Middle English Dictionary Entry
cuppe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cuppe n. Also cǒupe, cop(e, coppe, cup(e. Pl. cuppes, coppen, coupen. |
| Etymology | OE cuppe (vr. copp) & OF cope (vr. coupe); L cuppa. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A drinking vessel; a bowl, goblet, cup, etc.; also, a receptacle for fruit or confections; (b) stonding ~, a cup with a foot or base; trussing ~, ?a cup or chalice for traveling; (c) a drinking vessel with its contents; the liquor contained in a cup; liquor, drink; serven of ~, to serve out the drink; serve (sb.) his drink; bi (in, with) ~, while drinking, in drink; (d) fig. something to be partaken of, that which falls to one's lot to endure or enjoy.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)11/5 : Þiȝe þarof anne cuppan fulle on ærne morȝe and oþerne an niht.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)14043 : Gaþ till wiþþ ȝure cuppess, & ladeþþ upp.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)256 : In þe winȝarde þe kinges coupe he ber, & wrong hit of þe grapes ful of win cler.
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1779 : Jhc..hiet þe botelers..fulle þe koppene.
- c1300 SLeg.Nich.(Hrl 2277)390 : Þis gode man..nom wiþ him..þe coupen beye.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2513 : A coupe [vr. coppe; B: coppe] of golde vol of win.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6944 : Plater, disse, cop & maseline.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)30/14 : Þe man..brekþ potes and coppes [F henas].
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)3.23 : Meede..ȝaf hem vchone Coupes of clene Gold and peces [B: coppis, vr. cuppes] of seluer.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)331b/b : Sciphus, a cuppe is a vessel of tree, of siluer, oþer of golde of þe whiche we drynkeþ and waisschiþ oure hondes.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4858 : He..did a siluer cupe [Göt: coupe] at hide In a sek.
- (c1400) Higd.(1) (Hrl 1900)514 : A cuppe of siluer, that is a vessel for to bere yn fruyt.
- (1415) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)47 : A gilt cop stondynge opon a fote with a sterre anameld in þe botme, anoþer in þe covercle, aboute þe copp and þe covercle a traill of roses.
- a1425(?a1400) Cloud (Hrl 674)107/19 : Whan þei haue dronken of a faire cup.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)94/11 : Ȝeuyng hir wyn to drynke in a cuppe of ston.
- c1440(?a1400) Perceval (Thrn)617 : All of rede golde fyne Was þe couppe made.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)36.532 : Let he tho make A Cowpe to drynken In.
- c1470(?1458) Wey Prevision (Bod 565)5 : Take with yow..cuppys of glas.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)p.80 : Þe Aungel bryngyth manna in A cowpe of gold lyke to confeccions.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)447 : A drauȝt..Off gode drynk..Off Lanycoll..Þat is a cuppe..Off maser.
- a1500(?a1400) MS Sln.282 in Alphita (Sln 282)p.82fn. : Hironia uel yronea, hiposita, cauda equina, cauda caballina ys a rowȝ herb with þe which men polisshen combes, bowes and cuppes.
b
- (1393) Will York in Sur.Soc.4188 : Unum ciphum duplicem argenti deaurati, vocatum le trussyng coppe.
- (1420) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)2.424 : [Cups called] standyngcuppes [of the newest pattern, with covercles].
- (1439) Liber Scac.in Archaeol.2137 : A Standyng Cuppe of gold garnysshed with xlv perles, and upon ye topet ys a sapher.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4923 : ij stondyng cuppys of erthe, the toon keverid.
- (1472-3) RParl.6.38a : iiii stondyng Cuppes covered, whereof oon gilt.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)14995 : Þene bolle heo sette to hire chin þat atter heo halde in þat win & seoðen heo þa cuppe [Otho: bolle] bitahte þan kinge.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)234 : Tech him..Biuore me to kerue & of þe cupe [vrr. coupe, cuppe] serue.
- a1325(c1250) Gen.& Ex.(Corp-C 444)2047 : Ðor woren to ðat prisun dragen, On ðat ðe kinges kuppe bed.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)153 : Of his coupe serue he him dede.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.10.42 : A cuppe of cold water.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.167 : Profred to þaym..a coppe of meth [*Higd.(2): oon pece of wyne; L calicem medonis] for to drynke..and whiles coppe foloweþ to cuppe [Higd.(2): and so thei drynkynge moche were made drunke].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.63 : The cuppe is al that evere him pleseth.
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)165 : In the cuppe seelden fownden it Þat any wight his neigheburgh commendith.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)647 : He bryngeth the cuppe, and biddeth hem be blithe.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Curates (Corp-C 296)156 : Þei gon to scole..& studyen wiþ þe cuppe & strumpatis.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)892 : Sir Cayous, þat of þe cowpe serfede.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2750 : The kreuelleste knyghttes..That kane carpe with þe coppe knyghtly wordes.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)914 : Schal neuer þe tale rise Of no karl by þe coppe how he his kyng quelde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2940 : Þe clientis..of þe coupe [Dub: cope] serued.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)13/2 : The kyng..said that he schuld serve hym of his copp at the feste.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)109/270 : Primus pastor:..I drynk for my parte. ijus pastor: Abyde, lett cop reyll.
d
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.20.22 : Mowen ȝe drynke the cuppe that I am to drynke?
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.26.39 : Ȝif it is possible, passe this cuppe fro me.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2256 : Of the bitter cuppe I have begunne.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Is.51.17 : Jerusalem, that hast drunke of the hond of the Lord the cuppe of his wraththe.
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)34/29-30 : The coppe of hele [L calicem salutaris] I sall take..The cope of hele whare-of dranke oure Lord Ihesu.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)40/17 : We schulde all perische at anes and all drynke of a coppe.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)68/15 : Glotony and droncschype ben the deuel cuppe or gret temptacion of deuelryes.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)15.5 : He [God] is cope of all my delite and ioy.
2.
(a) Eccl. A chalice-shaped receptacle for the reserved Host, ciborium, pyx; ~ of the Lord, sacrament of the wine; serven of ~, to administer the sacrament of the wine; (b) med. a cupping glass; (c) the cup of an acorn.
Associated quotations
a
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)235/35 : Hi [priests] serueþ at godes borde of his coupe [Vices & V.(2): cuppe; F coupe].
- (1395) Wycl.37 Concl.(Tit D.1)116 : Who so euere..drinkith the cuppe of the Lord unworthili.
- (1432) Rec.St.Mary at Hill26 : A cowpe of siluer and gelt, to bere in boddes body, with cristall Also a cowpe of seluer for goddis body.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)203 : In eeldir daies, whanne processioun was mad in the PalmeSundai..the eukarist was not brouȝt forth..thouȝ in latir daies..he is born in a coupe ordeyned therto.
- (1455) Acc.St.Ewen in BGAS 15151 : A cowpe of syluer and ouer gylt with a crucyfixe.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)53b/b : Þu schalt sette a copp [L ventosam]..to þe veynes þat comeþ fro þe modir.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)102a/a : Me vseþ to do þerto..cuppes & hornes [L ventose] to drawe þe venyme fro þe inner partyes.
c
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)267/34 : Take þe cuppe of an acurne [L cupulam].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)181a/b : Þe coppez of acornez [*Ch.(2): þe huskes of acorns; L glandium cupulas].
3.
(a) ~ bond, a metal band around a cup; ~ botme; ~ hek, ?a cup rack; ~ hous, a storeroom for cups, etc.; also, a trunk for carrying cups and other plate on a journey [quots. 1391]; ~ cloth, a cloth for covering cups or a sideboard; (b) ~ berer, cup-bearer; ~ holder; ~ maker, cup-maker; ~ throuer, a cup-turner; (c) ~ ful, a cupful; (d) ~ shoten, full of drink, drunk; ?also, addicted to drink; (e) ~ mel, a cupful at a time.
Associated quotations
a
- (1337) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)2.967 : Johannes del Cophous.
- (1338) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)2.1027 : Johannes Coppehous.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.526/8 : Pro j male..pro le cuphous.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.527/11 : Pro j cella pro somario de cuphous.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52209/13 : Pro vij vlnis de panno lingio ad tegendum cupbord..pro factura dictorum cupcloth.
- (1393) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52234/26 : Pro locione dictorum..cupcloth de panetria.
- (1414) Let.Bk.Lond.I (Gldh LetBk I)129 marg. : Judiu' pillor' pro fals' cuppebond' controfact'.
- 1419 Liber Albus Lond.in RS 12.1609 : Judicium Pillorii pro falsis cuppebondis controfactis.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)134 : Take harde spaynessh sepe and a litul stale ale in a coppe, and rubbe þy sope aȝeyn þe coppe bottom, tylle þyn ale be whit.
- (1452-3) Will York in Sur.Soc.45136 : j cophek.
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)75 : This Sergeaunt..hathe also in keepinge..ewers, lavours and cupboarde-cloths, cuppeclothes, hangers, [etc.].
- 1790(1471-1472) Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV(2) (Topham)78 : Office of Pycher-house and Cup-house..The chief yeoman of this office hathe in charge..the kepeinge of all the pottes and cuppes of sylver and leather, tankards and earthe asshen cuppes.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)28a : A Copebande: Crusta, Crustula.
b
- (1243) Doc.in Sur.Soc.12715 : Emmam copthrower.
- (c1275) Burgess R.Shrewsbury in Shrops.ANHS ser.3.1 [OD col.] 128 : Ricardus le cupeholdere.
- (1334) Deed Yks.in YASRS 50117 : [A rood on] le Copthrawerlandes.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)17a/a : Conifer: a coppe berare.
- c1450 Brut-1431(1) (Eg 650)445/30 : The Erles broþer of Southfolk, Copp-berrer.
- (1469) Ordin.Househ.Clarence in PSAL (1790)91 : That..kervers, cupberers, and sewers..have suche lyverey as shall be assigned thaym.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)139 : The Erle of Sowthefolke cuppe berer.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)28a : A Copemakyr or A copper: Cipharius.
- a1500 Rule Serve Ld.(Add 37969)16/39 : Þe marshall shall geve awarnyng to þe kerver and copberers.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)686/22 : Cipharius: a copmaker.
c
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)31/5 : Do in ane cuppefulle wynes.
- 1381 Pegge Cook.Recipes (Dc 257)p.97 : Cast therto wyn or ale a cuppe ful.
- a1400 Recipe MS Hal.in Rel.Ant.1 (Hal 335)52 : Tak ij copful of stale ale and a copful of hony and do tharto.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)86a/b : A colature of which euery day in þe mornyng be ministred a copful [*Ch.(2): a cuppe ful; L cyanthus vnus].
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)21/12 : Vse þer-of a copfull at morne.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)50/17 : Take Creme a gode cupfulle.
d
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)7560 : Als þey were best in gladyng, & wel cuppe-schoten [vr. cop schotin; F enivre], knyght & kyng.
- (1468) Paston (Gairdner)4.306 : They be sadde and wel advysed men, savyng on of them..whyche..wol..be a lytel copschotyn, but yit he is no brawler.
e
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)5.139 : Whon hit com in Cuppemel [vrr. cop-mele, cuppemale; B: cupmel (vrr. cuppemele, coppemele, copmele); C: coppe-mel].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)281-86 : He bad brynge wyn in gold so der, Anon hit cam in coppus cler..IIII gallons held a cop and more; He bad brynge forthe a grettor, ‘What schall þis lyttyl cope doun? This to lyttyl a cope for me.’
Note: Needed for form: pl. cuppes, etc. & coppus.
Note: New sense?
Note: This is a giant's drinking vessel or goblet (which holds four gallons). Belongs to sense 1.(a).
Note: In sense 1.(b), the gloss for the combination trussing ~ is defined "?a cup or chalice for traveling" (see quot. (1393) Will York in Sur.Soc.4)
should be modified. The "ciphum duplum" ("double cup") referred to here was not necessarily meant (just) for travelling, it seems, but according to W.C. Cripps in Old English Plate (1881), describes "the large double cups made to shut upon the rims of each other..These too are mentioned occasionally in English inventories, and are called 'double' or 'trussing' cups." He cites the reference in this quot. as an example. (An illustration of such a cup is found on p. 167.)
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. Revised form section: Also cǒup(p)e, cup(e, cope, (early) cuppan; pl. cuppes, etc. & coupes, coppus, (early) coupen, coppene, (Orm.) cuppess.--notes per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. cup.