Middle English Dictionary Entry
fọ̄t-bal n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fọ̄t-bal n. Also fut-. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A game in which the players kicked a ball [the original of soccer, Rugby, American football, etc.]; (b) ~ pleier, pleier at ~, a football player.
Associated quotations
a
- (1409) Doc.in Riley Mem.Lond.571 : [The games called] foteballe [and] cokthresshyng.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)12672 : Hedes reled aboute ouer-al, As men playe at the fote-bal.
- (1473) Award Asaph in Cum.West.AS n.s.9280 : Robert Lowys..was sore hurt atte the foteball.
- c1450 Mirk IPP (Dc 103:Peacock)p.11 : Hand ball, fott ball, stoil ball & all manner other games.
- (a1450) Code Laws in Willmore Hist.Walsall166 : Unlawefull games, except in Cristemas, as dyce, tables, cardes, cloch, tenes, foteball.
b
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.148 : The names of Crafftes and Fraternites þat deden hyren owre halle..þe Armoureres..þe Football players.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)60 : Campar or pleyar at foottballe; Pedilusor, pedipilusor.
2.
The ball used in playing this game.
Associated quotations
- (?a1430) Hoccl.HPL (Hnt HM 744)19 : Hir comly body, shape as a footbal.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)1244 : Þe heued fro þe body went, Als it were a foteballe.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)84/31 : Þis pece bolnyd mervaloslie, als grete as a fute-ball, & breste.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)725 : Lende ws a foot-ball!
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)146 : A Fute balle: pila pedalis.