greywerk (1363)

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greywerk (1363)

[vcd]

  FEW: Gdf: GdfC: TL: DEAF:  greywerk G1365 DMF: TLF: OED:  grey adj. and n. (greywork)  MED:  grei n.2 (grei werk)  DMLBS:
 
ls(loanword: M.E. )
le

It appears that the Middle English word is a mistranslation of gris e vair ('grey and white fur cut from the red squirrel's winter coat'), interpreting the second element – e vair – as evere, a variant spelling of ovre1 ('work'). Interestingly, this mistranslation is also found in Latin, in the phrase grisus opus (see opus sense 15, 2041c). This re-interpretation is also attested in Anglo-Norman with grisoevere.

s.

1skinsgrey and white fur cut from the red squirrel's winter coat
( 1363 )  il avoit eskyppé a Bruges deux barelles de greywerk  504.225
( 1429 )  .xiij. mantels de greywerk, .j. foure de fwyne, valor .xviij. li. – cust. .iiij. s. .vj. d.  108
grey  grisoevere 
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.
greywerk