herbergage

Middle English

Alternative forms

• erbigage, harbergach, harbergage, herbegage, herberghgage, herbigage, herbugage, herburgage, herbygage

Etymology

From Old French herbergage, herberjage; equivalent to Old French herbergier ‎ -age. Compare herberjour and herberwe.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌ(h)ɛrbirˈɡaːd͡ʒ(ə)/, /ˌ(h)ɛrbiˈɡaːd͡ʒ(ə)/

Noun

herbergage (plural herbergages)

1. Accommodation, lodgings.
   • 1387–1400, [Geoffrey] Chaucer, “The Nonnes Preestes Tale of the Cok / and Hen / Chaũtecler ⁊ Ꝑtelote”, in The Tales of Caunt́bury (Hengwrt Chaucer; Peniarth Manuscript 392D), Aberystwyth, Ceredigion: National Library of Wales, published [c. 1400–1410], →OCLC, folio 101, verso:

     Where as ther was / swich congregacioun / Of peple / and eek so streit of herbergage / That they ne founde / as muche as o cotage

     Where there was such a multitude of people / but such a dearth of lodgings, / That they didn't find as much as a cottage.

2. A military base or camp.
3. A home or house; a permanent residence.
4. (astronomy, rare) A house or mansion.

References

• “herbergāǧe, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.