payndemain

payndemain

English

Etymology

From Latin panis domini, lord's bread.

Noun

payndemain (uncountable)

1. A high-quality white bread, baked from the finest sifted flour, suitable for the lord of the manor.
   • 1996, A. R. Myers, English Historical Documents 1327-1485‎, p. 702:

     And for the milling of one quarter of wheat, 4d. And for payndemain [fine bread] bought, 5d.

   • 1914, Charles Sears Baldwin (quoting Geoffrey Chaucer, An Introduction to English Medieval Literature‎, p. 215:

     Sir Thopas wex a doghty swayn.
     Whyt was his face as payndemain,
     His lippes rede as rose.
     His rode is lyk scarlet in grayn,
     And I yow telle in good certayn
     He hadde a semely nose.

Alternative forms

• pandemain