Middle English Dictionary Entry

gest n.
Quotations: Show all Hide all

Entry Info

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

1.
(a) An invited guest, a guest at a meal, banquet, etc.; unboden ~, an uninvited guest; (b) a stranger or traveler entertained in one's home; one entertained by a monastery or the like; goddes ~, a stranger; nightes ~, a visitor for one night; two-nightes ~, one who stays two nights; taken to ~, to offer (sb.) hospitality; (c) fig. Christ in the womb of the Virgin Mary; sin as a guest of the soul; an intruder, an invader or conqueror; a newly caught bird; a newborn child; (d) a woman's lover; a prostitute's customer; (e) ?a host or hostess.
2.
A paying guest, a guest at an inn or a boarding house.
3.
(a) One who visits or passes through a place, one newly arrived in a place, a stranger; a burglar [quot.7 Sages(2)]; also fig.; (b) a man; esp. a wicked or dangerous man; --also used of a wild boar.
4.
In cpds. & combs.: ~ ale, a manorial ale feast which tenants were obligated to attend as paying guests; ~ chaumbre, a guest room; ~ halle (hous), a guest house; esp. in connection with a monastery or other religious house; also fig.; ~ lof, ?bread for guests, ?wastel bread; ~ stable, a stable for the horses of guests; ~ wise, as a guest.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • c1225 Wor.Gloss.(Corp-C 178)767/105 : Cumena huse: Gistenehuse.
  • Note: New spelling
    Note: Sense 4.