Searchable Lemmata: relucere (L), reluire (AF), relusaunt (ME), relisaunce (ME), relusant (MdE), relucent (MdE).
Alternate Forms: relisaunse, relucens, reluisante, reluist, relusant, relusauncz, reluseit, relusent.
1a(adj.)
Other;
in origin a verb meaning 'to shine out', used in various contexts; often as a participle adjective describing precious stones, metals, fabrics and clothing, with the senses 'shiny, gleaming, lustrous' etc.(ante 1110 still in current use)
2. [2144] ... Relusent cil escu e cil helme flamboient ... [2145] ... Le soleil rait e cil haubert blanchoient ... [2160] ... E vermeil gonfanon ataché d’un fresel ... [2164] ... Broche le cheval, l’escu torne en cantel ... [2167] ... Par my l'escu ly met son espié a neel ... [2168] ... De son haubert maillé fausent ly clavel
Heroic, Historic, Poetic, Romance.
[AND Rom Chev ANTS (2144-2168) circa 1175/1200]
Sex: N/A Use: n/a Status: n/a Rank: n/a Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
1b(adj.)
Decoration;
to be resplendent, especially in fine clothing or armour.(circa 1175 - circa 1200)
Sex: Male, Female Status: High Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
2(n.)
Textile;
a lightweight cloth, probably shiny or lustrous in nature. Especially associated with coverchiefs (cf. sense 1a above).(circa 1362 - circa 1450)
2. [6] volettez [of] Cambr, [3 s. 6 d.] ... [One piece of red] relisaunce [of 3] purl, [2 s.; 7 pieces] relisaunce [of] purl [at 2 s. the piece] ... [10] pli3t Crymyll [of silk at 10 s. each] ... [4 pieces of] spynall [containing 210 ells at 2 d. the ell]
Accounts, Legal.
[MED Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh. (225-6) 1394]
3. i couple damask' cremesyn' continent' xxii vergas; xv couples damask' diversorum colorum continent' xlix pecias ... xvii pec[iis] kerch[efs] de cotton' ... xxii pec[iis] kerch[efs] de relisaunse
[MED in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst. (512-514) 1420/1421]
4. The forhede playn and wommanysshe To discryue my hert slepyth for faut of englysshe; Whitter of hir self then ermyn or plesaunce, Vmple, lawn, reynez, or relisaunce ... o thyng pynchyd lyke a nonnys wymple, Ne forowyd drye lyke a nabbesse gymple
Poetic.
[MED When the son ((Frf 16) 325-326) circa 1450]
Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
Definite, Anglo-French and Old French reluire, relure, from CL relucere 'to shine out, reflect'. Often found in participle forms, used adjectivally ('shining') and hence to ME relusaunt (see OED relusant). The derived form relusance. etc. is not attested in AND. In the late fifteenth century the English word was influenced by knowledge of Latin relucere (participle relucens-), hence the standard later form relucent.
WF: Borrowed into the British Isles
Etym Cog:
References:
