Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Maumet


Maumet (n.) - A representation of a pagan deity; an idol, image, or doll.


Gurmund makede aenne tur; ther-inne he bulde aenne bur.
ther-inne he pleoghede his plaghen; tha me luuede a theon daghen.
ther-inne he hafde his maumet; tha he heold for his god.
Hit i-lomp on ane daeighe; that Gurmund mid his dughethe.

- Layamon, fl.1200: Brut (MS Cotton Caligula) (1205)


The Middle-English Word of the Day is selected from Mayhew and Skeat's
"Concise Dictionary of Middle English."
As found on Greg Lindahl's website
http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/concise/concise.html

The example text was found at the Middle English Collection of the University of Virginia Library.
http://etext.virginia.edu/collections/languages/english/mideng.browse.html