clepe

American  

[kleep] / klip /

verb (used with object)

Archaic.

cleped, clept, ycleped, yclept, cleping

1. to call; name (now chiefly in the past participle as ycleped oryclept ).

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clepe British  

/ kliːp /

verb

1. archaic (tr) to call by the name of

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Etymology

Origin of clepe

First recorded before 900; Middle English clepen, Old English cleopian, variant of clipian; akin to Middle Low German kleperen “to rattle”

Example Sentences

But the two principal cities be these, Boyturra, and Seornergant, that some men clepe Sormagant. 

From The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Mandeville, John, Sir

But yet there is a place that men clepe the school of God, where he was wont to teach his disciples, and told them the privities of heaven. 

From The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Mandeville, John, Sir

And then the king wetteth his hands there, in that they clepe gall, and anointeth his front and his breast. 

From The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Mandeville, John, Sir

There dwell Saracens and another manner of folk, that men clepe Cordynes. 

From The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Mandeville, John, Sir

Also in that country there be beasts taught of men to go into waters, into rivers and into deep stanks for to take fish; the which beast is but little, and men clepe them loirs. 

From The Travels of Sir John Mandeville by Mandeville, John, Sir