Margaret
(ˈmɑːgərɪt)
Also 3 Marherete, Maregrete, 4 [Magote], margret, Mergrete, 4–6 margarete, 5 -ette, 6 -ite.
[a. OF. Margarete, -ite (mod.F. Marguerite), ad. late L. Margarīta, a female name, an application of L. margarīta pearl: see margarite1.]
1. A female name.
| [a 1300 Cursor M. 25456 (Cott.) Wit magote and wit mariori.] 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iv. 37 Hou he Rauischede..Mergrete of hire Maydenhod. c 1380 Wyclif Wks. (1880) 205 Sussanne, katerine, margare [v.r. margarete], anneys. a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Poems, An Epitaph of one named Margaret. In shells and gold pearls are not kept alone, A Margaret here lies beneath a stone. 1696 Phillips (ed. 5), Margaret, (Greek) Pearl; the Christian Name of divers Women, contracted Marget. |
† 2. A daisy; esp. Bellis perennis: called also herb Margaret (see herb n. 7 b), Margaret's herb, brave Margaret. (Cf. marguerite.) Obs.
[According to French etymologists, this use of F. marguerite is not from the personal name, but comes directly from the sense ‘pearl’ (see margarite1), having reference to the appearance of the flower (? or bud). It has, however, commonly been associated with the proper name: hence in recent times Daisy has been current in England as a pet-name for Margaret.]
| a 1500 Assemb. Ladies 57 With margarettes growing in ordinaunce. 1503 Hawes Examp. Virt. xii. xxii, Bryngynge me a floure called the margarete. 1597 Gerarde Herbal ii. cxciii. 512 The Daisie is called..of some Herba Margarita: or Margarites herbe. a 1607 Lyte MS. notes in Dodoens (Bibl. Mus. Brit. 442, h. 9) p. 126 (Britten & Holl.), Brave Margaret. 1640 Parkinson Theat. Bot. Table, Margarites herbe or Daysies. |
3. A variety of apple, and also of pear.
| 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. July (1679) 20 The Margaret-apple. 1707 Mortimer Husb. (1721) II. 294 The Margaret, the Maudlin, the Cluster Pear. 1834 Penny Cycl. II. 190/1 (Apple) Early red Margaret. |
4. A magpie; = madge1 2.
| 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss. II. 2. 1890 Cent. Dict. |
5. U.S. = margate-fish. Also margaret-grunt (Cent. Dict.). bastard margaret (see quot.).
| 1903 J. A. Henshall Bass, etc. 330 The Sailor's Choice (Hæmulon parra). This grunt is sometimes called bastard margaret by the Key West fisherman. |