Middle English Dictionary Entry

corǒune n.
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Entry Info

Forms corǒune n. Also corun(e, coron(e, curun(e, & croun(e, crun(e, cron(e.
Etymology OF corone, corune, curune & L corōna.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1a.
A monarch's crown, diadem; also, the crown of a queen consort; Seint Edwardes ~, the official crown of England, being the first of two crowns put on the king's head during the coronation ceremony.
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1b.
A crown or crown-like headdress [worn by other than a monarch]: the ceremonial mitre of the Jewish high priest; a crown worn by a goddess; one of the ten crowns of the Beast of the Apocalypse; an ornamental tiara; part of the burial headdress of a nun; etc.
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2a.
A wreath of laurel, garland of flowers, etc. [worn about the head for adornment or as an award for victory or virtue]; also, any of various other kinds of head-ornament awarded for merit in ancient Rome.
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2b.
Fig. (a) ~ of glorie, a glorious wreath; ~ of pride, a wreath worn in pride; (b) the most valuable possession; (c) crowning glory, highest adornment, finest example.
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3.
The crown of the blessed in heaven; the reward of immortality or heavenly bliss; the aureole of a virgin, martyr, or preacher; a celestial crown; nimbus, halo; ~ of blisse, ~ of glorie, ~ of lif, etc.
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4.
The wreath of thorns with which Jesus was mockingly crowned; ~ of thorn(es, ~ of passioun.
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5a.
Royal status or authority, sovereignty, reign; beren (haven) the ~, to be the king, rule as king, reign.
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5b.
The royal dominion or estate, crown possessions; had in the chef ~ of the king, held of the crown in chief; clerk, yoman of the ~.
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5c.
The royal person, the king.
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5d.
The right of performing the ceremony of coronation.
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6.
(a) A figure of a crown, used as a decorative device, as a symbol of official authority, or as a heraldic charge; (b) an inn whose sign is a crown.
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7.
(a) A coin of any of various Continental European coinages having a crown as part of the design; also, a coin of similar value but without a crown as part of the design; (b) specif., old ~, the French 'écu à la couronne, struck before 1475'; neue ~, 'the écu au soleil, struck from Nov.1475' [Hanham].
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8.
In Jewish antiquity: a band of gold about the ark of the covenant, the table of the shewbread, or the altar of incense.
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9.
Misc. uses: (a) the constellation Corona borealis; (b) a circular chandelier; (c) a culinary model of a crown; (d) a halo; (e) the iris (of the eye).
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10.
(a) The top of the head, crown, skull; also, head; ~ of the hed; from the fot up to the ~, etc.; (b) in asseverations: bi mi ~; so brouke thou thi ~, as you hope to retain your head!
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11.
The tonsure of a cleric; also, a shaved area in the hair of an unlearned man.
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12.
(a) The head of a flower; (b) the blossom end of a fruit.
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13.
Cpds. & phrases: (a) ~ land, land belonging to the Crown [only as surname]; (b) ~ tre, a ridgepole; (c) ~ of the yer, the circuit of the year; (d) mede of ~, a corollary.
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Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)94/1870 : Grander..y ȝaf hod And made him a kroune brod.
    • Note: Additional quot.
  • c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)294/5287 : Þe douke he seyleþ þere, & of his helm he carf a quarter. He made him..a croun brod þere As a monke þat orderd were.
    • Note: Additional quote(s)
Note: Both quots. belong to sense 11.
Note: Add to existing gloss: "The tonsure of a cleric; also iron. [quots. (?c1300)]."--notes per MLL

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1450 Diseases Horse (Yale 163)26 : He is best next if he haue a white mane and..on eyther side the nekke as hit were cronys þt twellis the here and thenne he is lyke a gode hors.
Note: Applies 'crown' in the sense of ? 'wreath' (sense 2a.) to describe the cowlicks or twirls in the hair of a horse.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. crown.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 10.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. crown of the head.

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