Obs. Forms: 5–7 lepry, -rie; 5 leperiȝ, leprye, -raye, leaperie, 6–7 leprey, leaprie, -ry. (For the form lepre, which may possibly in some instances belong to this word, see LEPER1.) [f. LEPER sb.2 + -Y.] = LEPROSY.
1430–40. Lydg., Bochas, II. xvii. (1554), 52 b. God toke vengeaunce & smote him with leprie [ed. 1494 lepre].
a. 1483. Liber Niger, in Househ. Ord. (1790), 43. If any of this courte be infected with leperiȝ or pestylence.
1545. Brinklow, Lament., 24 b. No parson, ones hauing the leperye, shuld come amonge the congregacion of the whole.
1563. Hyll, Profit. Art Garden. (1593), 82. To heale a red leapry…. Lay vpon the blisters and leaprie.
1587. Harrison, England, II. xxiii. (1878), I. 350. This [spring] is good for scabs and leaperie.
1607. Topsell, Hist. Four-f. Beasts, 503. The dust of a mole being brent, mingled with the white of an Egge, and anointed vpon a sheepe, is an excellent and medicinable remedy against the Leprie which commeth oftentimes vpon them.
1621. Ainsworth, Annot. Pentat. (1639), 66. These sundry sorts of Leprie in the body.
1660. trans. Paracelsus’ Archidoxis, I. IV. 42. The Leapry is a more grievous infirmity then the Cholick is.
fig. 1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 35. Where is worse lepry than property in religyon.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LI. iv. Thy hisop … shall clense the leaprie of my minde.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 17. Their breath is contagious, their leprey spreading.
1654. Vilvain, Theol. Treat., i. 29. A spiritual Lepry which hereditarily infects the whol Man.
Comb. 1608. Topsell, Hist. Serpents (1658), 663. Rough, hard, mangy, or leprie-like nails.
