murrain

Infectious disease; pestilence, plague; (countable) sometimes used in curses such as a murrain on someone: an outbreak of such a disease; a plague.

How a murryen came this chaunce, (ſay Tib) vnto our dame?

For heuen it ſelfe ſhall their ſucceſſe enuy, / And them vvith plagues and murrins peſtilent / Conſume, till all their vvarlike puiſſaunce be ſpent.

A widespread affliction, calamity, or destructive influx, especially when seen as divine retribution; a plague.

Usura [a personification of usury] is a murrain, usura / blunteth the needle in the maid’s hand / and stoppeth the spinner’s cunning.

Any of several highly infectious diseases of cattle or other livestock, such as anthrax, babesiosis, or rinderpest; or a particular epizootic thereof; also, an infectious disease affecting other animals, such as poultry.

water murrain

Il'e ſtrike thee [Earth] vvith a laſting barrenneſſe. / No more ſhall plenty crovvne thy fertill brovves, / Il'e breake thy plovves, thy Oxen murren-ſtrike: […]

An infectious disease affecting plants.

potato murrain

[H]e had reason to think that a murrain had fallen over the whole of the potato crops in England, and that, if it extended to Ireland, the most serious consequences must ensue.

A poor-quality green-salted animal hide.

Green salted are those that have been salted and are thoroughly cured. […] In green-salted hides and skins, those weighing […] 14 to 25 pounds, if plump, kip, but if thin and poor are called runners or murrains, and are sold at two thirds the price of good kip; […]

Disgusting or offensive, as if having an infectious disease; contemptible, despicable, loathsome, plaguey.

No, ich know thars not within this land / A muryner Cat than Gyb is, betwixt the tems [Thames] and Tyne, […]

[T]hou foule and murren lyer, / I cannot novv forbeare thee any longer, […]

Used as an intensifier: to a great extent; extreme, intense.

But my Lady vvas in ſuch murrain haſte to be here, that ſet out ſhe vvould, thof' I tould her, it vvas Childermas Day.

Used as an intensifier: extremely, very.

It is a murrion crafty drab, and froward to be pleaſed.

La there; And that ſame's a murrain vviſe boy, if you mark him; and vvill ſee a thing, I vvarrant you, as ſoon as the vviſeſt of us all, vvere he tvvice as old again.