Middle English Dictionary Entry
cǒverlī̆te n.
Entry Info
| Forms | cǒverlī̆te n. Also coverlight, coverlet, -lid, -led, -lade, -lect & keverlit, -let & coopelit. |
| Etymology | AF cuver-lit (pl. -lis), bedspread (see Tobler-Lommatzsch cuevre-lit). ME spellings -lite, -light show long ī; the spelling cover-lect is influ. by L lectus bed, the vr. -lid by ME lid cover. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A cloth for covering a bed; bedspread, coverlet.
Associated quotations
- [ (1303) Acc.Executors in Camd.n.s.1057 : Et de uno blaunketo, tribus cuverlys..Et de uno blaunket et uno cuverlyt. ]
- [ (1341) Will York in Sur.Soc.42 : Lego..unum coverlyt crocei coloris. ]
- (c1380) Stonor Suppl.2 : ij cheuerlettis, ij blanketts.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 370)4 Kings 8.15 : He toke an couerlyte [L stragulum] and helte in with watir, and spradde vpon his face.
- (1391) Will York in Sur.Soc.4145 : Unum cooperlit de rubeo et glauco cum uno blanket.
- (1395) EEWills4/18 : A keuerlet of red sendel ypouthered with Cheuerons.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11239 : Was þar na pride o couerled [vr. couerlite], chamber, curtin, ne tapit.
- (1400) Will York in Sur.Soc.4270 : j coverlect.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)761 : Þou shalt as a couerlyte [rime: parfiȝte] Hem chaunge.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)660/7 : Hoc coopertorium: coverhyde [read: coverlyde].
- (1425-6) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 7818 : A keuerlyde.
- (1448) Will Bury in Camd.4912 : j couerlyth, j par blanketts.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)14/7 : Þe abbatiss vnder-nethe a gay couerlade & a softe shete..couerde me.
- (1465) Lin.DDoc.120/35 : As many shetis and couerlectes.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)923 : Kover with a keuerlyte clenly þat bed.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)997 : In the myddis a feyre bedde was..The koverlet lyfte they vp with hand.
2.
A piece of cloth used for covering various other objects: an altar cloth, a pall, a couch cover, a cloak, etc.
Associated quotations
- (1413) Will in Bdf.HRS 218 : I..by qwethe to þat same chirche þe couerlyt of Gold enbrouded with Typtoftes armes for to couere wyþ þe sepulcre.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)66a/b : Toga: a kuuerlyte or a gowne..Toral: a cuuerlyte.
- (1451) Lin.DDoc.48/2 : That my said chauntre prests Araye the autarus & ouere sepultures with blak auterclothis, & the Couerlid of Blak & the clothis of gold ordand yerto.
- (1466) in Cox Churches Derb.86 : xj altar clothes..one cloth to the fonte, Item one Red coverlede.
- (1472) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99246 : Item j coverlyde coram altare.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)28b : A couerlett: lectisternium, coopertorium, tegimen, textus, tegimentum, velamen.
3.
Associated quotations
- (1359) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms215 : Will. de Moreton, coverlitmaker.
- (1379) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms215 : Joh. Ecop, coverlytwever.
- (1378) Pat.R.Rich.II255 : [Philip de Eskrik,] coverlitwever.
- (1444-5) Doc.Lynn in Nrf.Archaeol.6238 : Hugo Elys, coverlitwever.
- (c1449) Rec.Norwich 2230 : Thikwollenweuers, Couerlightmakers.
- (c1453) Rec.Norwich 2312 : Coverlightweuers.
- (1469) Act Ripon in Sur.Soc.64139 : Coverlett yarn.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1359) Doc.Beverley in Seld.Soc.142 : De quolibet textore, pro pannis iiij vel coverlitts texatis, quadrantem.
Note: Additional quot.
Note: Probably belongs to sense 1.
- (1390) Doc.Beverley in Seld.Soc.1433 : Ordinatum est…quod quilibet artifices…viz. mercers et drapers…walkers, coverlidwevers…and workmen habeant suos ludos et pagentes paratos…qualibet die in festo Corporis Christi.
Note: Needed for date; belongs to sense 3.
Note: Modify gloss to include only quots. referring to members of the craft guild in this sense. Gloss: 3. A member of the weavers' guild; ~ maker(e (wever(e).
Note: The (1469)quot. can be placed in sense 1. with ~ yarn placed after the existing gloss there.
Note: This quot. has been taken back to books.
Note: The list of variant spellings in the form section may be incomplete and / or may need revision to accord with standards of later volumes of the MED.--notes per MLL