▪ I. † norsh, n.
obs. variant of nourish n., nurse.
| 1382 Wyclif Ruth iv. 16 Noemy putte the takun child in hir bosum; and vside the office of norshe. 1480 Robt. Devyll in Thoms E. Eng. Prose Rom. (1828) 8 He bote the norshes pappes. |
▪ II. † norsh, v. Obs.
Forms: 3–4 norss(i, 4 norsshe, 5 norshe, 4–5 norsche, norche.
[var. of nourish v.]
trans. To nurse or nourish.
| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 1450 He spac engliss vor he was at rome inorssed biuore. Ibid. 1567 [Nero] let hit rere a noble court..to norssi þe ssrewe þer inne. a 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 42 Ȝif a modir norscheþ & loueþ here fleschly child. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) IV. 99 It is grete enemyte to werriours forto norsche sleuþe and leccherie. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 195 She was of a child I-norshit with venym. 1460 J. Capgrave Chron. (Rolls) 30 So vas he..thus norchid up onto mannes age. |
Hence † ˈnorshing vbl. n. Also † ˈnorsher, nourisher. † ˈnorshery, nursery.
| c 1374 Chaucer Boeth. ii. pr. v. (1868) 47 Þe fruytes of þe erþe owen to ben on þe norssinge of bestes. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) VI. 219 He was i-take to norschynge and to lore to Benet Bisshop. 1442 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 139 This byth the norchynges of lechurie. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 358/2 Norschynge, in manerys and condycyons..educacio. c 1450 Cov. Myst. (Shaks. Soc.) 239, I am norssher of synne to the confusyon of man. a 1500 Promp. Parv. 358/2 Norshery, where ȝong childyr ben. |