First sb. World English Historical Dictionary

First sb. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1901, rev. 2022. First sb.

Obs. exc. dial. in comb. Forms: 1 first, fyrst, 3 firste, south. virste. [OE. fyrst str. fem. = OHG. first (MHG. virst, Ger. first):—*fersti-z; cf. the ablaut-var. Du., LG. vorst:—*fursti-z, of same meaning, which corresponds phonetically to Skr. pṛshṭí fem. rib; in sense it is nearer to the (prob. cognate) Skr. pṛshṭá back.]

1

  The inward roof or ceiling of a chamber; also, a ridge-pole; = first-piece.

2

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gloss., in Wr.-Wülcker, 126. Laquear, fyrst.

3

c. 1275.  Death, 155, in O. E. Misc., 179.        Þe rof and þe virste   schal ligge on þine chynne.

4

1378.  Durham Halm. Rolls (Surtees), 149. In manu Johannis fil. Gilberti x spars et j first, et in gardino præd. Thomæ sunt v ribs et firsts.

5

  b.  Comb., first-piece (Chesh. Gloss.), -pole, (Shropsh. Wordbk.), the ridge piece of roof-timbers.

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