† crachounn.
Obsolete.
A word of uncertain origin, frequent in Cursor Mundi, the later texts of which render it caitiff or wretch. [The only similar Old French word is crachon = French crachat ‘matter expectorated or spat out’, which gives a possible sense in the quots. There is a curious likeness in sense and form between crachoun and crathoun (crathon, craton), although so many instances of both occur that the hypothesis of an error of ch for th, or the converse, seems to be inadmissible.]
ΘΠ
the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > tribulation, trouble, or affliction > wretched person
wretchc1000
caitiffc1325
crachouna1400
wretcheda1425
miserable1484
miser1542
afflicted1545
seggon1570
elf1573
devil1593
wreck1795
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > wretchedness > wretch > [noun]
argha1275
mixa1300
caitiffc1325
crachouna1400
crathona1400
wretcheda1425
fouling?a1475
meschant1490
miscredent?a1500
ketterela1572
miscreant1590
scroyle1602
frummer1659
fustya1732
ramscallion1734
the mind > emotion > suffering > misery > [noun] > miserable person
armOE
ermingOE
wretchc1000
caitiffc1325
crachouna1400
miserable1484
miser1542
elf1573
angishore1835
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > lack of magnanimity or noble-mindedness > [noun] > baseness or moral vileness > person
wretchOE
filthOE
birdc1300
villain1303
caitiffc1330
crachouna1400
crathona1400
custronc1400
sloven?a1475
smaik?1507
rook?a1513
scavenger1563
scald1575
peasant1581
scaba1592
bezonian1592
slave1592
patchcock1596
muckworm1649
blackguard1732
ramscallion1734
nasty1825
cad1838
boundera1889
three-letter man1929
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 27063 He lise ouer-commen as a crachoun.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 18120 Þu ert nu crachun [Trin. Cambr. wrecche] fra þis sith.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 14717 Als crachuns [Trin. Cambr. caitifs] he þam feld ilkan.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 9014 Þe man sco has in hir bandom, He es forcasten als crachon.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
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n.a1400