Middle English Dictionary Entry
culvert adj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | culvert adj. & n. Also col-, kil-; -vart, -verd, -ward. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Villainous, base, treacherous; (b) as surname: ?serf.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)25a : Na wohlech nis se culuert as o pleinte wise.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)89/247 : Þe porter is culuart and felun.
- c1300(c1250) Floris (Cmb Gg.4.27)92/329 : Þe porter is culuert [Auch: coluard; Suth: cruel].
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)788 : The king hede a stiward That wes fel ant culvard..Nes no traitour his ylich.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)181 : For covetyse, and colwarde and croked dedez..unþonk may mon have.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)516 : Þe Amorelle of Antyoche aftire he drepit, Þat was called Corborant, kiluarde of dedis.
b
- (1207) CRR(2) 5115 : Gaufridus Culverd.
- (1283) Pat.R.Edw.I100 : John Culverd.
- (1323) Cart.Oseney in OHS 8910 : Joh. Culuuard.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)74/14 : Þet flesch is her ed hame as eorðe þe is in eorðe & is for þi cointe & couer.
Note: Belongs to sense (a).--per MLL
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)68 : I…Turned his [the hart's] troches & tachede thaym in-to the erthe, Kest vp that keuduart and kutt of his tonge.
Note: New sense.
Note: New form: Also..keudvart.
Note: Gloss: (c) as noun: a rascal;--used of a hart.--per SMK
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.--per MLL
- (1331) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames120 : Culuard.
Note: Postdates sense.
Note: Belongs to sense (b).--per MLL
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--per MLL