Medieval Key Words
Jennifer Curtis
Want to immerse yourself in the Medieval period? Go beyond Shakespeare and Malory with these common medieval words. You may recognize a few, but many of these words and phrases will be unfamiliar to modern English speakers.
When it comes to what medieval men and women were called, the answer is complicated. Factors like whether they owned land and had noble blood affected what they were called. These are a few common medieval terms for people:
"Provided, that in thus retaining their service, the lords are preferred before others of their bondsmen or their land tenants: so, nevertheless that such lords thus retain as many as shall be necessary and not more; and if any man or woman, being thus sought after in service, will not do this, the fact being proven by two faithful men before the sheriffs or the bailiffs of our lord the king, or the constables of the town where this happens to be done,-straightway through them, or some one of them, he shall be taken and sent to the next jail, and there he shall remain in strict custody until he shall find surety for serving in the aforesaid form."
Seeing as religion was intricately tied to everyday life in the Medieval period, there are a multitude of examples in the historical record that reference these terms. Perhaps the most famous is Martin Luther's late-Medieval 95 Theses, in which he challenges the Catholic Church's practices and calls for major reform:
Crime and punishment in the Medieval period didn't look terribly different from our modern judicial systems. While there were many similarities, there are some distinct terms and phrases used in Medieval judicial affairs that we don't see often today:
"Following the masters' advice, we appointed the esteemed and wise Master Jean d'Estivet, canon of the cathedral churches of Bayeux and Beauvais, as promoter or procurator general in this trial, and the learned Master Jean de la Fontaine, master of arts and licentiate of canon law, as counsel, steward, and examiner."
Middle English speakers certainly had a way with words. With dramatic flair and multicultural influences, speakers of English during the Medieval time period used an array of interesting and elaborate words and phrases to express themselves. Some words we might not even recognize today. Archaic spellings and unfamiliar letter combinations were hallmarks of the English language during the Middle Ages, so many of these words have been forgotten or fallen out of use.
This term, which refers to a person who is excessively boastful or arrogant, has its roots in the Middle English word "cok," meaning "rooster." Imagine calling someone a "cockalorum" the next time they brag too much about their accomplishments.
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What is a want-way? I came across the term on a book based on medieval England & no one seems to havr defined it. I am assuming some sort of common use road but not a highway; is my guess correct? Thanks.
As western manuscripts curator I have the great privilege of keeping some of the most marvellous medieval manuscripts here in The John Rylands Library. They are fascinating objects and tell us their stories and histories not just through the texts that they contain but through their very materiality. Some, it is true, are more beautiful, more appealing than others and our illustrated and illuminated manuscripts fall firmly into this category. They are truly works of art.
It explored a number of pigments commonly used in manuscript illustration, including orpiment, a vivid yellow mineral, which is highly toxic due to its key component, arsenic; vermilion red, which was made by vaporising sulphur and equally poisonous mercury; the use of gold, either rolled so fine that it could be layered gently on the pages or powdered and mixed to form shell gold paint; and the pigment prized even more than gold, lapis lazuli. Mined only in Afghanistan, this fantastically rare and expensive mineral travelled countless miles to the scriptoriums and workshops to be transformed into the deep and flawless blue we are familiar with.
Different grades of lapis lazuli produce different hues of blue, as can be seen below in these images, both from the same Persian manuscript. The pale blue is ultramarine ash, the final and poorest quality pigment released from lapis lazuli.
Given the rarity, expense and sometimes perilous production of some of these pigments, the decoration within these works is as much an indicator of the significance placed on them as the fineness of the vellum selected to embody the manuscript. The ability to identify these ingredients offers us further clues to the production processes and sometimes authenticity of manuscripts. Much research is now focused in this area and our own Imaging and Conservation teams have worked on supporting research into pigment and ink analysis.
Inspired by the profound literary history of healing, this compelling book explores the cognitive and physical effects of words in relation to the healing process. Drawing on research in cognitive linguistics applied to medieval linguistic and cognitive philosophy, Louise M. Bishop presents a highly original and prescient examination of the intersection between medical and literary texts.
The art of healing is treated from a point of view of words and context, social needs, cognitive presence, and the material presence. Carefully researched and powerfully argued, Words, Stones, and Herbs establishes that the power of words to produce cognitive and physical effects.
Another variation on this theme was the portable register, made by attaching a number of strings or strips to an anchor (a peg or square of parchment or leather), which rests at the top edge of the book.
The last type of bookmark is the most obvious: the found object, or essentially whatever-happens-to-be-at-hand bookmark. Much in the way we might re-purpose an old shopping list or photo, medieval readers used parchment scraps, bits of string, or pieces of plants to mark their spot. Turning Over a New Leaf project leader Erik Kwakkel found a lovely leaf bookmark in an incunabula in Zutphen.
Despite their attraction, medieval bookmarks are often left unmentioned in special collections catalogues, making them interesting little surprises for manuscript scholars. Want more on bookmarks? Stay tuned to upcoming Turning Over a New Leaf blog entries!
Until the Normans established full control over England there were two main systems of land holding, administration and law: Anglo-Saxon Law and Dane Law. This glossary contains terms from both systems. Devonshire and Hemyock Castle would have been subject to the Anglo-Saxon system. For more details see: Comparison of Anglo-Saxon and Dane Law.
Monastic community of either monks or nuns. Ruled by an (m.) Abbot or (f.) Abbess Usually founded by a particular monastic order and bound by their rules. Abbeys often owe some form of feudal obligation to a lord/lady or higher organization. Basically they are self-contained with all basic functions performed by the residents and obtaining their needs from the local area.
Apart from their religious role, some medieval abbeys became centres of learning and industry. Partly out of the need for extra funds to support their religious duties, some orders, especially the Cistercians, used their overseas connections to import novel industrial processes and to develop overseas markets.
Recent research in Yorkshire suggests that one Cistercian community was close to developing a blast furnace for smelting iron, hundreds of years before this technology powered the Industrial Revolution.
Accommodation for the aged or needy supported by charity. Also known as the Poorhouse. In Britain, many almshouses still exist, although most are now ordinary homes. In my village, one is labelled "Cleaner and Sower" above the front door. The other is labelled "Widows' Homes." Some charitable almshouses still exist.
Financial penalty inflicted at the MERCY of the King or his justices for various minor offences. The offender is said to be "IN MERCY" and the monies paid to the crown to settle the matter was called amercement (See also Fines).
The term used to describe one who left religious orders after making solemn profession. It was considered a serious crime in the eyes of the church, being not only a breach of faith with God but also with the founders and benefactors of their religious house.
Symbol or pattern scratched into the fabric of a building, particularly doorways, stonework or wooden beams, to ward off evil & keep witches out. Note: Not to be confused with a witch's mark; a mark made by a witch.
Narrow vertical slit cut into a wall through which arrows could be fired from inside, shielding the archer. Later, some arrow-loops were modified to suit small cannon, usually by being widened at the bottom. This resulted in a key-hole shape. See also slit.
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