Middle English Dictionary Entry
alei(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | alei(e n. Also alay, alley, alle, aly, alie. |
| Etymology | ML aleia (from OF alée) & OF alée. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A corridor or hallway; a covered walk; (b) an aisle (of a temple or church); (c) a balustrade.
Associated quotations
a
- (1363-4) in Hope Windsor C.1.208 : Pro celura cujusdam capella, le Bathous, et unius Aley.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Ezek.42.7 : And the vtmer aley [WB(2): halle; L peribolus] after the tresories..the lengthe therof of fyfty cubitis.
- c1400 Brut-1333 (Rwl B.171)270/16 : A Alie þat stracches out of the ward, vnder erþe, vnto the castel.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)4a/b : Ambulatorium: an aley.
- (1457) Acc.St.Margaret Southwark in BMag.32494 : Payed to Willm Povy for mendyng of the Aleys, iiij d.
- (1457-8) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 82.m.7d : Ioynyng to the same Chirche an aleye buttyng vpon a litell lane ledyng out of Bredestrete.
- a1500(1396) Indent.Francisc.in RS 4.1 (Vit F.12)524 : An aley of ij fete in brede, with a dore, The wych aley shall strech to a nother aley of the same brede besyde the forsayd church, strechyng un to the porch of the churche of the same.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)4978 : Led were þo lordes þro Mony long chaumburs, Goand vp by degres þurgh mony gay Alys.
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)3 Kings 7.2 : He bildide foure aleis [L deambulacra] bitwixe the pilers of cedre.
- (c1455) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 498 : For cropys to the tabyll of the syde allee.
c
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.110 : Above þe pynacle of þe temple..weren þe aleis.
2.
(a) An open passage between buildings, an alley; fig. bypath (of heresy); (b) a path or walk (as in a garden or park).
Associated quotations
a
- (1360-1) Will Court Hust.(Gldh)2.16 : [In a certain] aleye [in the parish].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1758 : The Iewes..That in an aleye hadde a pryuee place.
- (1413) Hoccl.Rich.II (Hnt HM 111)45 : Men erren & forueye, Walkynge blyndly in the dirk aleye Of heresie.
- (1423-4) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.182 : Yn þe hous of Julyane huxster, dwellynge yn þe aley vnder þe Shaffte yn Cornhill.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)1 : The weyes and the aleyes of thilke citee..weren paved with gold.
- (1466-7) *Plea & Mem.R.Lond.GildhA 88.m.2 : Þe Aley.. called Moundeviles Aley.
b
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))SSol.2.1 : I the flour of the feeld, and the lilie of aleyes [L lilium convallium].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1013 : And in the aleyes romeden vp and doun.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.820 : This yerd was large, and rayled alle th'aleyes [rime: weyes].
- (1434-5) Acc.St.Michael Oxf.in OAST 7834 : For makynge clene of the alleys yn the cherche ȝeyrde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)9 : Aley yn gardeyne: Peribolus.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)690 : Myldore..Went to ane orcherde to playe; Sir Degreuant þan hir mete In al alay, with-owtyn let.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)291 : The herbery..And al the Aleyis feir I-parid, I-raylid, and I-makid.
- a1500(?a1410) Lydg.CB (Lnsd 699)50 : Al thaleys were made pleyn with sond.
- c1500(?a1437) ?Jas.I KQ (SeldArch B.24)st.32 : So thik the bewis and the leves grene Beschadit all the aleyes.
3.
A bowling green.
Associated quotations
- c1560(a1500) Squire LD (Copland)804 : An hundreth knightes truly tolde Shall play with bowles in alayes colde.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1471) Will York in Sur.Soc.45189 : Quoad dispositionem terrarum, etc.: Medietas tenementi mei in Salysbury aley in parochia S. Brigidae in Flet Strete London.
Note: New sense - place name