English Explanatory Dictionary

searce

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A sieve; a strainer.
verb
  1. To sift (through a sieve); to bolt.

Pronunciation

/sɑːs/ /sɜːs/ /sɑɹs/ /sɚs/

Word forms

searce searces sarse searcing searced

Etymology

From Middle English sarse, probably from Anglo-Norman cerche, *cerce, from Late Latin *circa. Traditionally derived from Old French saas (Late Latin *saetāceus (pannus) (“(cloth) made of bristles”)), but this does not explain the -r- or the final -e of the Middle English form; intrusive -r- before /s/ is sometimes found in Middle English, but one would expect etymological r-less forms to appear alongside such forms.

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