Middle English Dictionary Entry
ī̆sel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ī̆sel n. Also hisel, iselle, us(e)le, huissel, (error) vesselle; pl. iseles, etc. & iselen, uslen. |
| Etymology | OE ysle; also cp. MnE dial. izle & easle, aizle, eizel. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A spark, cinder, an ember; (b) ashes; ashes as the substance of which man's body is made and to which it will return; also, ashes as a symbol of penitence; in asshen and iselen; fir iseles [see fir 1b. (a)]; hei iseles [see hei 2. (a)]; (c) pl. the ruins of a city destroyed in war or disaster; (d) ~ cake, a kind of cake or pie baked under hot ashes.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)1013 : Gardez vos dras des flammecches [glossed:] huysseles [vrr. uslen, isils, hiseles].
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1010 : Askez upe in þe ayre and usellez þer flowen, As a fornes ful of flot þat upon fyr boyles.
- a1425 Trev.Higd.(Hrl 1900)7.379 : Neiþer ysel neþer spark [StJ-C: whan al þe chirche was on fuyre, þer fil noþer fliȝ noþer sparcle noþer soot uppon Wolston his grave].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)266 : Isyl of fyre: Favilla.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)68a : An Isyll [Monson: Iselle..or a sperke]: fauilla, versus ardet sintilla priuatur ab igne fauilla.
b
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)65 : Ich haue syneged..and pine me seluen on asshen and on iselen.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)747 : I am bot erþe ful evel and usle so blake.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)9.184 : Thenne ysels myxt with litel water renne Thorgh, dechyng al this holsum instrument.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.119 : Þere semeþ somer schadue and liknesse of fuyre boþe in vesselles [L favillis] and in trees.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.431 : Whanne Titus hadde i-broke þe secounde wal, Iosephus was i-founde y-hid among useles [vr. ysels].
d
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)266 : Isylkake, or chesekake, or eykake bakyne vndyr askys: Flamicia.