mother language

noun

Etymology: From Middle English modir langage, equivalent to mother + language.

1. Synonym of mother tongue.

   “Yet neuertheleſſe, the rudenes of common and mother tonges, is no bar foꝛ wiſe ſpeaking. Foꝛ in the rudeſt contrie, and moſt barbarous mother language, many be found can ſpeake verie wiſelie: but in the Gréeke and latin tong, the two onelie learned tonges, which be kept, not in common taulke, but in pꝛiuate bookes, we finde alwayes, wiſdome and eloquence, good matter and good vtterance, neuer oꝛ ſeldom a ſonder.”