Middle English Dictionary Entry
fōlen v.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | fōlen v.(1) Also foilen. |
| Etymology | From fōle n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Of mares, asses, elephants: to give birth to (young), to foal.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.209 : In Xerxes kyng of Pers his tyme, a mare foled [a fox] and boded þat þe kyngdom schulde be vndoo.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fri.(Manly-Rickert)D.1545 : The feend..yow fecche..As ferforthly as euere were ye foled!
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)294a/a : Þey hauen envye to þe males whanne þey ben yfoled [L nascentibus].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)283b/a : Plinius seiþ þat a mare foleþ stondynge.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)266a/b : Þe asse foleþ sielde ij coltes. Whanne þe femel schal fole, he fleeþ light.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)284a/b : Þe femel [elephant]..leueþ hire fole where sche foleþ.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)283b/a : A Colte hatte..mare sone &..in his forheede, whan he is yfoled, is y founde iconemor.
- ?c1450 *Horse(1) (Dc 291)136a : Every hors that ys foilyd in the mountayns or in stony londe ys better þan tho that be foylyd in marsh contrey.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)2.209 : A fox was foolede of a mare in the tyme off Xerses.