[Sca-cooks] Nosewis

[Terry Decker]

Because I can't find a distinct definition, I believe this is a compound 
word.  Since this is a Court function, the language is probably Anglo-Norman 
French from the period where Anglo-Norman French and Middle English were 
being replaced by Early Modern English.

"Nose" is a variant Anglo-Norman spelling for the French "nois" derived from 
the Latin "nux" meaning nut.  "Wis" does not describe any specific nut.  The 
closest possible word that I've been able to locate is "viz" a variant 
spelling of "vie" (life, alive, living) which can be translated as 
sustenance.

Bear

Does anyone here know what the "Nosewis" in the coronation menu for Richard
III might be?  From the context I would guess that it was supposed to mean
a kind of fruit, such as dates, quinces, or pears.

-- 
Alex Clark/Henry of Maldon