A Dictionary of Middle-English Cooking Terms

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

A

abyndoun - Probably a transcription error for "amidon". Wheat starch, or occasionally rye starch. Corn starch can be used as a modern substitute.

aforce - To mix with. Similar to temper.

alay - To stuff. (from French)

alegar - Malt vinegar.

alegur - Malt vinegar.

alisaunder - Black Loveage (Smyrnium olusatrum).

alkenet - Dyer's Bugloss (Alkanna tinctoria) or possibly Common Bugloss (Anchusa officinalis). A member of the Borage family. A red colorant.

alkanet - Dyer's Bugloss (Alkanna tinctoria) or possibly Common Bugloss (Anchusa officinalis). A member of the Borage family. A red colorant.

Dyer's Bugloss - Alkanna tinctoria

Alkanet powder

allowe - A meat roll, usually veal. Possibly from the French word for "dove", which such rolls may be meant to resemble.

almayne - German. In the German style.

aly - To mix with. Similar to temper.

alye - To mix with. Similar to temper.

alysaundre - Black Loveage (Smyrnium olusatrum).

alyth - To mix with. Similar to temper.

amidon - Wheat starch, or occasionally rye starch. Corn starch can be used as a modern substitute.

amydoun - Wheat starch, or occasionally rye starch. Corn starch can be used as a modern substitute.

appulmos - A sweet sort of apple pudding, usually containing almond milk.

appulmoy - A sweet sort of apple pudding, usually containing almond milk.

apulmos - A sweet sort of apple pudding, usually containing almond milk.

arbolettys - A baked dish of herbs with eggs.

ardaunt (ew ardaunt) - Distilled spirits, such as brandy.

auance - Avens (Geum urbanum). A member of the rose family common to England and much of Europe. Has medicinal as well as culinary uses. Also known as Herb Bennet.

Avens - Geum urbanum

ayren - Eggs. (from German)

ayrenn - Eggs. (from German)

aysell - Apple cider vinegar.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

N

neme - Take. (from German)

neres - A part of an animal. Austin gives this as "ears", though it may be a transcription or copy error for the French term "nerfs" - meaning testicles.

nerys - A part of an animal. Austin gives this as "ears", though it may be a transcription or copy error for the French term "nerfs" - meaning testicles.

nessher - Softer.

neyshe - Soft.

noiez (noiez mugadez) - Nutmeg.

nombles - Internal organs (e.g. kidneys).

nost - Kiln.

noumbles - Internal organs (e.g. kidneys).

noyre - Black. (from French)

numbles - Internal organs (e.g. kidneys).

nym - Take. (from German)

nyme - Take. (from German)

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

O

obleys - Wafers (e.g. sacramental wafers).

ochepot (hoggepot) - A stew made with pieces of meat (usually goose), onions, and herbs.

orage - Orach (Atriplex hortensis). An annual plant grown for its leaves.

Orach - Atriplex hortensis

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

P

pacience - Patience (Rumex alpinus), also known as Monk's Rhubarb or Passion's Dock.

Patience - Rumex alpinus

pecher - Pitcher.

pandemayn - Fine white bread. (from French)

paradys (grayne de paradys) - Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta), also known as Guinea pepper or Melegueta pepper. A small, hard seed with a flavor between ginger and pepper.

pasternaks - Root vegetables, namely carrots and parsnips.

pasturnakes - Root vegetables, namely carrots and parsnips.

payn - Bread. (from French)

payndemayn - Fine white bread. (from French)

peions - Pigeons.

peiouns - Pigeons.

peleter - Pellitory (Anacyclus pyrethrum). An herb with a hot, spicy flavor. Also called Spanish Chamomile and Mount Atlas daisy.

pellydore - Pellitory (Anacyclus pyrethrum). An herb with a hot, spicy flavor. Also called Spanish Chamomile and Mount Atlas daisy.

Pellitory - Anacyclus pyrethrum

pepyn - Pea (as opposed to the pea pod).

pertryche - Partridge.

peskodde - Pea pods.

peson - Peas.

pesoun - Peas.

peuerade (pevorat) - Pepper sauce.

pisyn - Peas.

plaise - Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa). A flat fish that lives on the sandy bottom of the ocean.

plays - Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa). A flat fish that lives on the sandy bottom of the ocean.

Plaice - Pleuronectes platessa

plouer - Plover.

pomme - Apples. (from French)

pommedorry - Golden apples. (from French)

pommys - Apples. (from French)

posnet - A small pot.

possynet - A small pot.

potage - A soup or stew.

pottel (pottle) - A half gallon.

powche - Stomach.

purdew - Lost. (from French)

purslarye - Purslane (Portulaca oleracea). Aso known as Pigweed.

Purslane - Portulaca oleracea

pynade - A candy made with pine nuts, similar to peanut brittle.

pynes - Pine nuts.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Q

qibibus - Cubebs (Piper cubeba). A type of pepper with a citrus-like scent. Also called Tailed Pepper.

Cubebs - Piper cubeba

Cubebs

queyntlich - Carefully.

quibibz - Cubebs (Piper cubeba). A type of pepper with a citrus-like scent. Also called Tailed Pepper.

quince - A close relative of the apple, with a hard, fragrant fruit (Cydonia oblonga).

Quince - Cydonia oblonga

quybibes - Cubebs (Piper cubeba). A type of pepper with a citrus-like scent. Also called Tailed Pepper.

quynce - Quince (Cydonia oblonga). A close relative of the apple, with a hard, fragrant fruit.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

R

rapes - Turnips.

rapus - Turnips.

rawnes - Fish roe.

restyn - Turning rancid.

restyng - Turning rancid.

rether - Ox.

rew - Rue (Ruta graveolens). A medicinal herb.

rewe - Rue (Ruta graveolens). A medicinal herb. Rue

Rue - Ruta graveolens

roches - Roach (Rutilus rutilus). A freshwater fish.

Roach - Rutilus rutilus

rales (rails) - A wetland bird of the genus Rallus.

Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus

ransched - Rinsed.

raston - A sort of tart made by stuffing bread with butter and breadcrumbs.

riall - Royal.

roo - Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus).

roppis - Intestines.

ruayn - A semi-soft cheese made in autumn. Possibly similar to Pont-l'Évêque.

rynysshe wyne - Rhine wine.

rysshews - Small fried pies filled with dried fruits.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

S

salwar - A type or grade of salmon. May be related to "calver" salmon which is freshly caught and cleaned, or "salar" salmon which is young.

sandres - Saunders, also known as Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus). Used as a red colorant.

sapheron - Saffron.

saunders - Saunders, also known as Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus). Used as a red colorant.

saundres - Saunders, also known as Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus). Used as a red colorant.

Red Sandalwood - Pterocarpus santalinus

schevres - Slivers.

schyconys - Chickens.

seeth - Boil.

serge - Sift.

seth - Boil.

sethith - Boil.

sethyng - Boiling.

sew - Stew or broth.

sewe - Stew or broth.

sklyse - A paddle or spatula.

skyrwater - Skirret (Sium sisarum). A root vegetable, also known as a water parsnip.

skyrwates - Skirret (Sium sisarum). A root vegetable, also known as a water parsnip.

Skirret - Sium sisarum

sode - Boiled.

soden - Boiled.

sodyn - Boiled.

soler - Cellar.

somdel - Somewhat, some part.

soppes - Sops. A dish consisting of a soup or broth poured over a slice of toasted bread.

sorcell - Teal, or Common Teal (Anas crecca).

Teal - Anas crecca

stockefysche (stockfish) - Dried fish, usually cod.

storion - Sturgeon.

southrenwode - Southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum). A vlose relative of wormwood and mugwort.

Southernwood - Artemisia abrotanum

sowpes - Sops. A dish consisting of a soup or broth poured over a slice of toasted bread.

sowpys - Sops. A dish consisting of a soup or broth poured over a slice of toasted bread.

spykenard - Spikenard (Nardostachys grandiflora). A flowering member of the Valerian family.

Spikenard - Nardostachys grandiflora

stondyng - Extremely thick. Thicker than chargeant.

sumdell - Somewhat, some part.

sweng - Stir vigorously. Whisk.

swerde - Rind or skin.

sweyng - Stir vigorously. Whisk.

swyng - Stir vigorously. Whisk.

swythe - Quickly.

synamoun (cinnamon) - Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum).

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

T

temper - To mix, usually combining dry and liquid ingredients. Temper has connotations of balancing as well.

tenches - Tench (Tinca tinca). A common freshwater fish of Europe.

Tench - Tinca tinca

trap - A plate or pan for making pies.

trenchours (trenchers) - Rectangular "plates" made from flat, three-day-old loaves of bread.

turbut - Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). A large, flat saltwater fish.

Turbot - Scophthalmus maximus

turnesole - A number of plants of the genus Heliotropium, used to produce red, purple, or blue colors.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

U

urchoun - Hedgehog.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

V

various - Verjuice. The juice of unripe grapes or sometimes apples. Used for its acidity and sour taste.

verde - Green. (from French)

vergeous - Verjuice. The juice of unripe grapes or sometimes apples. Used for its acidity and sour taste.

veriaws - Verjuice. The juice of unripe grapes or sometimes apples. Used for its acidity and sour taste.

verions - Verjuice. The juice of unripe grapes or sometimes apples. Used for its acidity and sour taste.

verious - Verjuice. The juice of unripe grapes or sometimes apples. Used for its acidity and sour taste.

vernage - A sweet, Italian wine.

veruayn - Vervain (Verbena officinalis).

Vervain - Verbena officinalis

viaundes - Meat. (from French)

vyande - Meat. (from French)

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

W

waffres - Wafers.

wafrouns - Wafers.

walkys - Whelks.

wardons - Pears.

wastel - A loaf of fine white bread.

wastilbrede - A loaf of fine white bread.

wastelys - Loaves of fine white bread.

wexe - Wax (increase).

wodecok - Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola).

Woodcock - Scolopax rusticola

wortes - Greens. Any number of leafy herbs.

wose - Juice.

wyneger - Vinegar.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

 

ybake - Baked.

yboiled - Boiled.

ybrayed - Ground.

ybroke - Broken.

ybrulyd - Broiled.

ycolouryt - Colored.

ycolowrd - Colored.

ycuver - Covered.

ydo - Done (added).

ydraw - Drawn, pulled apart.

ydyced - Diced.

yfarced - Stuffed. (from French)

yfoundred - Melted. (from French)

yfoundyt - Melted. (from French)

ygrounden - Ground.

yleesshed - Sliced.

ymber day - Ember day. One of the fasting days of the Christian calendar.

ymyed - Minced.

ynogh - Enough.

ypocras - Hyppocras. A sweet, spiced wine, or the spice mixture used to make it.

ypylled - Peeled.

yrchons - Hedgehogs.

yren - Eggs. (from German). Also sometimes iron - as in "Take a shouell of yren ...".

ysode - Boiled.

ysodyn - Boiled.

ysop - Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis). A member of the mint family.

Hyssop - Hyssopus officinalis

yswengyd - Whisked.

yswonge - Whisked.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Z

zelow - Yello. A transcription or copying error for зelow.

zif - If. A transcription or copying error for зif.

zolkes - Yolks. A transcription or copying error for зolkes.