Middle English Dictionary Entry
girl(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | girl(e n. Also gurl(e, gerl(e, garle. |
| Etymology | ?OE *gyrela, from earlier *gurw-; see K.Luick in Anglia B. 8.235-6. ?Akin to OE gierela (from *garw-) a garment. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A child of either sex; --often, a boy; knave ~, a boy; (b) a girl, young woman.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)76 : Þe Amirales douȝter was In þe strete þare-oute, And suyþe gret prece of gurles and Men comen hire al-a-boute.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.664 : In daunger hadde he at his owene gyse The yonge gerles [vrr. geerles, girles, gurles] of the diocise And knew hir counseil, and was al hir reed.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)10.155 : Aȝen Godes hest Gurles [vrr. girlis, gerles, garlis, cherlys, childryn] þei geeten.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2798 : Men miȝtten seen þere hondes wrynge..Wymmen shrikyng, gyrles gradyng.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)11.132 : Gramer for girles [vrr. gurles, gerles, childeryn] I garte ferst write, And bet hem wiþ a baleis but ȝif þei wolde lerne.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)1.33 : Þere was loth acombred, And there gat in glotonye gerlis [vr. barnes] that were cherlis.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)18.8 : Of gerlis and of gloria laus gretly me dremed.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)10.76 : Boþe in mylk and in mele to make with papelotes, To a-glotye with here gurles þat greden after fode.
- a1475 Bk.Courtesy (Sln 1986)328 : Ne delf þou neuer nose thyrle With thombe ne fyngur, as ȝong gyrle.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)171/59 : Here knaue gerlys I xal steke.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)172/110 : Upon my spere a gerle I bere..lett moderys howte.
b
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)816 : Þe gaye gerles [Melior and Alexandrine] were in-to þe gardin come.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3769 : What eyleth yow? som gay gerl [vr. gurl], God it woot, Hath broght yow thus vpon the viritoot.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)205 : A pyȝt coroune ȝet wer þat gyrle.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1163 : Þanne mayst þou bultyn in þi boure, & serdyn gay gerlys.