gigelot - Middle English Compendium

Middle English Dictionary Entry

ǧigelot n.

Forms	ǧigelot n. Also giggelot, giglot, (?error) gigelo & gegelot, gegilot & gilot.
Etymology	Prob. OF; cp. ME ǧigge n.(1) & F gigolette.

(a) A loose woman; a courtesan, harlot; (b) villainous man, rascal; --only in Cornw.

a1350 Lord þat lenest (Hrl 2253)17,25 : Furmest in boure were boses ybroht, leuedis to honoure, ichot, he were wroht; vch gigelot wol loure bote he hem habbe soht..al hit comeþ in declyn þis gigelotes geren.
c1350 How GWife(1) (Em 106)162/60 : Go þou noȝt to wraxling, no scheting ate cok, As it were a strompet or a gigelot [vrr. gegelotte, giggelot, gyglote].
(a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.409 : Walter..ordeyned wommen to serven hem wiþ heer i-sprad behynde, þat semede wowynge gigelottes [vr. giglotes; L mulieres..procaces] in cloþing, face, and semblant.
a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.233 : Poul moveþ not here to joie, as joien unstable men in gegilotis, but to sadde joiyng in God.
(1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)194 : Gygelo, wenche [Win: Gygelot, wynch]: Agagula.
c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)53 : The smaller pesun, the more to pott; The fayrere woman, the more gylott.
?a1475 PParv.(Win)191 : Gyglot [Hrl: gybelot]: Ridax.
a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)44.11 : Here he praysis him of his wife, that is na gigelot, bot quene vndire the guuernand folke.
c1500 How GWife(3) (Ashm 61)49 : Ne fare not as þou A gyglot were.
?a1500 Qworle in (Sln 1210)p.40 : Tho smallere pese, tho mo to the pott; Tho fayrere woman, tho more gyglott..Quo mage formosa mulier, mage luxuriosa.