Middle English Dictionary Entry
del n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | del n.(1) Infl. delle, dele; pl. delles, dellun. |
| Etymology | OE del |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. dale.
1.
(a) A small deep valley, a dale; develes ~, the pit of hell; erthli ~, the world; (b) in place names: a dale; ?also, a quarry [see Smith PNElem. 1.128-9]; (c) in surnames; ~ man, a dalesman.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)4 : Bi wilc weie so he wile To dele niðer wenden, Alle hise fet steppes After him he filleð.
- a1350 Opon a somer (LdMisc 108)12 : Þe deer daunteden in þe delle [rime: quelle].
- c1425 Liber de Hyda in RS 4589 : Fro the red pulle along fyr withynne the gret dych to the smale delle [OE on ðaet smale dell].
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)6 : Þay þam dighte to þe depe dellis.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3126 : To deuelys delle, I schal þee bere to helle.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.209 : If ye eftsones turne doun youre sight Into þis foule wrecched erthely dell.
- c1475 Awntyrs Arth.(Tay 9)p.3 : The dere in the dellun [Dc: delles] Thay droupun and daren.
b
- (1225) EPNSoc.3 (Bedf.& Hnt.)293 : Brixisdelle.
- (1240) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)243 : Ruedelle.
- (1280) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)65 : La Delle.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)252 : Everedelle.
- (1346) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)108 : Waterdelle strat.
- (1387) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)578 : Suggedelle. Godyevedell.
- c1425 Liber de Hyda in RS 4589 : Whelpesdelle.
- (1429) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)329 : La Farndelle.
- (1477) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)32 : Dellmore.
c
- (1286) in Fransson Surn.204 : Rob. la Delman.
- (1287) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)62 : [Robert de] la Delle.
- (1296) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames49 : Will. ate Delle.
- (1327) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames49 : Rob. ate Delle.
- (1346) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames49 : Joh. atte Delle.
- (1380) EPNSoc.15 (Hrt.)20 : [Edmund] atte Delle.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 5120 : Ricardus le Delle.