Middle English Dictionary Entry
dile n.
Entry Info
| Forms | dile n. Also dille. |
| Etymology | OE dyle, dile; also cp. OI dylla, MHG tülle. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The plant dill (Anethum graveolens); also, its seed; (b) ~ man, ?a seller of dill; ~ sed, the seed of dill; (c) in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.133].
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)11/24 : Nim..grene diles twa handfulle.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)47/3 : Nim eft dyles sædes twelf peneȝa ȝewiht.
- ?a1300 Wor.F.157.Gloss.(Wor F.157)184 : Anetum: dile.
- a1400 Mirfeld Sinonoma (Pmb-O 2)10 : Anetum, an. dile vel dille.
- c1465(?1373) *Lelamour Macer (Sln 5)4b : Annete is an erbe that som men callethe dyll, this herbe ys like to ffenell.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)186a/a : Anetum, anglice dylle, is a sede hote & drye in þe secounde degree with resoluynge.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)3.604 : Now dile in places colde is gode to sowe.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)25/25 : Tak..þe sedis of dille.
- a1500 Sln.Herb List (Sln 1201)74,76 : Herbys necessary for a gardyn..Dylle..Herbes for Potage..Dylle..Herbes fo[r] Savour and beaute..Dyll.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)12/7 : Also moche sed of dyle as þou myȝt take with þy iii vyngres.
b
- (1309) Pat.R.Edw.II242 : John Dylman.
- ?a1400 Adv.18.5.16 Gloss.(Adv 18.5.16)160/76 : Anetum: dilsed.