Middle English Dictionary Entry
gī̆ld(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | gī̆ld(e n. Also guild(e, guld, geld(e, (in cpd. only) gil & yī̆ld(e, ȝild(e, ild(e, hilde & yē̆ld(e, ȝeld(e, eld(e, yeold, yheld. Pl. gī̆ldes, yē̆ldes, (early) ȝī̆lden, (error) ȝoldes. |
| Etymology | ON (cp. OI gildi) & OE; cp. LWS ge)gyld, from earlier *ge)gield, A *ge)geld. Also cp. ML gilda. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. gildehalle.
1.
(a) An association of dues-paying members, organized for charitable, religious, or political purposes; a fraternity, guild; (b) an association of craftsmen or tradesmen, a craft guild.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1114-30) Cart.Ramsey in RS 79.1131 : Reynaldus abbas, et totus fratrum conventus de Rameseya, cunctis fratribus qui sunt apud Ferefeld in gilda, salutem in Christo. ]
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)32001 : He [Athelstan] sette halimot..he sette hundred..& ȝilden he gon rere, mucle & swiðe mære, & þa chirchen he gon dihten.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.21 : Ye bretheren and sisteren of yis gilde, in ye worshepe of seynt Katerine, shuld han a lyueree of hodes in suyte.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.40 : Þe pouere men of þe parisshe of seynt Austyn be-gunnen [a] gylde, in helpe and amendement of here pouere parish chirche of seyn Austyn.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.60 : Ye gylde of seynt Thomas of cauntyrbury.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.67 : Þes ȝoldes [read: ȝeldes] founden of men helpen al þer breþeren in nede..but þes sectis of new ordris helpen not þus þer breþeren.
- (1429) Will York in Sur.Soc.4417 : The will of John of Sandford of Tykhill is this, for to gyfe to the rude gylde of Tykhill his best girdell harnest..and a ryng of golde with a diamaunt to sancte Christofre' Gilde.
- ?c1430(?1383) Wycl.Curse (Corp-C 296)333 : Alle newe fraternytes or gildis maad of men..conspiren many false errours aȝenst þe comyn fraternyte of Crist.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)193 : Gylde: Gilda, fraternitas.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14746 : Þe Saxons..hadde wel leuere..Þat þe lond were in partis leyd Þan þe Anglys of þe out ildes Schulde be chef of alle þer gyldes.
- (1454) Will York in Sur.Soc.30171 : To owr Lady gyld..iij d.
- (1464) Acc.Howard in RC 57272 : I payd at my dyner fore the brodered of the ȝeld of Seynte Johnes, iij s. iiij d.
- (1470) Statutes Ireland 3p.676 : John Tirrell, Meister de Gilde & fraternite de nostre dame seint Marie del esglis de Molaghedred.
- (a1472) Acc.Bodmin in Camd.n.s.145 : For seynt Loy is Ilde, of John Hancok xiij s. Item of seynt Petrok is Ilde, of Richard Colom xiij s.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)155 : A Gilde: gilda.
b
- [ (1180) in Pipe R.Soc.29153-4 : Gilda piperariorum..Gilda aurifabrorum..Gilda bocheiorum..Gilda parariorum. ]
- [ (1287-8) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.513 : Dicunt etiam quod tannatores habent quandam gildam iner se. ]
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.37 : Þe ordenaunces of þe gilde of Carpenteris werin begunnen in honor of þe holi trinite..alle þe breþerin and sistrin of þis gilde.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Millers & B.(Hrl 2255)17 : Let mellerys and bakerys gadre hem a gilde [rime: bylde], And alle of assent make a fraternite.
- (1450) RParl.5.184a : Like it to your Highnes to take, resume, seise and reteine into youre handes..all maner Libertees..by you graunted syth the seide first day of youre reigne to ony persone..or Abbot, Priour, Deane, Chapitre, Maystre or Wardeyn of College, Fraternitee, Crafte, or Gilde.
2.
(a) An association of merchants of a town, organized (with the king's permission) to control trade and often to act as the town's governing body; the guild merchant; chapmanne ~, marchaundes ~; (b) a meeting of such an association; ~ chaffare, ~ marchaunt; (c) the corporation of a town; (d) ~ marchaunt, a member of the guild merchant.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1190) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)1.50 : Hec etiam eis concessimus quod omnes cives Winton' de gilda mercatorum sint quieti de theloneo & lestagio & pontagio. ]
- [ (1363) Statutes Realm1.379 : Les Marchauntz nomez grossers engrossent totes maners des marchandises vendables..per covyne & ordinance entre eux faitz, appelle Fraternite & gilde de Marchaunt. ]
- (a1109) in Gross Gild Merch.2.37 : Ðis beoð þa gehworfe betwux ðan hirede æt Xrescircean and þan cnihtan on Cantwareberig of cepmannegilde Se heap on ceapmannegilde let, [etc.].
- (?c1230) Doc.Cobham in Archaeol.Cant.2228 : Totam terram..que vocatur terra de Chapmanegilde.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)9/23 : He was alderman of þe hey Gylde of þe Trinyte in N.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.70/20 : We, Citisens of Oxonford, of þe commune of þe Cite and of þe Marchaundis yelde..graunte..to þe Church of Seynte marye, [etc.].
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.370 : That the Baillies put in execution alle ordinauncez of the seid yelde and of the lawdayes.
b
- a1400 Usages Win.(Win-HRO W/A3/1)p.72 : Whanne me porveyde gylde chaffare [F puruoit beuere gilde markande], me shal, by commune a-sent by þe maystres of þe towne a-spyȝe folke þat be couenable and of good loos, and gadere þat ryȝte of chepmen.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.376 : Ordinaunces..made by the kynges comaundement and by hole assent of the citesens inhabitantes in the Cyte of Worcester at their yeld marchaunt holden the Sonday in the feste of the Exaltacion of the holy crosse.
- (1467) Ordin.Wor.377 : It is ordeyned by this present yeld that the Baillies..putt yn execucyon alle ordinaunces..made at this present yeld and at other yeldes precedentz..the chamberleyns of the cyte, kepers of the articles of the yeld.
c
- c1460 Oseney Reg.10/17 : If a bonde man quietely a yere and A day in oony towne pryvylegyd haue i-dwellyd, so that in here communte (that is to say, in-to þere yilde) haue be receyuyd and as a cytysyn..fro his bondage is delyuered.
d
- (1418) *Assem.Bk.A Shrewsbury (ShropRRC 3365/67)110 : No man, burges ny yilde marchaunt, from this day forth schal be made by the baillifs..durynge the terme of twenty yere next comynge.
3.
(a) In cpds. & combs.: ~ ale, a fraternal drinking party; ~ brother, a guildsman (cp. OI gildis-brœðr]; ~ catel, the property of a guild; ~ dai, the meeting day of a guild; ~ greive, ~ reve, the steward of a guild [see (b)]; ~ halle, q.v.; ~ hous, a guildhall [see (b) & cp. ONorw. gildi-hūs]; ~ prest, ?a member of an ecclesiastical brotherhood; ?a priest who serves a guild; ~ sister, a female member of a guild; ~ wite, a fine imposed by a guild; (b) in surnames & place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.200-1].
Associated quotations
a
- (1240) Gloss.DuCangep.68 : Ne intersint [Clerici] ludis inhonestis, nee sustineant ludos fieri de Rege et Regina..nec Gildales inhonestas.
- (1310) Doc.in EGilds185 : [If it is found by his bretheren that he had no guest, but stayed at home through idleness, he shall be in the] Gildwyt [of half a bushel of barley].
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.21 : Ye bretheren and sisteren..shul..eten togeder on her gilde day at her comoun costes.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.48 : If any broþer or sistir of þis gild be ded, þe dene shal do þe Thorches comyn to þe Derige, and warnyn alle þe gild bretheryn and sisteryn þat ben in toun to comyn and offren ob. at þe chirche.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.95 : Also, þat noman ne come in time of drinke beforn þe aldirman and þe gilde breþeren and þe gilde sisteres in tabbard ne in cloke, ne bar-lege, ne barfoote.
- 1389 Nrf.Gild Ret.119 : Hewery yer schal ye aldyrman callyn vp fore men of ye breyern for to chesen aldyrman, and to screweynys yt ben profitable for to kepyn ye gelde catel.
- (1454) Will York in Sur.Soc.30173 : To the mansion of the gyld prestes of the Trinite, a coppebord, [etc.].
b
- (1166) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)170 : Gildusdale.
- (1177) in Pipe R.Soc.2679 : Radulfus del Gildhus.
- (1241) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)171 : Gildhusdale.
- (1270) Pat.R.Hen.III500 : William atte Gyldehus.
- (1284) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)155 : Gildusclif.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 16121 : Will Gildehus.
- (a1300) Doc.in HMC Var.Col.7239 : Roberto le Gildegreive.
- (1317) in Ekwall PNLan.30 : Yheldhouse.
- (1327) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms118 : Will. le Yldereue.
- (1332) in Thuresson ME Occup.Terms118 : Le Ildereyue.
- (1332) in Löfvenberg ME Local Surnames114 : Editha ate yldelonde.
- (1351) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)37 : Ȝildebregg'. Gyldefordebrigge.
- (1368) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)37 : Yeldbrigestrat.
- (1377) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)289 : Les Gilgarthes.
- (1407) EPNSoc.5 (North Riding Yks.)155 : Gyldhousflat.
- (1417) in Ekwall PNLan.30 : La ȝeldehouses.
- (1426) EPNSoc.14 (East Riding Yks.& York)289 : Les gyldgarthes.
- (1428) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)296 : Gildegromescroftes.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1438) in Gross Gild Merch.2.65 : He that wyll not obey þe rewlle of the Bretherhede shall be put out of þe yeyld.
Note: New spelling
Note: Sense 2.(a)