Obs. Forms: α. 4–5 voket, 4–5 vokett-, 5 vokett, vokyte. β. 4 vok-, vocate, 5 vocat. [Aphetic f. avoket, avocat ADVOCATE sb.] An advocate, in various senses.
α. 1303. R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 5402. Ȝyf þou yn falsehede so moche ȝede,… To consente to a fals luggyng, Or hyredyst a voket to swyche þyng.
13[?]. Progr. Sanct. (Vernon MS.), in Herrig, Archiv Stud. neu. Spr., LXXXI. 315/113. We han euer a good voket To foren his holi fader set.
1393. Langl., P. Pl., C. III. 61. Were bede to þat brudale … vytailers and vokettus of þe Arches.
14[?]. in Wr.-Wülcker, 680/31. Hic causidicus, a vokyte.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., lii. 372 (Add. MS.). Bi the foxe are vndirstondyn vokettes, prelates of causes temporall, courteers, Iurrours, and wily men.
c. 1475. Cath. Angl., 404/1 (A.). A Vokett, vbi A plettere.
β. 13[?]. Cursor M., 20927 (Gött.). Paule, þat saul had first to nam … First he was þe iuus vocate [Cott. auocate], And syden he come till postil state.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. II. 60. Were boden to þe bridaile … vitaillers and vokates of þe arches.
1426. Lydg., De Guil. Pilgr., 4847. My wondys I geue … To plete for hem when they ha nede … I make ther vocat of my blood.
? 14[?]. in Wars Eng. in France (Rolls), II. 525. Receyvoures, Procutours, Vocatis.
1509. Fisher, Wks. (1876), 282. Our sauyour Ihesu is … a suffycyent vocate for vs before the face of his fader.
a. 1513. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 516. A vocat named Peter Puyssour, and a felowe of his named maister John Godarde.
