▪ I. † shench, n. Obs.
Forms: 1, 3 scenc, 2–3 scenche, (senche), 3, 5 schench, 4 sscench.
[OE. scęnc masc.:—prehistoric *skaŋki-, related to scęncan shench v.]
A cupful, drink (of liquor). Cf. noneschenche nuncheon.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. Matt. x. 42 Cælc vel scenc [L. calicem] wætres caldes. c 1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 128 Syle drincan on wine, tweᵹan scenceas oððe ðry. c 1250 Moral Ode 331 (Egerton MS.) Þes worlð us wule for-drenche Mest alle men he ᵹuied drinke, of one deofles scenche [Trin. MS. of on euele senche]. c 1205 Lay. 9692 Þus seide þe King..Þer he sæt mid his scenche An his kine-benche. Ibid. 13461 He lette heom bringen schenches of feole cunne drenches. 13.. Seuyn Sag. (Weber) 562 He made ther-under a grene bench, And drank ther-under mane a sscench. |
▪ II. † shench, shenk, v. Obs.
Forms: α. 1–2 scencan, scænc(e)an, scencean, 3 scenche, scencche, (ssenche, 3–4 senche), 3–5 schenche, 4 shenche; β. 2–3 Orm. shennkenn, 3 senken, 5 schenkyn.
[OE. scęnc(e)an = OFris. skenka, OS. skenkian (MLG. schenken, whence ON. skenkja, Da. skænke, Sw. skänka), MDu., mod.Du. schenken, OHG. scenken (MHG., mod.G. schenken):—OTeut. *skaŋkjan. Cf. skink v.
For conjectures as to the ulterior etymology see Kluge and Falk & Torp.]
trans. To pour out (liquor); to give (a person) drink.
| α Beowulf 496 Þeᵹn nytte beheold se þe on handa bær hroden ealowæᵹe scencte scir wered. a 1050 Lamb. Ps. xxxv. 9 Hiᵹ beoþ ᵹedrencte..of burnan þinre wynsumnysse & þu scæncst [L. potabis] hiᵹ. a 1050 Liber Scintill. xxviii. (1889) 106 Þæt nys coss ræccean ac scencean [L. propinare]. c 1205 Lay. 8124 I-scængte mid beore. Ibid. 20375 He sæið mid his ȝelpe þenne me him win scenccheð. 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 2526 Þe drinke vor to ssenche [v.rr. schenche, swenche]. 13.. K. Alis. 7581 (Laud MS.) He was..ysette on heiȝe benche, And wyne & pyement gynneþ shenche. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 263 Envie..halt taverne forto schenche That drink which makth the herte brenne. |
| β c 1200 Ormin 15403, & tu, lef Laferrd Jesu Crist, Ne shennkesst nohht tatt wise. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 322 He..senkede hire hure aldre bale. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 445/1 Schenkyn drynke, propino. |
Hence † ˈshenker.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 51/1 Bryllare of drynke, or schenkare, (drinkshankere, P.), propinator, propinatrix. |