▪ I. sord, n. Obs. exc. arch.
Forms: 5 soorde, sorde, 5–6 sourd(e, 9 sord.
[f. sord v.]
A flight or flock of mallards.
Orig. perhaps the act of taking to wing, but only recorded in the lists of ‘proper terms’; in some late copies of these erroneously given as sore.
| 14.. Harl. MS. 541 fol. 225 in Phil. Soc. Trans. (1909) 55 A Soorde of malardes, A Doppyng of herles. c 1470 Hors, Shepe & G. (Roxb.), A Spryng of teeles, A Sourde of malardes. 1486 Bk. St. Albans, Hawking d ij, When ther be in a stobull tyme Sordes of mallardes in the felde. 1801 Strutt Sports & Past. i. ii. 28 A sord or sute of mallards. 1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Brit. Rural Sports i. ix. 78/1 The following Terms are in Use among Wildfowl-shooters:—A flock of wigeon is termed ‘a company’..; of mallards, ‘a sord’. |
▪ II. sord
obs. or dial. form of sward n.
▪ III. † sord, v. Obs.—1
[ad. OF. sordre, sourdre, etc.:—L. surgĕre to rise. Cf. sord n.]
intr. To rise or soar up in flight.
| 14.. Harl. MS. 2340 fol. 49 b. in Phil. Soc. Trans. (1909) 28 It spryngyth or sordyth vp sodenly be hym. |