Middle English Dictionary Entry
fadme n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fadme n. Also fadom, fathme, fethme, vedme. Pl. usu. uninfl.; rarely -en, -es. |
| Etymology | OE fæþm. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A measure of length, equivalent to six feet or thereabouts; fadme lengthe; (b) a depth of six feet in taking nautical soundings.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175(?OE) HRood (Bod 343)22/25 : Ða wæs hit ane feðme længre þonne þa oðre.
- (1356-7) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100558 : Et in 2 fadom de louerstringes empt.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5102 : Four feþeme on lengþe & brede.
- (1381-2) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103592 : Pro 1 hausor de 14 fathom in longitudine.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2916 : [The fire] that with his grene top the heuene raughte And twenty fadme [vrr. fademe, fadmes, faþome] of brede the armes straughte.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)306 : And þrew him in a welle, Seuen fadmen it was deep.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)70 : The houndes kenel shuld be of x fadmys of lengthe and v of brede.
- (1449) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 875 : For vi vedum of lyne to ye krowne.
- c1450(?c1400) 3 KCol.(1) (Cmb Ee.4.32)26/20 : A manger, of þe lengthe of a fadome, made in a wall.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)615/45 : Tensa: a vedme.
- (1475) RParl.6.134b : XII fathom depe in the ground.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)900 : Ther nas nother old ne yynge..That myȝt the ston to hys but bryng Be fedeme lengþe.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1327 : Too knaue chyldren..four fet of brede in the brest..And of to fethem hey.
b
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)12 : Yif ye goo fro the shelde to the Holmes..ye shall go but xviij fadome fro the coste.
2.
?The length of a cubit or ell (used loosely).
Associated quotations
- [ c1000 Aelfric Gloss.in Wright-Wülcker Vocab.158/10 : Cubitum: Fædm betwux elboga and handwyrste. ]
- a1225(OE) Vsp.A.Hom.Init.Creat.(Vsp A.22)225 : An arc þreo hund fedme lang and fifti fedme wid.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)27686 : Þat him þer bæfte þat sper þurh ræhte fulle ane ueðme.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)21532 : He right depe had doluen dare, Ma þan tuenti fadim [Vsp: fote] or mare.
- c1450(1369) Chaucer BD (Benson-Robinson)422 : So grete trees..Of fourty or fifty fadme lengthe.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)129/2 : Sir Kay..strake one of the kynges thorow the shelde and also the body a fadom.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)1656 : Þorȝ the kynges body of Grece hyt [the spear] stode A feðme of lengþe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)2098 : Thabies men callith thoo reedes stronge, Of thirty fethemes thai ben longe.
Note: New spelling
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Nicod.(3) (Eg 2658)7/15 : Þulke borde was iiii square, & euery syde a veþum longe or litil more.
Note: New form.