Middle English Dictionary Entry
fembil n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fembil n. Also fembul, femble. |
| Etymology | Ult. from F femel(l)e 'female' on the supposition that the plant in question represented the female variety. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Stub entry.
1.
Fibers derived from the male plant of hemp, from which cords and ropes were made; -- sg. and pl. both used collectively for the commodity.
Associated quotations
- (1473) Acc.in North Bells Nhp.371 : Itm, payd for iij ston of fembulls for ropys..ij s., i d. ; Itm, payd for makyng of iiij ropys of the said fembulls..xij d.
- (1484-86) Acc.Wigtoft in Nichols Illustrations (1797)80 : Item, paide to John Almonds, for a stone femble to the bell stryngs, 5d.; Item, paide for makyng that [?read: thar] of in ropes for the belles, 4d.
- (1484-86) Acc.Wigtoft in Nichols Illustrations (1797)80 : Item, paide to Rob't Rudd, for di. stone femble, 2d.; Item, paide for the makyng of the same in a bell rope, 2d.
- (1484-86) Acc.Wigtoft in Nichols Illustrations (1797)80 : Item, paide to Rob't Panlyn, for di. stone femble for lynes to clocke plumes [i.e.'plumbs'], and for makyng of the same femble, 5d.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: = OED fimble n.1, which quotes p. 78 of the Wigtoft accounts ("Item, paide for femble, and for making thar of in bell-ropes, 1s. 5d."), silently emending 'that' to 'thar.'