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

For there appear no stars, but only one clear star that men clepe Canapos. 

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

From that city go men by the country a six journeys to another city that men clepe Chilenfo, of the which city the walls be twenty mile about. 

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

Paraventure in thilke large book Which that men clepe the heven, y-writen was With sterres, whan that he his birthe took, That he for love shulde han his deeth, allas!

From Astronomical Lore in Chaucer by Grimm, Florence M.

And there beside is another hill that men clepe Ararat, but the Jews clepe it Taneez, where Noah’s ship rested, and yet is upon that mountain. 

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

And some men clepe it the Vale Enchanted, some clepe it the Vale of Devils, and some clepe it the Vale Perilous. 

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