mop

1) The name of one of four horses owned by the provost of Beverley.

1419 j griseus cecus vocatus Mope. The meaning is far from clear: it may be ‘fool’, on record from the thirteenth century or a term of endearment, comparable with the later ‘mopsy’ and ‘moppet’. However, since the horse was blind perhaps ‘mope-eyed’ which meant short-sighted is relevant.

spellings mope
places Beverley
dates 1419

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