Aiery, or eiry, the nest of a bird of prey; and hence (Rich. III. i. 3), the contents of the nest, the young birds. It is the French aire, which has the same signification, and which, being flat and unformed, comes from area. See Notes and Queries, 3rd S. vi. 43.
Aim, in archery. There was a distinction between 'Cry aim' and 'Give aim.' The former was merely to call on the archer to shoot; the latter to tell him how his arrow had gone with respect to the aim or mark.
Amaimon and Barbason (M. W. ii. 2, 1 II. IV. ii. 4, II. V. ii. 1), names of fiends of which little is known. The dominion of the former was said to be on the north part of the infernal gulf.
Ancient, ensign, ensign-bearer. It is the French enseigne with the usual paragogic t.
And if, an if, an. These are all used for if. The first is the original form, framed perhaps after etsi.
Anon. Probably a corruption of in one, sc. minute.
Aroint. This unusual word is generally regarded as an interjection equivalent to avaunt! but it may be an indicative, with an ellipsis of I, and so be a corruption of averrunco.
Arras (so called from the town of that name), tapestry for covering the walls of rooms. It was fixed on wooden frames a little distance from the wall; hence people could go behind it. (Much Ado, i. 3, M. Wives, iii. 3, 1 H. IV. ii. 4, et alib.)
Arthur's Show (2 H. IV. iii. 2), an exhibition of archery by a toxophile society, whose members, fifty-eight in number, appeared in the characters of the Knights of the Round Table. In it Sir Dagonet was the King's Fool.
Away i.e. on way. "She never could away with me" (2 Hen. IV. iii. 2) is, she could not go on the way (i.e. agree) with me.