Notes and Queries, Number 41, August 10, 1850 by Various
page 35 of 63 (55%)
page 35 of 63 (55%)
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_woursom_ or _worsum_, used in the same sense by Douglas, in his
translation of Virgil, and by other North Country writers, from Ang.-S. _Wyr_, pus, and _sum_, as denoting quality. "_Sabraz._"--This term has perplexed me much in preparing notes on the portion of the _Promptorium_ I have now in hand. In the Harl. MS. 221. is found "Sabrace, _sabracia_, Comm." The authority cited, the _Commentarius Curialium_, is still unknown to me; and I have failed in searching for the word _sabracia_, which is not found in Ducange, or other glossaries of debased Latinity. Mr. Halliwell gives "_Sabras_, salve, plaster;" but he cites no authority. It appears, however, rather to signify a tonic or astringent solution than a salve. I have hitherto found it only in the following passage (_Sloane MS_. 73., f. 211., late xv. sec.) in a recipe for making "cheuerel lether of perchemyne." The directions are, that it be "basked to and fro" in a hot solution of "alome roche;--aftir take xelkis of eyren and breke hem smale in a disch, as thou woldist make therof a caudel, and put these to thyn alome water, and chaufe it; thanne take it doun fro the fier, and put it in the cornetrey; thanne tak thi lether and basche it wel in this _sabras_, to it be wel drunken up into the lether." A little flour is then to be added, the mixture heated, and the "perchemyn well basked therein, and th't that saberas be wel drunken up into the lether;" and if it enters not well into the leather, "lay it abroad in a good long vessel that be scheld, the fleschside upward, and poure thi _sabrace_ al abouen the lether, and rubbe it wel yn." It is further recommended to "late the lether ligge so still al a nyzt in his owen _sabras_." "_I-menbred_, a girdle i-menbred." (Thus, in old French, "menbrer, _membrer_," &c., Roquefort). Charpentier gives similar use of the Latin word,--"Membrare, instruere, ornare, Gall. garnir;" citing a French |
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