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flote1 (1155)

flote1 (1155)

flot,  flotte; 
pl. flotis  (flotus, ) flotys  
  FEW:  flete 3,619a / flota 3,640a / floti 15/ii,150a Gdf:  flette 1 4,31c / flote 4,38a GdfC:  flote 1 9,629c TL: flote 1 3,1950 / flote 2 3,1951a / flote 3 3,1651a DEAF:  flote_1 F705 / flote_2 F706 DMF:  flotte 1  / flotte 2  / flotte 3  TLF:  flotte 1  / flotte 2  OED:  float n.  / flote n.1  / flote n.2  MED:  flote n.1  / flouht n.  DMLBS:  flota 2 966a

The variety of formally very similar etymological roots, both Germanic and Romance in origin, make it impossible to categorically separate these. As a result (and following the MED’s approach), these semantic/etymological strands have been kept together in this single AND article. Furthermore, because of the formal similarities with flete1, flete2 and flod, some additional confusion between these four words must also have existed already in medieval times.

s.

1coll.ship.fleet, a number of vessels under a single command
( 1155; MS: s.xiii4/4 )  Les dous flotes s'entrecontrerent, Nefs contre nefs s'entrehurterent  Brut WACE 2459
( s.xii3/4; MS: s.xiv2 )  (Alexander’s army, after the battle) vont a la maree, Entrent a la flote qe ert eschipee, E vont en lur pais  Rom Chev ANTS 629
( c.1170; MS: s.xiiiex )  Taunt qu'il vienent al port u la flote est ancree  Horn 1608
( 1294 )  Nous vous prioms que les .xxijm. d'esterling, les queux nous enveasmes, nadguers oveque vous, en la flote en vos partyes [...]  Foedera1 i 808
( c.1340 )  les nefs de la flotte ne departiront d'ensemble  Blk Bk Adm 16
( 1361 )  Robert de Harle admiralle de tutes les flotes  Admiralty Case 2
2ship. float, barge, flat-bottomed boat
( 1411 )  certeins dragges autrement appellés flotes, pur carier maeresme et fuaile  Rot Parl1 iii 665
( 1427 )  qe les ditz lieges eient et enjoient lour frank passage en le dit ryver, as toutz parties et costes al dit ryver adjoinauntz, ou lour flotus et draggus  Rot Parl1 iv 332
3fishingfloat, set of fishing nets
( c.1300 )  De chescun Cent des flotes  Oak Book i 14
( s.xivin; MS: s.xiv1/3 )  De chescune flote des reys qe sunt sechiez sour sekke terre [...]  Dom Gip 194
4fig.excitement, agitation
( s.xiii2/4; MS: s.xiii2 )  Flot mustret u commociun E cest mund bien signifie Ki en decurs se mot e plie  Mirur1 152ra36
a flote
afflote
en flote
ship.at sea, in the fleet
( 1358 )  le profit qe l'admiral [...] soleit avoir en temps de gwere, ci bien en flote come de hors  ROUGH 128
mettre en flote
fig.to excite, agitate
( c.1360-79; MS: s.xivex )  ses joials et ses deniers, Dont met le jofne cuer en flote  GOWER Mirour 8721

See also:

aflote  floteler  floter1  floter2  floteson 
This is an AND2 Phase 2 (F-H) entry. © 2006-2008 The Anglo-Norman Dictionary. All rights reserved. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom.
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