[Sca-cooks] adjective "privy" - meanings

[Johnna Holloway]

The Middle English Dictionary which offers
 "comprehensive analysis of lexicon and usage for the period 1100-1500"
and which is available by subscription online

> also lists various quotes out of Chaucer--
>
> A privy; also fig.; (b) ~ dore, privy door; ~ hous (place), privy; 
> commune ~, public privy; ~ scourere (squiller), privy cleaner; ~ stol, 
> privy seat; ~ thirl, privy hole; comen to ~, gon (goinge) to ~, sitten 
> at ~.
>    (a1387) Trev. Higd.(StJ-C H.1)
>        3.87:  Tarquinus Priscus..made walles and vices and oþere strong
>    places and priueþ [?read: priueis; vr. pryvey; Higd.(2) necessary
>    thynges; L cloacas].  (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)
>     C.527:  A    foul thyng is it..That of his throte he maketh his 
> pryuee.
>
> Oh and it also means "(c) private parts, genitals." too.
>
> Johnnae

Huette and I are both librarians... we live for this sort of thing!

>
> Huette von Ahrens wrote:  Julian,
>
>> I am really surprised that you didn't look up "privy" in the Oxford 
>> English Dictionary, which
>> to many is the superlative authority in English word usage over the 
>> years.  I not only own
>> a copy, but I also subscribe to OED Online, just for these occasions.
>