Middle English Dictionary Entry
crǒud n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | crǒud n.(2) Also crouth & cord(e. |
| Etymology | Wel. crowth, cp. Ir. cruit. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Caxton's spelling (pl.) 'cordes' possibly represents the assimilation of an unfamiliar word to the familiar 'cord' (i.e. 'chord') as it applies to musical instruments: cp. mono-corde n.
1.
A stringed instrument of the Celtic peoples, the crowd.
Associated quotations
- a1350 Ichot a burde in boure (Hrl 2253)43 : By norþ ant souþ, þer nis fiele ne crouþ þat such murþes makeþ.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.394 : Þer was trumpes & tabour, Fiþel, croude, & harpour, Her craftes for to kiþe.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1226 : His harp, his croude was rike.
- c1330 KTars (Auch)45/506 : No minstral wiþ harp no crouþe No miȝt chaunge hir þouȝt.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)805 : Þere was..al maner of mynstralsy: Trompes, nakers, and Crowþ, And mony a mery song with mouþ.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)150 : Miche he couþe of game: Citole, sautrie in same, Harpe, fiþele and crouþe.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)14265 : Ther ys harpe nor gyterne, Symphonye nouther crowde..Ys to me so gracyous..As ys your song.
2.
(a) Rendering Biblical L chorus properly 'a circular dance to song or instrumental music, music accompanied by dancing,' but identified with some musical instrument or instruments, in some cases a stringed instrument of the Near East, in others perhaps equated with sense 1.; (b) one who plays such an instrument.
Associated quotations
a
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)149.3 : Herien hij his name in croude [L laudent nomen ejus in choro] and singen hij to hym in tabor and sautri!
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 15.25 : Whanne he..neiȝede to the hous, he herde a symphonye and a crowde [L chorum].
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)150.4 : Loues him in harpe and in sautre, Loues him in crouth [vrr. krough, croth] and timpane!
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Judg.11.34 : His oon gendrid douȝter cam to hym with tympanys and croudis [L choris].
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.73 : Symphonye and croude weren herd.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)105 : Crowde, instrument of musyke: Chorus.
- a1450 Serm.Pater N.(Cmb Dd.11.89)92 : Croude he herde & symphonye.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)8 : Jubal..was fader to alle hem that singe in the orgoun or in the crowde.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.379 : A instrumente callede chorus other a chore was founde in Grece, of fewe cordes and strynges, whiche is callede nowe a crowthe or a crowde.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.58va : Marie the suster of Aaron, a prophetesse, toke a tympane in her hande, and alle the wymen folowed her with tympanes and cordes [Vulg.Exod.15.20: tympanis et choris], and she wente to fore syngyng 'Cantemus domino.'
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)150.4 : Louys him in taburn and croude!
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)5.12.95a : Dauid ordeyned hem plente of lusti instrumentes..organes and harpes..crowdes and tympanes.
b
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)693 : Simbolisator: crowde..Coralla: crowde.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)30b : A crowde: corista.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: In Old English Instruments, Francis Gilpin thinks that 'chorus' is a small 'cruit' or 'crwth'. DMLBS, s.v. chorus n., allows for the sense (5.(b)) 'crowd, fiddle' (as well as the sense 5.(a) 'bagpipe'), but both examples are English-Latin glossaries in which English 'crowd' is equated with Latin 'chorus.'