Middle English Dictionary Entry
curre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | curre n. Also cur, corre. |
| Etymology | Akin to OI kurra grumble, MLG kurren growl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A watchdog, such as a mastiff; a small hunting dog, such as a terrier; esp., a mongrel, cur, or stray dog; ~ dogge; also fig. of the Devil.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)38b : Curre is kene on his ahne mixne.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)78b : Þenne is he kene, þe wes ear curre [Cleo: cuard]; þenne leapeð he..& bit deaðes bite o godes deore spuse.
- c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)79a : Sone se þu eauer underȝetest þet tes dogge of helle cume snakerinde..hat him ut heterliche, þe fule cur dogge.
- (1351) Acc.Chester in LCRS 59168 : [The amercements of divers men of the Forest of Wirhal for their dogs, called] Curdogges.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)4 : Greyhoundes..Alauntis..spaynels..Mastifs that men callen curres..small curres that fallen to be terryers.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.2373 : A curre mor froward than a strong leoun.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)699 : Corres & cattes with claures ful scharpe..knyt to Cayphases þeyes.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)396 : The lyoun..of hys genterye, Hym deyneth not to wreke hym on a flye, As dooth a curre.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)11176 : The corse..To be cast vnto curres and to kene fowles.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1804 : In many thede þar ȝe þurȝe ride, At ilka cote a kene curre, as he þe chache wald.
- c1450(c1400) Vices & V.(2) (Hnt HM 147)64/8 : He is like þe strong curre-dogge, þat biteþ & berkeþ at ones al þat he may.
- c1450 *Dogs in MS.Arms 58 (ArmsAr 58)f.1 : Bocher hondis and dongehylle curres.
- c1460 Of alle mennys (Dub 432)93 : A gentyll dogge wol naturally His mayster love..These curre dogges..dyd not so.
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.29 : A curre berkethe and fleethe, for he is slighe.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)31b : A Cure doge: Agregarius.
- 1486 ?Berners Bk.St.Albans (Blades 1881)leaf f.vi/b : A Cowardnes of curris.
- ?a1500 Trin-C.LEDict.Suppl.(Trin-C O.5.4)562 : Agerarius: a curdogge.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)644 : As kurres from kareyne þat is cast in dyches.