Middle English Dictionary Entry
halm n.
Entry Info
| Forms | halm n. Also helm, holm, (early) healm. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. A halm, WS healm. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Stubble, straw; ?stalk; ~ bote, the right to gather stubble in a common field; ~ stak, a straw stack; (b) handle of a tool or weapon; (c) ?in place name [see Smith PNElem. 1.226].
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1125(?OE) Dur-C.Gloss.(Dur-C Hunter 100)125d : Culmus: healm.
- (1385) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)4.169 : [They..put them..on a limber of a cart..between the barn and a] halmstak, [and went away].
- (1416) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2324 : Item, pro helme et spicis, xvi d.
- (1425) Acc.St.Michael Bath in SANHS 2434 : Item de xx d. pro stramine empto et helme ad domum Johannis Orchardi.
- (1438) Acc.Tintinhull in Som.RS 4178 : Uno homini locato pro le stubel vocato helmebought falcando hoc pro dicta domo pistrine cooperienda.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)223 : Halm, or stobyl: Stipula.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)476 : Stobul, or holme [vr. halme]: Stipula.
- (1462) Will York in Sur.Soc.30261 : The helm, the hay, all ye wodd, colles, turves yt langs to ye place.
b
- (1297) Acc.Cornw.in RHS ser.3.68192 : In feno falcando, spergendo..per diuersa loca, ad helmes cariando, ibidem 6 s. 5 d.
- (1399) Fabric R.Yk.Min.in Sur.Soc.3518 : Item, ij soudyngirens et j helme ferri.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)330 : Now hatz Arthure his axe, & þe halme grypez.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2224 : A denez ax nwe dyȝt..With a borelych bytte bende by þe halme.
- a1450 Gener.(1) (Mrg M 876)3729 : Like mattokes wer here wepens wroght With long helmes of yren stoute.
c
- (c1150) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)238 : Lehalm.
- (1306) EPNSoc.10 (Nhp.)238 : Leholm.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (a1475) Recipe Painting(2) in Clarke Crafte Lymmyng (Sln 73) 204/30 : Yt is maad of þe axes of been halm and vnsleckid lym, but þe axis schule be double to þe lym.
Note: Additional quote, sense (a).
Note: Postdates word.