carkeys

carkeys (plural carkeyses)

1. Obsolete form of carcass.
   • 1544, Ludouicus Viues [Juan Luis Vives], translated by Rycharde Morysine, An Introduction to VVysedome, London: Thomae Betheleti , →OCLC, page 12:

     […] so it is extreme foly for ye mynde, to be slaue vnto fonde affections, and to serue at a becke, the vyle carkeys, neyther the dygnitie of nature, neyther the expresse lawe of god, any thynge regarded.

     [so it is extreme folly for the mind, to be slave unto fond affections, and to serve at a beck, the vile carcass, neither the dignity of nature, neither the express law of God, any thing regarded.]

   • 1547 [1524], Desiderius Erasmus, translated by Gentian Hervetus, De Immensa Dei Misericordia, London: Tho. Berth, page 49:

     It was no great thyng foꝛ our loꝛde to reyſe a carkeys that laye .iiii. daies deade, it is a greatter maiſtrie, to reyſe a ſynner, that .xl. yeres lyued not, but laie ſtill ſtinkyng and defyled with all maner of fylthy ſynne.

     [It was no great thing for our Lord to raise a carcass that lay 4 days dead, it is a greater mastery, to raise a sinner, that 40 years lived not, but lay still stinking and defiled with all manner of filthy sin.]

   • 1574, Iohn Marbecke [i.e. John Marbecke], The lyues of holy Sainctes, , London: Henry Denham, and Richard Watkins, page 284:

     […] he turned aſide to ſee the carkeys of the Lyon, and founde of the bellye thereof, a ſwarme of Bees and hony, whereof he tooke in his hande, and went eating to his Father and mother, ⁊ gaue their parte of the Hony.

     [he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and found of the belly thereof, a swarm of bees and honey, whereof he took in his hand, and went eating to his father and mother, and gave their part of the honey.]

   • 1582, The Bible: That Is, the Holy Scriptures Conteined in the Olde and Newe Testament, London: Christopher Barker, folio 61, verso:

     Your carkeyſes ſhall fall in this wilderneſſe, and all you that were counted through all your numbers, from twentie yeere olde and aboue, which haue murmured againſt me, […]

     [Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness, and all you that were counted through all your numbers, from twenty year old and above, which have murmured against me]

   • 1668, Serenus de Cressy, The Church-History of Brittany From the Beginning of Christianity to the Norman Conquest Under Roman Governours, Brittish Kings, the English-Saxon Heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) Monarchy, , page 97:

     But then followd a wonderfull thing: for this bloodlesse carkeys return'd to life, and resuming its former strength, came out of the sepulcher which remaind seald as before.

     [But then followed a wonderful thing: for this bloodless carcass returned to life, and resuming its former strength, came out of the sepulcher which remained sealed as before.]

carkeys

1. plural of carkey