† gerard Obs.
Also 4 gerarde, gerrard.
[Of obscure origin; app. pronounced with (g) and with stress on the first syllable.]
A villain.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 7487, I sal vnder-tak þe fight, Agains yon gerard [Goliath] þat es sa grim. Ibid. 11811 Þat gredi gerard [Herod] als a gripe his vn-rightes biginnes to ripe! Ibid. 22308 Þai sal wene crist at vnderfang, And sal receiue þe gerard [Antichrist] strang. c 1350 Leg. Rood (1871) 64 Þe gerrard [the Devil] þus gan hir bigile, And me also, allas þat while! |