Middle English Dictionary Entry

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castl (n.) Also castelle, castle, kestel, chastel. Early dat. pl. castlen.

[OE & AF castel, L castellum & CF chastel.]

1a.

(a) A castle; also, a fortress similar to a medieval castle; (b) a fortified place, a stronghold.

(a)  a1121 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)   an.1104:  Þa heafod men..hi underfengon, And on heora hlafordes þæs eorles swicdome into heora castelan gelogodan.  a1131 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)   an.1126:  Se kyning..let hine læden to Bricstowe & þær diden on þone castel.  a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)   16/21:  For cæstel is geclypod sum heh stepel, þe byð mid wealle betrymed, swa þæt æigder oðre bewereð wið unwinen gewinne.  ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)   an.1140:  He suor..þat he alle his castles sculde iiuen up.  ?c1200 Orm.(Jun 1)   19941:  Þatt kasstell..Wass hatenn Macheronnte þatt Sannt Johan wass inne don.  c1275(?a1200) Lay. Brut (Clg A.9)   462:  Ich abbe i min castlen [Otho: castles] seoue þusend kempen.  c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)   66b:  Castel [Nero: kastel] haueð dich a-buten.  ?c1250 Somer is comen & (Eg 613)   49:  Ne miitte us saui castel, tur, ne halle.  c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)   1441:  Þe castel [Ld: kestel] þei ne knewe.  c1300 Lay. Brut (Otho C.13)   20972:  Þe cheorches hii forbarnde, þe chastles hii afulde.  c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)   11184:  Þo þe barons adde þe toun, & þe castel þe king.  (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)   224/26:  Hi wendeþ to yzy hare kasteles.  a1375 WPal.(KC 13)   1454:  Sche schal weld..solempne cites and semliche casteles.  c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)   1769:  Bifore þe castel þay li3te adoun.  (a1387) Trev. Higd.(StJ-C H.1)   1.89:  Kyng Arsaces..bulde castelles, citees, and strong walled townes.  (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)   B.2523:  I shal warnestore myn hous with toures swiche as han castelles.  c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)   11.186:  Counforte þe carful þat in castel ben fetterid.  c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4)   2.6571:  We han his grounde Itake..& his castellis strong I-bete doun.  a1425(a1349) Rolle MPass.(2) (Upps C.494)   49/21:  I aske, der worþe ladi, neiþer castel ne touris.  c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)   2335:  He..in a castel made hire for to be..in prisoun everemore.  (1439) Proc.Privy C.  5.360:  The Kyng wol content hem to have to hym..the conte, chastel, and lordshipp of Guysnes.  a1450(c1410) Lovel. Merlin (Corp-C 80)   12650:  iiij thousend..Hem Defendyd Jn Every tyde a3ens a chastel there beside.  (1464) RParl.  5.543a:  Th'offices of keping of the Artellerye within oure Castell of Carnervan.  (1473) RParl.  6.96a:  For th'office and kepyng of oure Castell of Bamburgh.  a1500(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)   341:  Þe kyngus steward dwelled þer by-syde In a kastelle of mykylle pryde.  

(b)  c1275(?a1216) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)   175:  Ich habbe on brede and eck on lengþe Castel god on mine rise.  c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)   2065:  Some wolden makien þe doren..`Bileuez,' quath þe holie Man..`Man ne schal of holi churche castel maken non.'  a1500(a1415) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)   42/13:  Hit besemeth not to make holy chyrche a castell.  

1b.

(a) ~ burgh, enclosure of a castle, castle precinct; ~ dich, moat; ~ wal, castle wall; also, the wall of a city or town; ~ brigge, ~ gate (yate), ~ mede, ~ tour; (b) ~ keper, the governor of a castle; ~ man, a castle guard; (c) ~ bote, the obligation to keep castles in repair, the tax levied for this purpose (cp. burgh-bote); ~ ward, the feudal service of supplying guards for a castle; the tax paid in lieu of this service; (d) ~ making, the building of castles; ~ werk, the building of castles; also, a castle, castle-like fortifications.

(a)  a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)   16/26:  Heo wæs fæstlice betrymed..on lichame and on geðanca swa-swa mid strangen cæstelwealle.  c1275(?a1200) Lay. Brut (Clg A.9)   6713:  Þe king lette witen his durren þat ne moste þer na mon in cumen, ne wið inne þon castel-buri na quic mon iborn.  c1275(?a1200) Lay. Brut (Clg A.9)   18652:  Ne þurue þa cnihtes..buten biwiten þat castel3at [Otho: castel 3eate].  a1225 Þeh þet hi (Roy 8.D.13)   p.xii:  Heo was his, iloken in castel wal of ston.  c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)   1042:  In strong halle Biþinne castel walle.  c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)   11255-6:  To þe castel med wiþoute toun, þun wei sone he nom; & þe castel-brugge out of þe med, he barnde fram þen ende To þe tubrugge along.  c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)   1887:  Þai to þe castel 3ates come.  c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)   158:  Þis maiden schal ben oure, Roulandriis to wedde, At weld in castel tour.  c1330 St.Greg.(Auch)   107/564:  Þo hadde þe strong douke of rome Al bisett hir castel diche.  c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)   2388:  Wolt þou hit vndertake, To ste3e out ouer þe castel wal?  (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)   B.4050:  His comb was..batailled as it were a castel wal.  a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)   1408:  Achilles folowed..Ry3t tyl Troy, to þe Castel wal.  (1402) Will York in Sur.Soc.4   300:  Lego..unum toftum..in Notyngham, scilicet, inter communem venellam ducentem ad le Castel gate..et terram [etc.].  c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4)   5.2264:  Þei..Smet of her hedes..And set hem vp on þe castel wal.  a1450(?c1421) Lydg. ST (Arun 119)   981:  He slouh..kyng Layus at the castel gate.  (1433) RParl.  4.475b:  Lete take the said Servant, and cast him oute over his Castell wall into the See.  a1450(1408) Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)   66a:  On þe whiche bank..moot be made..enbatayling of defence, as hit were on a toun oþer a castelle walle.  c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)   1294:  I fond The castel-yate on my right hond.  c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.  1.331:  It is sure as within a castell walle.  a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)   2597:  The riche quene..In her castell toure gan stond.  a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)   6847:  Here atte Castell gate with hir I spakke.  ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)   784/19:  Hec listia: a castylledyche.  

(b)  (1243) Doc.in Sur.Soc.127   35:  Willelmus Castelman.  (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3   126:  Radulphus Castelman.  c1381(1183) Boldon Bk.(PRO SC 12/21/28)   20:  Sunt xvj villani, quorum unusquisque tenet ij bovatas et reddunt..36 s. de cornagio, et unam vaccam de metride et unum castelman.  ?c1382 Survey Hatfield in Sur.Soc.32   18:  Predicti bondi solvunt inter se pro castelmen ad iiij term. 20 s.  (1392) Court R.Hastings in Sus.RS 37   17:  John Castleman.  a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)   12b/a:  Castellarius: a castel kepare.  (1428) Feudal Aids 2   304:  Thomas Castleman.  (1447) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms   146:  Joh. Castelman.  

(c)  a1315 Legal Gloss.Glb.(Glb E.4)   208:  Castlebote: Quite de aider a chastel clore.  (1441) Doc.in Morsbach Origurk.  27:  J, henry Goodwyn, Bailif of henry Inglose, knyght, resseyuere of the castell-warde perteynyng to the maner of horsford.  (1450) RParl.  5.197b:  Graunt made by us unto hym of c s. yerely..to be paide of Chokes Fee of the Castell warde of Northampton.  (1474-5) RParl.  6.124b:  Oure Sovereigne Lord..ordeyneth..that his said Brother have, hold, possede and enyoie..all Homages, Rentes, called Castelward, Knyght's fees, Rentes and Services of free Tenauntez [etc.].  

(d)  ?a1160 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)   an.1137:  Hi suencten suyðe þe uurecce men of þe land mid castel weorces; þa þe castles uuaren naked, þa fylden hi mid deoules & yuele men.  a1375 WPal.(KC 13)   2220:  Þai hadde a semli si3t of a cite nobul, enclosed comeliche a-boute wiþ fyn castel-werk.  1448 Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58)   p.450:  His neuew Alisaundre..in castelle makyng was evene to his vncle. Natheles yut after wardes he, bythynkyng that suche castellwerk was nat semyng to Religion..he maked so many minstres of Religion.  a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)   7958:  Masons brought he þenne þer-tille, Bygonne þat castelwerk o þat hille.  

2.

Fig. uses: (a) a spiritual fortress, a refuge; the stronghold of an emotion or the like; Caimes ~, a friary; develes ~, a tavern; (b) a protector, one who gives strength or courage; ~ of strengthe, a tower of strength; (c) something to be defended against sin, etc.: soul, body, heart, virtue, virginity, etc.; (d) ~ in Spain, an idle fancy, a castle in the air.

(a)  ?c1200 Orm.(Jun 1)   18113:  Jesu Crist Wass cumenn..To timmbrenn..An casstell 3æn þe defell.  (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)   1/12:  Saynt gabriel and Raphael, Ye brenge me to þo castel Þer alle zaulen vareþ wel.  (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)   57/5:  Þe tauerne is..þe dyeules castel uor to werri god an his hal3en.  c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)   1.59:  Þat is þe Castel of care..hose comeþ þer-Inne Mai Banne þat he born was.  c1390 Castle Love(1) (Vrn)   head.:  Her byginnet a tretys þat is yclept Castel off Loue.  a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)   9881:  Þis castel es o luue and grace.  a1500(?c1378) Wycl.OPastor.(Ryl Eng 86)   448:  Þey letten pore prestis to preche þe gospel to þe puple, al 3if þey ben not of þes newe ordris þat ben closid in cayms castels.  

(b)  c1225(?c1200) St.Marg.(1) (Bod 34)   26/21:  Ah þe ich þonki þrof, þe kingene king art..castel of strengðe a3ein þe stronge unwiht.  c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)   72a:  We beoð iloget her bi þe, þet art stan of help, tur of treowe sucurs, castel of strengðe.  a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)   7651:  Swych men..are castel and toure For to manteyne þe lechoure.  c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4)   3.442:  3e schal ben oure castel & oure wal, And oure refuge to saue vs from al smert.  

(c)  a1150(c1125) Vsp.D.Hom.Fest.Virg.(Vsp D.14)   24/88:  Næs se cæstel hire mægeðhades ne hire eadmodnyssen gewæmmed.  c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)   24/219:  Þeos sustren..he haueð ileanet him on helpe forte wite wel & werien his castel.  c1230(?a1200) *Ancr.(Corp-C 402)   66b:  Castel [Nero: Kastel] is euch god mon þet te deouel weorreð.  a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)   27/1:  Þe kerneaus of þe castle beoþ hire huses þurles.  a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)   152:  Þu art swetture þane eny flur hwile þu witest þene kastel.  (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)   255/35-6:  Þe dyeuel þet ui3t wyþ þane castel of þe herte, huanne he uint þe gate oppe, þet is þe mouþ, he nimþ li3tliche þane castel.  a1400 Ancr.Recl.(Pep 2498)   121/32:  Castel is vche mannes body.  c1425(a1420) Lydg. TB (Aug A.4)   1.2220:  Ne were Schame pleinly þe wardeyne Of þis wommen..With-out assaut þe castel were y3olde.  a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)   5821:  Ilka mans body may be cald, Als a castelle..Þat til man es gyfen of God to kepe.  

(d)  a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)   2573:  Thou shalt make castels thanne in Spayne [F chastiaus en Espaigne], And dreme of joye, all but in vayne.  

3.

(a) A heraldic representation of a castle; (b) a pastry castle.

(a)  (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.3 (Hrl 2169)   197:  The bordewr goulys..the castelys gold..Roy de Portyngale.  (1472) Grant Arms in Antiq.49   289:  I the saide Kyng of Armes..have devysed for them..thise Armes folowing, that is to sey, A feld of Sablys..thre Castellis of the same garnysshed with dores and wyndows of the feld.  c1475(c1420) Page SRouen (Eg 1995)   p.34:  Hyt was solas to sene The herrowdys of armys þat went by twyne..In cotys of armys suauntys, The Englysche beste, the Fraynysche floure, Of Portynggale castelle and toure.  

(b)  ?c1425 Arun.Cook.Recipes (Arun 334)   450:  At the thridde cours..a soteltee, a castel that the Kyng and the Qwhene comen in for to see how Seint Jorge slogh.  

4.

(a) A movable tower used in sieges; (b) a structure containing armed men carried on an elephant's back; (c) one of the towers on a ship; esp., one of the fortified structures on a warship; (d) ~ wright, one who builds or repairs a ship's castles.

(a)  c1330(?a1300) Rich.(Auch)   116/97:  Ich haue a castel..Of timber made of Inglond, Wiþ sex stages ful of turels.  c1330 SMChron.(Auch)   2051:  He lete make a castel strong, To stonden in þe tour an heye, & se wat men doþ fer & neye.  c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)   3171:  Þy castel of tre þat hi3t brysour, þyder þou do him fette.  a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)   2903:  Whenne þe castle was fframyd wel, þey sette þerjnne a mangnel.  (a1464) Capgr. Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)   145:  For he had a castel of tre, whech he cleped Mategrifon.  

(b)  c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)   8943:  Þai come to king Riones standard, þat, om [read: on] four castels, olifaunce Bar.  c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)   2027:  Fourty þousande al astore Of olyfauntz lete gon a-fore; Vpe vche olifaunt a castel, Þere-inne doo tuelue kni3ttes armed wel.  ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)   127/33:  He..maketh certeyn men of armes for to gon vp in to the castelles of tree..sett vpon the Olifantes bakkes.  a1450(c1410) Lovel. Merlin (Corp-C 80)   23352:  Towardis kyng Ryowns baner gonne they hye, which that an olyfaunt jn þe feld þere bar vppon his Bak jn a castel thar.  ?a1450(a1400) Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)   563:  Kenely þe castels came to assayle, Þat þe bestes on her bake out of burwe ladden.  

(c)  [(1347-50) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1   185:  La ffesure de vn castel ala Cogg Johan..le chastel de Cogg Johan.]  1402 *Acc.Exch.K.R.43/6.m.2 [OD col.]  :  Computat in..viij peciis maeremii..expenditis in factura del Castelle dicte balengere..xvj s.  c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)   3673-4:  Grett cogges of kampe crasseches in sondyre..Kidd castells were corven with all theire kene wapen, Castells full comliche, þat coloured ware faire.  a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)   2978:  Þeir schipes alle in peril were..Cordes, kables, casteles, tofrusched.  a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)   118b:  Also in grete galeyes and oþre grete schippes of werre, þei haueþ for-castel and hynder-castelle & top-castel & castelle at þe mydde mast.  a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)   31/272:  The helme and the castell also will I take.  

(d)  (1347-50) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 1   185:  Et en les gages de vij castelwri3tes.  (1356) *Pipe Roll (PRO) 32 Edw.III m.33/1 [OD col.]  :  Thome Lane, Magistri de Castelwrightes.  

5.

(a) A fortified camp, an encampment; also, an encamped army; (b) a village or small town; esp., a walled town; (c) ~ toun, a walled town or village; ?also, a castle; (d) a beehive.

(a)  c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)   77.32:  Hij fellen amiddes her castels [L castrorum] and abouten her tabernacles.  (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))   1 Mac.3.57:  Thei moueden castels or oostis of armed men [L castra], and thei settiden to gidre at the south of Ammaum.  a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)   26.5:  Ife stand ogaines me Kastelles [L castra] ma, Noght drede sal mi hert for þa.  a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)   77.32:  In mid þar kastelles fellen þai.  a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)   Ex.14.19:  The aungel of the Lord, that 3ede before the castels of Yrael, takynge hym self 3ede after hem.  a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)   Ps.26.3:  Thou3 castels [WB(1): tentis; L castra] stonden togidere a3ens me, myn herte schal not drede.  a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)   65a:  Þre manere of diuers dichinge þere is to close yn þe castel of an oost þat restiþ in opoun felde.  a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)   67a:  Þanne mote þere be ymade stronge wardes of somercastelles, bastyles and pyles wiþ depe diches ycast vp and ydigged wiþ menis handis, for of grete wardes þat beþ yclepid castrus, litel wardes ben yclepid castelles.  (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)   1488:  It is necessitee To take a grounde as good as may be fonde, And thervppon to make our castel stonde.  

(b)  a1225(?OE) Lamb.Hom.(Lamb 487)   3:  God in þane castel þet is on3ein eou, and 3e finded redliche þar ane asse 3e-bunden.  c1300 SLeg.MPChr.(LdMisc 108)   679:  Hit bifel þat Lazar þe kni3t In grete siknesse lai In is castel bi side Betanie.  a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)   49:  Wendeþ fforþ..To a castel þat a3en 3ow is, and 3e shulleþ anon ffynde An asse.  (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))   Mat.9.35:  And Jhesus compaside aboute alle citees and castels [L castella], techynge in synagogis of hem.  (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))   John 11.1:  Ther was sum syk man, Lazarus of Bethanye, of the castel of Mary and Martha, his sistris.  a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)   29/24:  Sjþþen went Jesus þorou3 alle þe citees and þorou3 alle þe castels, prechande and warisschande þe seek.  a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)   1.197:  Þe gospel seiþ how Jesus wente aboute..boþ to more places and lesse, as citees and castellis..Castels ben undirstonden litil touns, but wallid.  c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)   217:  Ihesu appered to two disciples goand to þe castell of Emaus.  

(c)  ?c1200 Orm.(Jun 1)   17918:  He wass neh an casstelltun Þatt wass Salim 3ehatenn.  c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)   5122:  A castel-toun þe kyng com hende.  a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)   2158:  I schal schetyn to þis castel town a ful fowle defamacyon.  

(d)  (a1398) * Trev. Barth.(Add 27944)   143b/a:  [Bees] makeþ hony combes I-wounden and I-writhen wiþ wax and filliþ here castellis wiþ ful manye children.  

6.

(a) In personal names; (b) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.81-2]; in names of castles.

(a)  (1201) Fine R.King John   164:  Joh' de Castell.  (1237) Close R.Hen.III   442:  Mandatum est vicecomiti Sumers' quod Adam del Chastel et Hugonem del Chastel quos Adam le Vyser ejecit de terra sua in manerio de Attecastel, quod est dominicum regis, in seisinam ponat.  (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3   134:  Willelmus atte Castle.  (1327) Sub.R.Som.in Som.RS 3   195:  Johannes atte Castel.  (1377) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.120   220:  William del Castell' of Shirburn.  

(b)  a1126 Peterb.Chron.(LdMisc 636)   an.1124:  Se eorl Waleram of Mellant ferde fram his an castel, Bulmunt het, to his an oðer castel, Watteuile.  (1152) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)   1.16:  Nottingeham castell.  (c1160) in Ekwall Dict.EPN   85:  Castelcairoc.  (1246) in Ekwall Dict.EPN   85:  Castelton.  (1275) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)   205:  Casteleye.  (1289) in Ekwall Dict.EPN   333:  Oldecastell.  (1302) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)   110:  Castelgarth.  (1305) EPNSoc.16 (Wil.)   78:  Chastelcombe.  (1306) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)   302:  Placea vocata le Castel.  (1399) Deed Yks.in YASRS 65   121:  Tofts abutting on le Castilhill in Rastryk.  (1417) Mem.Bk.York in Sur.Soc.125   63:  Ad finem Conyngstrete versus Castlegate.  (?a1439) Lydg. FP (Bod 263)   8.1131:  He was in Spaigne..In Castel Tunge.  a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)   4931:  Þey bete doun..þe castel Calaphyne.  (c1450) Deed Yks.in YASRS 65   124:  Ther as the sayd Jon Fryth pretende hym tytyll to haf a close in the sayd town buttynge on the castyll hyll.  (1466) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)   284:  Castelmylnes.  

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