Middle English Dictionary Entry
gadeling n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gadeling n. Also gadling, ged(e)ling, galdinge. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. WS gædeling, Merc. geaduling. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A companion in arms; man, fellow; (b) a person of low birth; a base fellow, rascal, scoundrel; ?a bastard; (c) as adj.: base, lowborn; (d) in place name [see Smith PNElem. 1.191].
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)12335 : Alle þa gadelinges alse heo weoren sunen kinges.
- a1250(?c1150) Prov.Alf.(Mdst A.13)341 : So is mani gadelig [vrr. gadeling, gedelyng] godelike on horse.
- ?a1300(c1250) Prov.Hend.(Dgb 86)st.27 : Ich se mani gadeling [Hrl: gedelyng], Wen me Ȝefþ him a luitel þing, Ful wroþ in his þout.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1192 : Fiftene þousandes..swerdes and boklers boþe hadden..And alle stalworþe gadelynges.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4059 : To sone it þencheþ þe slow gadelynge.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)10/14 : Gedlyngis, I am a fulle grete wat.
b
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)263 : Þer leop forþ o gadelyng.
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)1121 : Þou shalt hauen a gadeling..Þe shal spusen mi cokes knaue.
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1198 : A gadelyng..smot him wel sore.
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)14 : Þe gedelynges bueþ glotouns ant drynkeþ er hit dawe.
- a1350 Of Rybaudȝ (Hrl 2253)36 : He nolde no grom to go by ys syde, ne grucchyng of no gedelyng.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)6356 : Þis luþer gadeling þat þe king so slou.
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)2990 : Þai hadde A proud wreche..And for soþe a lite gadling.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1234 : Wat! harlot gadelyng..mote þou be heȝe an-honge!
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)4.38 : Boþe my Gees and my Grys has þe gadelynges [vr. gadlyng] fetten.
- c1390 RSicily (Vrn)81 : Foule gadelyng, I am no þef; i am a kyng!
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)769 : Euery gadlyng nat wurþ a pere Takyþ ensample at ȝow to swere.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4410 : Þe gedling [Trin-C: gedelynge; Frf: traitour] of vncuth thede..soght on me in bour.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)10.209 : Iche man haue a make in maner of wedlak..þat oþere gatis ben geten, for gadelynges [vr. gedelyngus] ben holden.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)9.103 : A gedelynge, a goer to tauernes!
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)106,107 : Cristes curs mot he haue þat clepeþ me gadelyng! I am no worse gadelyng..But born of a lady and geten of a knight.
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)99/168 : I may sune vengid be On þat gadling þat greuis me.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)938 : These bowes two held Swete-Lokyng, That semede lyk no gadelyng.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Satan & C.(Corp-C 296)214 : Þe fend & his seyn þat it is..riȝtwisnesse..to betyn gadlyngis & be vengid on hem.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2728 : We are gadlynges, agaste for a lyttill.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2884 : Ȝone gedlynges are gon.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1770 : Sey, gadelyngis, haue ȝe harde grace!
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)148/2470 : Glotony, þou fowle gadlynge!
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)226/157 : Go hense, þou glorand gedlyng!
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Pass.Christi in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)1817 : A uyl gadlyng, dues yn rag, wor tyweth whet crok a'th tag.
- c1450(?a1400) Quatref.Love (Add 31042)471 : Thies galiarde gedlynges þat kythes gentry.
- a1475(a1450) Tourn.Tott.(Hrl 5396)28 : Vp styrt þes gadelyngys with þer long staues.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)1015 : By the nose I schall the wryng, Thou berdles gadlyng!
c
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)2016 : Þow gadelyng horesone lecher & stronge þef!
- c1450 PPl.A(1) (Hrl 6041)10.209 : Gadlynge [Trin-C: þat oþere gatis ben geten, for gadelynges ben holden].
d
- (c1173) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)348 : Gadelingwelle.
- (1221-32) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)348 : Gedelingwell.
- (1316) EPNSoc.24 (Oxf.)348 : Galdingewell.