Middle English Dictionary Entry
alǒur n.
Entry Info
| Forms | alǒur n. Also alure, alere. |
| Etymology | OF aleor, aleoir passage (from ML alatōrium), infl. by OF aleure gait (from ML alatūra). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A covered passageway or walk, as on the rampart or along the parapet of a castle; an arcade, aisle, or promenade; a gallery or balcony; (b) the barrier or railing (of a balcony).
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1215) Close R.Tower 1187b : In reparacione des aleurs castri nostri de Wallingeford. ]
- [ (1384) Will York in Sur.Soc.4197 : In alura inter fortem et introitum chori. ]
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)3969 : Vpe þe alures of þe castles þe leuedyes þanne stode.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)2421 : At þe alours þai defended hem, & abiden bataile of her fomen.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7203 : Alisaunder..deuiseþ to his masoun Þe toures maken..Vavtes, alures [vr. alouris], and þe kirnels.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.687 : Of pulsched marbil vpon strong pilleris, Deuised wern..In þe frountel of euery stretis syde, Fresche alures with lusty hiȝe pynacles..Þat called werne deambulatories.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2313 : In this gardyn..In the Allures walking to and fro.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)3 Kings 7.2 : He bildide the hows of the..wode of Liban..and foure aluris [WB(2): aleis; L deambulacra] betwixe the cedre pilers.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)10 : Alure [vr. alur] or alurys of a towre or stepylle: Canal, grunda.
- (1451) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 492 : Payede to Crosse [a carpenter] for the aler.
- (1455) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 498 : For takyng away of the corvyll stonys of the Alere.
- (1457) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 4100 : Mem. that there ys payede to Crosse for the makyng and peyntyng of the Aler of the Chorche. £ xxxj ijs. xjd.
b
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)4 Kings 1.2 : Ocozie felde thorou the aleris [WB(1): wyndowes; L cancellos] of his soler, which he hadde in Samarie.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1346-7) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 126 : Item en c de bord appelle knorholt lx s.; Item di c de elmenebord pour alours, viij s.
Note: New sense: naut. may refer to gangways or to the bulwarks of the castles.