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From: Paul Cutmore< >
Subject: [OLDWORDS] pe, Cowlett, stedge, trefoote, steepes-paint
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2000 09:04 +0100 (BST)


Encouraged by the help I received in response to my recent message, I have
some more questions concerning a 1626 Admon.

1. What does "pe" mean? It's used extensively as in "a pe of Bellowes" or
"a pe of andirons". The context looks very much like it's an abbreviation
of "pair".

When used in this context, the lower case letter "p" always has a loop in
the tail. Elsewhere, the letter "p" has no loop - apart from its use in
the word "diap" as in "... 3 dozin of diap Napkins, 3 dozin of Holland
Napkins ...". "diap" looks like an abbreviation for "diaper".

Would a 'looped p' therefore be a special letter denoting "pr" or "per"?

2. "Cowlett"? As in "... 4 ffeather boulsters2 pe of Blanketts & 2
Cowletts".

3. "stedge", "trefoote" and "steepes-paint"? As in "Itm 2 tenant-sawes,
a whippsawe & a handsawe, a stedge, 3 trefootes & a Howe, 2 pikeaxes, 2
Bills, a garden rake, a steepes-paint, 4 awgors, & a wimble, wth other
Implements for husbandry".

Many thanks.

Paul Cutmore

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