Middle English Dictionary Entry
coughen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | coughen v. Also coghen, couw(h)en, couhen, couȝtthe. P. coughede, cow(h)ede, couȝwede, coȝede. |
| Etymology | Cp. OE cohhettan. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To cough; (b) to clear one's throat or cough (to attract attention or announce one's presence); (c) to vomit; ~ up, cough up (sth.), vomit forth; also fig. blurt out (sth.), disclose; utter (a song).
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)1087 : Ad il tusser: kouwe [vr. cowgh].
- ?c1335 Elde makiþ me (Hrl 913)p.171 : I croke, i couwe.
- a1333 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Add 46919)1089 : Kouwheth.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)7* : Homme touce: cowith.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.195 : He kowhed [vr. coughed] neuere.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)54b/a : Þanne þe beest kowheþ.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.325 : Til he be..hors in þe throte, Cougheth [C: Koweþ; vrr. coueþ, couheþ, couȝiþ].
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)80 : Il y ad tusser: Me hauyþ to couȝtthe.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Barlaam & J.(Hrl 4196)229/264 : He met a man..koghand for cold.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)75b/a : Signez of þe pulmon y wonded ar þat..þe sikeman is hote & cogheþ [*Ch.(2): cowgheþ].
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)117 : Cowhyn [KC: Cowyn] or hostyn: Tussio, Tussito.
- a1500(?c1450) Florence (Cmb Ff.2.38:Vietor)248 : When he coghyth.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3697 : He stant vnder the shot wyndowe..And softe he cougheth with a semy soun.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2208 : She saw wher Damyan Sat in the bussh, and coughen [vr. coghen] she bigan And with hir fynger signes made she.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)13.100 : Sone þis doctour..rubbed his chekes, Coughed [vr. couȝwede; C: kowede; vrr. kowhede, cowhede, coughide] and carped.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)307 : When non wolde kepe hym with carp, he coȝed ful hyȝe, Ande rimed hym ful richly, & ryȝt hym to speke.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)323 : Yee shuld have couȝid when ye com. wher lern ye curtesy?
c
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.361 : Glotoun..coughed [vrr. cowede, kowid; C: couhed; vrr. couȝhed, cowed; A (UC only): cowhede] vp a caudel in clementis lappe.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)7.163 : Ich cowede [vr. couȝhede] hit vp in oure cloistre, þat al þe Couent wot hit.
- c1450 My ladyes (Frf 16)183 : And aftir that ye coghyn up a songe.
- c1500 Men may leue (Trin-C R.3.19)23 : Som [pilgrims] ar lyke to cowgh and grone Or hit be full mydnyght.