▪ I. † murth1, morth Obs.
Forms: 1–3, 5 morð (morth), 4–5 murth(e.
[OE. morð str. neut. and masc. = OFris. morth, mord, OS. morð (MLG., MDu. mort, Du. moora), OHG. mord neut. and masc. (MHG. mort, G. mord), ON. morð:—OTeut. *murþo{supm}, -o-z, cogn. w. L. mort-, mors death. (Cf. murder n.)]
Murder, slaughter.
| c 893 K. ælfred Oros. i. viii. 40 Þonne hi swylc ᵹeblot & swylc morð donde wæron swylc her ær beforan sæde. c 1205 Lay. 19739 Hu heo mihten þene king mid morðe aquellen. Ibid. 28715 Þat heo wolden..for saken Modredes sune þæ þat morð wrohte. a 1300 Cursor M. 1072 A-gain abel he raysed strijf, Wit murth he did his broiþer o lijf. a 1400–50 Alexander 1279 Þe morth of all þe Messedone[s] and of þe many grekis. c 1400 Destr. Troy 5983 Full mekull was the murthe, & mony were ded. |
b. Comb., as morth burning [cf. MHG. mortbrennen], incendiarism; morth game, murderous play, murder; morth spel, murder.
| c 1205 Lay. 19654 Mid morð-spelle þene king aquellen. Ibid. 22908 Moni þer feollen for heore muchele mode morðgomen wrohten. a 1300 Cursor M. 27838 O couaitise..cums..morth brinning, manslaghter, and suik. |
▪ II. murth2 north.
(mɜːθ)
Also (in E.D.D.) morth.
[? a. ON. mergð, f. marg-r many.]
A great quantity, plenty, abundance.
| 1674 Ray N.C. Words 34 A Murth of corn: abundance of corn. 1855 W. Brooke Eastford 76, I think we should have had a murth of it this year, but the summer has been a little too cold, and Indian corn must have a hot sun. 1882 Lanc. Gloss., Murth, a large quantity or number. Another form of mort. |