And by the throte-bolle he caughte Alayn,
And he hente hym despitously agayn,
And on the nose he smoot hym with his fest.
Doun ran the blody streem upon his brest.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Reeve’s Tale. After hearing Alan boast about having sex with his daughter, the millar grabs Alan by the throat and hits him with his fist on the nose, bloodying him.