[‘ Plunder, spoils, booty; an instance of this, a trophy.']
Forms: ME–15 *prede*, 15 *preade*, 15 *preede*.
Etymology: < classical Latin /praeda/ plunder, booty, spoil, prey, game, prize, reward, perhaps ultimately < /prae-/ pre- prefix + the stem of the second element of /praehendere/ prehend v. Compare pread v.
/Obs./
Plunder, spoils, booty; an instance of this, a trophy.
c/1330 (▸?a1300) /Guy of Warwick/ (Auch.) p. 452 (/MED), Mete and drink anouȝ ȝiue me, & riche cloþes lat þou be; Y kepe non swiche prede.
1538 in /State Papers Henry VIII/ (1834) III. 41 He was constreyned to leave behinde him the spoile and prede he had there takyn.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus /Apophthegmes/ f. 186, They..conspired together of all the preade & bootie that thei should geat not to bryng a iote into ye kynges pauilion.
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil /First Foure Bookes Æneis/ i. 15 For we hither sayld not,..from their region with prede too gather an heardflock.
1582 R. Stanyhurst in tr. Virgil /First Foure Bookes Æneis/ 96 Not a practise honest, nor a preede toe be greatlye recounted.