| 释义 |
wind-egg|ˈwɪndɛg|
[f. wind n.1 + egg n. Cf. G., LG., Du. windei.]
An imperfect or unproductive egg, esp. one with a soft shell, such as may be laid by hens and other domestic birds.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xix. lxxix. (Add. MS. 27944), Wynde eyren beþ litel and vnsauory... And suche eyren beþ yfounde in hennes & gees. 1577Googe Heresbach's Husb. 169 The Hennes wyl treade one the others, but theyr Egges neuer come to good, but are wind Egges. 1611Cotgr., Harde,..an egge laied with a soft skin, or filme (about it) in stead of a shell; a soft-sheld egge; a wind egge. 1741J. Martyn Virg. Georg. iii. 273 note, Varro affirms it as a certain truth, that about Lisbon some mares conceive by the wind, at a certain season, as hens conceive what is called a wind egg. 1844H. Stephens Bk. Farm II. 721 Hens will lay what are called wind eggs, that is, eggs without a hardened shell. 1893Newton Dict. Birds 198 Want of calcareous food may explain the soft-shelled or ‘wind’ eggs.
b. fig.
a1616Beaum. & Fl. Wit without M. i. i, Other men with all their delicates, and healthfull diets, can get but winde egges. 1645Milton Colast. 3 From such a wind-egg of definition as this, they who expect any of his other arguments to bee well hatcht [etc.]. 1661Stillingfl. Irenicum ii. vi. §2. 237 The pretended division of Provinces so early among the Apostles, is only the wind-egge of a working fancy, that wants shell of reason to cover it. 1826Beddoes Let. to T. F. Kelsall 5 Oct., Here is a Dr. Raupach who lays a tragedy or two in the year—mostly windeggs. |