A Concise Dictionary of Middle English from A.D. 1150 to 1580

by A. L. Mayhew; Walter W. Skeat

[ Cowde, Cowthe], pt. s. could, knew, G; see [Kunnen].

[ Cowschet], sb. cushat, wood-pigeon, S3; cowscott, Voc.; cowshot, SkD.—AS. cúsceote (Voc.), cúscute (OET.).

[ Coy], adj. still, quiet, MD, C, C2; sober, modestus, Prompt.—AF. coy, quiet, OF. coi, Ps. 77. 13, also coit; Lat. quietum.

[ Crabbe], sb. crab, S, Voc., Prompt.; also (in building) an arch, fornix, cancer, MD.—AS. crabba; cp. AF. crabbe.

[ Crabbed], adj. shrewish, cross, bitter, C2, Palsg., MD, PP; crabbyd, ‘awke or wrawe, cancerinus’ Prompt.

[ Cracchen], v. to scratch, MD, PP, C; crechen, S; cark, JD.

[ Craft], sb. might, power, ability, art, craft, deceit, MD, S, S2, C2; creft, MD; craftes, pl. trades, P.—AS. cræft; cp. OHG. kraft (Otfrid).

[ Crafti], adj. skilful, sly, MD, S2; crafty, C, P; crefti, S.

[ Crafti-man], sb. artificer, W.

[ Crage], sb. the neck, throat, S3, JD; crawe, the craw of fowls, Prompt., MD.—Cp. Du. kraag, neck, collar.