▪ I. † cang, a. and n. Obs.
Also kang, chang, chank, cank.
[Of unknown derivation: the exchange of ca-, cha- suggests French origin; Godefroy has a quotation for changon, as a term of personal insult, which might be a deriv. of chang.]
A. adj. Foolish, silly. (In first quot. from Ancr. Riwle ? wanton.)
| a 1225 Leg. Kath. 260 Ne keccheð he creftiluker cang men. a 1225 Ancr. R. 56 To kesten kang [v.r. canh] eien upon ȝunge wummen. Ibid. 62 And nis heo to muche cang [v.r. chang, cangun]. Ibid. 358 Nis he a kang knit þet secheð reste iðe uihte. |
B. n. A fool.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 214 Þis is al þes canges blisse. Ibid. 270 He is so old cang [v.r. ald fol; ald ganh] þat kumeð. Ibid. 362 Oðer we beoð kanges [v.r. changes]. |
Hence canged a., foolish, besotted. ˈcangliche adv., foolishly. ˈkangschipe, folly. ˈcangun = canged.
| a 1225 Ancr. R. 362 (MS. T.) Oðer we arn cangede, þet weneð mid lihte scheapes buggen eche blisse. [See cang n.] Ibid. 56 Þet te wummen lokede cangliche o weopmen. Ibid. 338 Nan more kangschipe [v.r. madschipe, kanhschipe] nis þen setten God terme. a 1225 [see cang]. c 1230 Hali Meid. 33 Þu most to him halden, beohe cangun oðer crupel. |
▪ II. cang
see cangue.