Middle English Dictionary Entry
coppe n.
Entry Info
| Forms | coppe n. |
| Etymology | Short for atter-coppe, q.v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A spider; (b) cop(pe)-web, cop-weft, spiderweb, cobweb.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3300 : Me þink me me lyfe, as to þe lenȝth, is like to þis werke Þat þis coppis opon kell-wyse knytt in þe woȝes.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)1825 : Ȝef any flye, gnat, or coppe Doun in-to þe chalys droppe.
b
- (1323) Doc.Gildh.Lond.in RS 12.3415 : Coppewebbes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.343 : Lanfranc..destroyede þe castes of þe myȝti men as who destroyeþ copweb [vrr. attercop weftes, copweft].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)253b/a : Of wynde and corrupt rayn comeþ and bredeþ as it were copwebbe and byclippeþ and wasteþ þe fruyt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)270b/b : By suche byclippynge of suche coppe webbes..trees and vynes beþ y loste when þay burgeneþ and blowwiþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)271a/a : Copweb þat is white and clene, nought defouled wiþ hore nouþer wiþ poudre, haþ vertu to constreigne, ioyne, and to restreigne.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)179 : His cordes ben but copwebbes; Thei ben rent and broken with the flyght of a gret flye.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.91va (3.5) : Whan þe vapoures passen out of þe body wiþ the vryn, frigidite of þe eir gadereþ him togeder and so sweyth abouen on þe face of þe vryn, mykel like a cop-web or elles a poudre or dust strewed þeron.
Note: Additional quot.