What does Middle English “yreyn” mean?
Isaiah.59:5
“Thei han broke eiren of snakis, and maden webbis of an yreyn; he that etith of the eiren of hem, schal die, and that that is nurschid, ether brouyt forth, schal breke out in to a cocatrice.”
King James Bible:
“They hatch cockatrice’ eggs, and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.”
Answer
The OED lists yreyn as a spelling of arain, an obsolete word meaning spider.
Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : Anatoliy Sydorov , Answer Author : GEdgar
