Middle English Dictionary Entry
hilt(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | hilt(e n. Also hilta, hult(e, helte, heolte. |
| Etymology | OE; ?some forms influenced by ME hōlden , p. hẹ̄̆ld. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The handle of a sword, hilt; -- often pl. with sg. meaning; (b) the handle of an ax, a dagger; a shield; (c) ~ ful, fig. full to the hilt, completely full.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)549/34 : Capulum: hilta.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1559 : Þa brac þat sweord in his hond riht bi þere hilte [Otho: heolte].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)22509 : Þis ich wullen þe swerien uppen mine sweorden; þe halidom is a þere hilte [Otho: helte].
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)1416 : Wiþ his swerdes hilte, Horn him wok of slape.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2887 : Arthour tok þe hilt bi hond; þe swerd out drawe he gan fond.
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.522 : Þer-on lay a swerd..In þe hilt was mani precious ston.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.391 : In þe hilte [L capulo] of þat swerd was a chariot i-grave.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)3.1445 : The Pomel of his swerd to grounde He sette, and thurgh his herte a wounde He made up to the bare hilte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1594 : Þe mon merkkez hym wel..Hit hym vp to þe hult.
- c1425 Liber de Hyda in RS 45155 : Fyrst he ȝyvyth..to swerdys, the hyltys of goold.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Judg.3.22 : He fastnede in to the wombe of the kyng so strongli, that the pomel, ether hilte, suede the yrun in the wounde.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)12a/a : Capulus: an hilt or an hondel of a swerde.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)1220 : His swerd brast in þe hilt.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)240 : Hylt of a swerde: Capulus.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2239 : Sir Bedwere was borne thurghe..With a burlyche braunde brode at þe hiltes.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1515 : Amoryus hys sqwerd to hyltys smet..That yt thyrlyd hys hert.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)750 : A bryȝt burnesched swerd he belteþ alofte, Of pur purged gold þe pomel & þe hulte.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)503 : And ane hande by the hiltys hastely it grippes, And brawndeschet that brighte swerde.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.9 (Hrl 2169)178 : [A silver sword point downward] anowryd wt gold pomell and hyltte.
- a1486 Knts.Bath in Archaeol.57 (Mrg M 775)68 : A payre of gilte sporis hangynge up on the hiltis of the same sworde.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)4475 : And oute a swerd drawethe he, The hylte downeward, þe poynte vp stode.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)101 : He hente the swerde be the hiltes and drough it oute.
b
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)1264 : He smot him on þe scheld ygult, Þoruȝ out þe bord, þoruȝ out þe hilt.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1149 : Arthur with ane anlace..hittez euer in the hulke vp to þe hiltez.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.38 : His Ax he bathede In Mennes blood From the point to the hylt.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)204/2 : Arthure..hittis hym with a shorte dagger up to the hyltys.
c
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)228/198 : Þer houes, as I hope, A hyve [?read: hyne] helte-full of ire.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1415) Reg.Chichele in Cant.Yk.S.42 (Lamb 69)47 : Item, a pair kervynge knyves, iiij in a sheth, þe haltes of get harneised with silver.
Note: New spelling
Note: Quot. already used under hōld n.(2) 1.(b)--JL