ 'Huo þet tekþ colte endaunture, hyalde hit wyle þerhuyle hit ilest.'
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3263 : Wynsyng she was as is a ioly colt.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.3888 : Oure olde lymes mowe wel been vnweelde..And yet ik haue alwey a coltes tooth.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.602 : I was fourty..But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth.
- a1425 HBk.GDei (Arun 507)150 : Þe flesh is as a wild colt þat is to teme with bridel & hunger.
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)p.53 : Of a raggud colte comes a gode hors.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)71 : For that that is good for a colt is not good for a staloun. This is that Aristotle seith in etiques.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1200 Reginald Bk.St.Cuth.(Dur-C Hunter 101)24 : Pro cujus inventionis opere, Coite, semper, quod equum sonat, vocabatur agnomine.
Note: New spelling: Also (?error)coite
Note: Probably belongs to sense 1.(a). (Although 'Coite',Colt, is given to someone as a name; it may belong to sense 1.(c).)
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.--notes per MLL
- c1450 Terms Assoc.(2) (Cmb Ll.1.18)232 : A harresse off horsez, mares, or coltez.
Note: Additional quote(s)
Note: Belongs to sense 1.(a).--per MLL
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may not be complete. Note, for example, collt in sense 1.(a).
Note: Correct the form cowlt in the form section to coult.--notes per MLL