Forms: 4–5 laumprun, lamproun, 4–8 lampron, 5 lampren, lamprone, lamprun(e, 5–6 laumpron, lawmpron, lawmperowne, 5–7 lampurne, 7 lamperne, lamproon, 7– lampern. [a. OF. lamproyon, lamprion, lampreon, dim. of lampreie LAMPREY.] The river lamprey (Petromyzon fluviatilis).
1324–5. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 14. 60 Lamprouns.
1382. Wyclif, Job, Prol. 671. As if thou woldest an eel or a laumprun holde with streite hondis.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 588. Elis & lampurnes rosted.
1589. Cogan, Haven of Health (1636), clxxx. 165. Lamprayes or Lampurnes bee partly of the nature of Eeles.
1655. Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Improv. (1746), 277. The little ones called Lamprons are best broil’d, but the great ones called Lampreys are best baked.
1730. Mrs. Delany, in Life & Corr. (1861), I. 265. Many thanks for the lamperns.
1838. Johnston, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, I. No. 6. 176. The Lampern or River Lamprey.
1883. Fisheries Exhib. Catal. (ed. 4), 125. Weels used on the Apron of Weirs for taking Lamperns.
attrib. 1565. Richmond. Wills (Surtees, 1853), 178. Fyve long spets, j lampron spet.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 325/2. A Lampron-Grigg, then a Lampret, then a Lamprell, then a Lamprey.
1883. Fisheries Exhib. Catal., 57. Eel Wheels or Traps. Lampern Spurts as used in Thames Fishery.
