jan 1, 1486 - tidy

Description:

The chief current uses, that is orderly, neat, etc. are on record only from the opening years of the eighteenth century, and earlier meanings are: timely, in good condition, well-favoured, of good character. Any of the latter might explain the by-name: 1379 <i>Johannes Tydy, </i>Grindleton (PTWR). The word was also used as a cow’s name: 1486 <i>to Agnes Chapman a cowe called Tydee</i>, Felixkirk (YAJ22/204) and this might share the same origin. Alternatively, a tidy cow in Scotland at that time was one that gave milk, and oxen wcould be described as ‘fat and tydye’ (OED).

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