Middle English Dictionary Entry
dīal n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dīal n. Also diel, diol, (error) diholf. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An instrument for telling time; prob., a sundial; (b) a clock; also fig.; (c) the face of a clock; (d) the hand of a clock; (e) ~ sand, sand suitable for an hourglass.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1517 : By þe dyal þe hour þei gan to marke, Þat Phebus southward was reised in his arke So hiȝe alofte þat it drowe to noon.
- (1455) Reg.Chanc.Oxf.in OHS 93353 : l bursa cum diall de ligno.
- ?a1500 in James Cat.MSS Eton38 : There was ye deyn and ye offycyall With ij fayces lyke a dyall.
b
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)358 : As the peys of a diall goth.
- a1500 Add.Hymnal (Add 34193)473/55 : The cok..is owr clok, he is owre trwe diall.
c
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)120 : Dyale, or dyel [KC: dial, or diholf], or [?read: of] an horlege: Horoscopus.
- (1450) Fabric R.Yk.Min.in Sur.Soc.3564 : Una cum pictura les diall horelogii in dicta ecclesia.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)125 : Dyal, or dyol for an horloge: Horoscopus.
- (1469-72) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31528 : Payed to Thomas Crowchier for amendyng of..the Clok..; payed to Symond Turnour for peyntyng of the dyall.
d
- a1475 Rev.St.Bridget(3) (Gar 145)69/1 : Above that glasse hange an horrible swerde with iij egges, neyghyng contynually to þat glasse as a dyall in ane orelege neghith to his merke.
e
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)21 : There is in lx fadome or lxx smale diale sonde.
2.
The dial of a mariner's compass; ?also, a compass; also fig.
Associated quotations
- (1338) Doc.in Nicolas Navy 2475 : Un spogeour, ii seilyngnedeles, un dyall, un sherhok.
- (1417) *For.Acc.(PRO) 8 Hen.V D/1 dorso [OD col.] : In j Ketille, j diolle, j Boxe.
- (?a1422) Doc.in Nicolas Navy 2444 : [The Mary of Weymouth had] one dyoll and one seyling-needle.
- (?a1422) Doc.in Nicolas Navy 2445 : [An instrument resembling the modern compass, namely] j dioll, j compasse, j boxe.
- c1450 Marion ABC (Arun 168)127 : Souereyne beaute..Orlage, asterlaber, þe grete spere of þe sonne, Quadrant, dyol, shipe vn-to þe grete godhed.