Middle English Dictionary Entry
amblen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | amblen v. Also aumblen, ambil, ambule. |
| Etymology | CF amble, AF aumbler; cp. also L ambulāre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of a mount: (a) to go an easy pace or gait, amble; (b) ppl. walking an easy pace or gait; ?smooth-riding.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.WB.(Manly-Rickert)D.838 : What spekestow of preambulacioun? What! amble, or trotte, or pees, or go sit doun?
- a1450 SLeg.Suppl.Bod.(Bod 779)346/18 : Fol hard it is to teche an old hors aumbly.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)940 : Hors þat evir trottid..It were hard to make hym aftir to ambill well.
b
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)1330 : Now comeþ Gij soft rideing Opon a mulet ambling [Guy(4): wele awmbelynge].
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1309 : A route Of ladis..On faire amblende hors.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.388 : This markys hath..hir sette Vpon an hors snow-whit and wel amblyng.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)6829 : Gete me a hakeney That ys Swyft and ryght well ambelyng [vr. aumblyng].
- c1450(c1353) Winner & W.(Add 31042)417 : How scho fled for ferd..Appon ane amblande asse.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)259/29 : Thys mayde rode on by the way a souffte amblynge pace.
- (1472) Will York in Sur.Soc.45203 : A gray awmbylyng horsse.
- c1475 Guy(4) (Cai 107/176)569/10160 : Terry lepe on a mule amblend [Cmb 9805: awmblande].
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)89/21 : Vnneth he wolde ryde any hamlynge hors, but mych trottynge hors, for to trauail his body the more.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1461) Invent.Monk-Wear.in Sur.Soc.29app.246 : He rydis on a bayy hamland mere.
Note: New spelling
Note: 'ambling mare'