Searchable Lemmata: rift (OE), rifte (ME), rift (MdE).
Alternate Forms: riftum, ryft, ryfte, ryftum.
1a(n.)
Garment;
general term for a piece of material which could be used as a cloak, curtain or veil. As a veil (as in the latest example in LaȜamon's Brut), the term is often found to describe a lightweight material wrapped around a large part of the body, often in Biblical or other ecclesaistic literature. The garment could be embroidered, suggesting it could be worn by women of the upper class. The term is also found in compounds that offer a clearer sense of its use.(ante 1000 - 1300)
2. And þa þiccodan þider semninga þa Ismaheli on horsum and on olfendum, and hig hæfdon geþwinglode loccas and scearp fex on hiora hiafde and healf nacode on hiora lichaman, buton þæt hig wæron mid ænlypigum riftum ymbhangene, and wide sceos hangodan on hira fotum and bogan hangodan on hiora eaxlum, and hig bæron lange sceaftas and ne coman hig na to fiohtanne, ac þæt hig woldan mid hloðe geniman.
[DOE LS 35 (VitPatr) (0091 (217))]
5. Se wæs bebræded mid hwitum ryftum, ond þær wæs on unrim scinendra leohtfata, ond þær stod an beorht wer ond cwæð to him, þis is se weg mid þy þe drihtnes se leofa Benedictus astag on heofon.
Biblical/Hagiographic.
[DOE Mart 5 (Kotzor) (0246 (Ma 21, B.22))]
Sex: Female Use: Ecclesiastical Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: Back, Chest, Head, Shoulder(s).
1b(n.)
Garment;
specifically, one of the garments in which Christ was dressed during the Crucifixion, a garment also described by other terms, among them reaf.(900 - ante 1100)
2. et postquam inluserunt ei exuerunt eum clamyde et induerunt eum uestimentis eius et duxerunt eum ut crucifigerent & æfter ðon bismeredon him ongeredon hine ðy ryfte & gegeredon hine mið his gewedum & gelæddon hine þæt hia on rode genæglede.
[DOE MtGl (Li) (1016 (27.31))]
Sex: Female Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
1c(n.)
Garment;
specifically, a woollen cloak; possibly an error by the glossator. This use of the term is found in only one gloss as a translation of the Classical Latin sagum and synonym of Old English hwitel. Both terms suggest a woollen, often shaggy, blanket.(ante 1100)
Sex: Female Ceremonial: No
Body Parts:
