serche

Middle English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɛrtʃ(ə)/, /ˈsɛːrtʃ(ə)/

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Old French cerche (“search”), from cerchier (“to search”); compare serchen.

Alternative forms

• cerche, serch, serge, sarche

Noun

serche (plural serches)

1. A search or investigation of an area.
2. An investigation of goods entering a country.
3. The privilege to investigate crime (usually violations of guild code)
4. A supervisor of a convent (monastery for women).
5. (rare, Late Middle English) An inspection or inquest of goods or products.
6. (rare, Late Middle English) An in-depth conversation.

Descendants

• English: search
• Scots: sairch

References

• “serch(e, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 9 July 2018.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Old French cerche (“edge, margin”).

Alternative forms

• seerch, serge, sergh, skerche

Noun

serche (plural serches)

2. A cut or carved stone.

References

• “sē̆rch, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 9 July 2018.

Etymology 3

Verb

serche

1. alternative form of serchen