Middle English Dictionary Entry
jolī adj.
Entry Info
Forms | jolī adj. Also jolie, golli, yoli(e & jolī̆f(e, jolive, jolef & joili. |
Etymology | OF joli(f; also cp. ME joi(e . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Merry, cheerful, glad, joyful, happy; ~ of (for), glad of (sth.), happy because of (sth.); ~ as a pie (brid, ani jai), etc.; (b) of the heart, will, spirit: joyful; of song, birds: expressing or giving joy, merry; of play: cheerful, comical; of things: associated with joy or merriment; (c) of a time, season, month: joyous, filled with merriment; also, belonging to spring; (d) of a wind: favorable.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Swithin (Hrl 2277)117 : Þis gode man of þis tokning iolyf [Corp-C: ioiuol] was ynouȝ.
- a1350 Ichot a burde in boure (Hrl 2253)41 : Heo is..gentil, iolyf so þe iay.
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)27/305 : He seiȝe..Sexti leuedis on hors ride, Gentil & iolif [vr. gay] as brid on ris.
- c1390 Disp.GM & Devil (Vrn)636 : Lihtliche and glad may he go..And be liht and Iolyf More þen on þat haþ a wyf.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3339 : This Absolon, that ioly [vr. iolif] was and gay, Goth with a sencer on the haliday.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4154 : To bedde he gooth and with hym goth his wyf; As any iay she light was and iolyf.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1399 : And forth she goth as iolif as a pye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4264 : Iolif [vrr. Ioifull, Merie] and glad they wente vn to reste.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1052 : Bot thou in al thi lust jolif, The bodily delices soghtest.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1727 : Nat for to holde a preest ioly and gay, He syngeth nat but o masse in a day.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)241 : Þaȝ þay be jolef for joye, Jonas ȝet dredes.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)14.20 : And Iob bycam a iolif [vr. ioli] man, and al hus ioye newe.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)86 : Arthure..watz so joly of his joyfnes, & sum-quat child-gered.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)693 : I was never erst, er that day, So jolyf nor so wel bigoo Ne merye in herte as I was thoo.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)109 : Ioly [F Jolis] and gay, ful of gladnesse, Toward a Ryver gan I me dresse.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)264 : Ioly:..gaudiosus.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)232/280 : And þerto jocounde and joly I am.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)249 : Jason was Joly of his Juste wordes.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)154/77 : I am jolyere than þe jay.
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)2367 : Roulond ys so iolyf a man, That he hys blewyng bygan For huntyng of an hare.
- a1500(?a1400) Firumb.(2) (Fil)1064 : Ful Iolye & blythe, he turnyd hym ageyn.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)552 : Make we vs gladde and yolye [rime: companye].
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4679 : Mirie is þentre of May..Þe iolif niȝtingale singeþ.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4155 : So was hir ioly whistle wel ywet.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.340 : Love drinke..which..if he it taste..makth a jolif herte in haste.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1516 : By my fader kyn, Youre herte hangeth on a ioly [vr. mery] pyn.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)1967 : Þai gonnen many jolyf songe.
- c1430 In May whan euery (Cmb Gg.4.27)p.108 : A joly gold fynch, frosch & gay..Song as sche sat vp on de spray.
- a1450 I wole be mendid (Dgb 102)24 : Wel sowned in here ere, Wiþ ioly herte, fayre song to say.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)210 : He cald Jason in his Japis with a Joly wille.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)50.18 : A gast that is iolif and light byndis men til syn, bot a sorowful gast is sacrifice.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)730 : Then schalt þou see a yoly play.
c
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)155 : Averylle is mery..Jn þis tyme faire and jolyf, Olympyas..Wolde make a riche fest.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4283 : Day-spryngynge is jolif tyde.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3339 : Vpon þe tyme of Ioly grene May.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)12 : Aprille..The lusty tyme and Ioly, fressh Sesoun.
- ?a1425 Chaucer TC (Hrl 3943)1.157 : Comyn was þe tyme..of ioly veer þe pryme.
- c1430(c1395) Chaucer LGW Prol.(2) (Benson-Robinson)36 : In the joly tyme of May, Whan that I here the smale foules synge.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)264 : Ioly: vernus.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)176 : The joly month of May.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)58/1696 : Ther shalle we here the birdis synge..This ioly tyme, this fresshe first day of may.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)75/2226 : The ioly tyme, the first fresshe day of may.
d
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)35/1044 : The see of fortune playn to his plesere, A ioly wynd als blowyng into fraunce, Where now abidyng is my sovl maystres.
2.
(a) Vigorous, strong, youthful, lusty; of jousting, a day's tournament: lustily fought; (b) playful, frisky; (c) amorous; lecherous; of animals: ready to mate; of a bitch or she-wolf: in heat; (d) ~ wo (peine), love; ?a pleasing pain, ?amorous woe; (e) arrogant, foolish, wanton.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.John (LdMisc 108)247 : Tweye Ioliue louerdingues and wilde, þat ȝoungue and Ioliue [Corp-C: stronge] were, Siweden him.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4548 : Þat was þo a bacheler, Jolif & of strong power.
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)253 : Þan was þer in þat cuntre a riche kniȝt..proud & ȝong & ioliue, & had nouȝt ȝete ywedded wiue.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)75/1596,1603 : He hadde iwedded two iolif [vrr. joly, joly yong] wiues..His seriauntz..[bad] him take a wif jolif To solace wiȝ his old lif.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1582 : A doȝty, iolyf bacheler..Þat is of body fresch & fier, wiþ such on wold y fiȝt.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4244 : Ȝunder comeþ a knyȝt, Prykyng so doþ þe foul on flyȝt On a ful iolif stede.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.333 : With jolif men of gest toward þe North he schoke To chace kyng Robyn.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2183 : A jolyf [LinI: joly] kyng, ycleped Barrys..smoot þe stede and leteþ þe bride.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2712 : Þere was ycome..A ȝonge kniȝth, jolyf and kene..Wel to juste was his wone.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1658 : We seke justynge of werre..Of þe jolyeste men ajuggede be lordes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3414 : The fyfte was Iosue, þat joly mane of armes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4110 : A jolyere journe ajuggede was neuer, whene Bretons boldly enbraces theire scheldes.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)52.842 : Al hol scholden they ben sykerle and with-Inne xvj dayes..they scholde ben bothe Ioly & lyht.
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Res.Dom.in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)2013 : Guas iolyf yv whyp an tyn.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)538 : Tytus tourneþ hym to, telles of þe bestes, For-justes þe jolieste.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)620 : Generides þe gentill, full ioly in his tyme.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)238/7 : A more jolyar joustynge was never sene on erthe.
- a1500 Bevis (Chet 8009)2/31 : Whill sir Gye was yonge and joliffe, Wold he nevure wed no wiffe, But whan sir Gye be-gan to old..He toke his leve of chevalrye.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3263 : Wynsyng she was as is a ioly colt.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.453 : Nay, I wol drynke licour of the vyne And haue a ioly wenche in euery toun.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)68a : Joly:..petulans, petultus [read: petulcus]..Est homo lasciuus, sed equum dic esse petultum.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)16.11 : He says this til lickynynge of bestis, that waxis iolife when thai ere ful of grese.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)47 : Thei be yonge men and Iolye [F ioli], and haue grete nede of counseile.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)507 : This Morgain was a yonge damesell, fressh and Iolye [F moult enuoisie].
c
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Amos 6.4 : Ȝe sleepen in beddis of yuer, and wexen wijld, or iolyf [WB(2): doen letcherie; L lascivitis] in ȝour beddis.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3355 : For paramours he thoghte for to wake, And forth he goth, iolyf and amorous.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4232 : He priketh harde and depe as he were mad; This ioly lyf han thise two clerkes lad Til that the thridde cok bigan to synge.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1127 : Þys ȝong man wax fast, & was iolyfe; hys cunseyl was to take a wyfe.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)1727 : Ȝyf a man be of Ioly lyfe, And mysdo onys vndyr hys wyfe.
- ?c1400(c1340) *Rolle Psalter (Sid 89)Cant.Mo.2.38 : Þat suerd schal waste ȝonge menne, þat is, ilkone þat is iolife & lechurs.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)31 : They [wolves] ben in here loue in Feueryere wiþ þe femellis, and þan ben Joly and don in þe maner as houndes doon, and be in here greet hete of loue x or xii daies..þei goon alle aftir hur as houndes do after a byches whan she is Joly [F quant est chaude].
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)33 : Ones in þe yeere þei goon to her love and ben joly.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)45 : Þe bitches..haue no terme of her heet, for in euery tyme of þe yere som been joly; Whan þei be a xii month oolde, þei be come joly and ben joly while þat þei abide þe houndes.
- 1447 Bokenham Sts.(Arun 327)4127 : Þis ioly yung man Of loue to hir felt more prykkyng.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)235 : The emperour was jolyf of blode And hare councel undirstood.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)73.5,6 : Swilke has ioy of thaire syn, as iolife men and women..there iolif lufers has many sere takyns in wordis and dedis & vnclene lokyngis.
d
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.84 : It falleth that the moste wise Ben otherwhile of love adoted..Of drunke men that nevere yit Was non, which half so loste his wit Of drinke, as thei of such thing do, Which cleped is the jolif wo.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.1910 : The Dart of which Cupide throweth, Wherof the jolif peine groweth.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1099 : I may naught slepe nevere a Mayes morwe; I have a joly wo, a lusty sorwe.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1105 : Tel us youre joly wo and youre penaunce.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1192 : An huntyng wol this lusty freshe queene, So priketh hire this newe joly wo.
e
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Ecclus.20.7 : A wijs man schal be stille til to tyme; but a ioli [WB(1): the reccheles; L lascivus] man and vnprudent man schulen not kepe tyme.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)589 : I hald a man noght witty Þat here es over-prowde and ioly.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)3291 : Ther was no wisdom but foly; Thyn herte was joly but not sage, Whanne thou were brought in sich a rage.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)36b/b : Lasciuus: iolif & sauage.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)264 : Ioly:..lascivus.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)97.2 : Tha ere sauyd til thaim selfe, noght til god, that hafes hele of body and waxis proude & iolif.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)146.12 : Proude men and iolif nouthere dredis him [God] na has hope in him.
3.
(a) Pleasing, comely, beautiful, handsome; noble in appearance; handsomely dressed; (b) ~ robin, a handsome or charming man; a gaily dressed man, a dandy; (c) of things, colors, an action, chanting, a way of life: pleasant, beautiful, pretty, elegant, excellent.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)5562 : Her ost was ycleped Blaire; Leonele hete his wiif, A fair buriays & joliif.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)89 : Toward hire comen a kniȝt, Gentil, ȝong, and iolif man.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)251 : A fair knyȝt a was to see, a iolif on wyþ oute lak.
- c1390 Whon Men beoþ (Vrn)75 : He holdeþ wel betere with an hounde Þat is lykyng and Ioly, And of seknesse hol and sounde.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)1.2703 : Mor jolif than the brid in Maii, He makth him evere freissh and gay, And doth al his array desguise.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.927 : Amonges othere men Daunced a squier..That fressher was and iolyer of array..than is the monthe of May.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.583 : 'God saue,' quod he, 'this ioly [vrr. Iolie, feire, holy] compaignye.'
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)300 : Þe jolef Japheth watz gendered þe þryd.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)864 : And ȝe ar jolyf gentylmen, yor iapez ar ille.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)639 : For wel wene I there with hym be A fair and joly companye [F bele est cele compaignie], Fulfilled of alle curtesie.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)829 : A fairer man I nevere sigh..So fair, so joly, and so fetys.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)6863 : Thise queenes and eke countesses..These joly knyghtis and baillyves.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)65/19 : Þan went þei forth day be day & met wyth many joly men, & þei seyd non euyl worde to þis creatur but ȝouyn hir & hyr man mete & drynke.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)29 : Þe bad aungel þanne bryngyth hym iij enmys so stout; Þe Werlde, þe Fende, þe foul Flesche so joly & jent.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1271 : Þe tresours þat þei þer founden, Jewels for joly men.
- a1450 As I went on Yole (Sln 2593)p.309 : Knew I joly Jankyn be his mery ton.
- c1475 Guy(1) (Cai 107/176)4574 : A faire doughter thanne had he Yonge and ioly and brighte of blee.
- a1500 Aboue all thing (Roy 17.B.47)p.262 : In they [read: the] heyweyes ther joly palfreys Yt makyght to lepe and praunce.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)343 : Then spak the moste gentillest of thaim [ladies] thre, The most goodlokest And iolyest to se.
- a1500 PNoster R.Hermit (Trin-C O.1.29)158 : A iolye knyth, in gode looue & honeste, louede mekile þis ilke ientill ladye in his herte.
b
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)5.1174 : From haselwode, there joly [vr. Iolye] Robyn pleyde, Shal come al that that thow abidest heere.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)124 : My name..is Ioly Robyn.
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)7453 : Thou woldest on a bok have sworn, Whan thou him saugh in thylke aray, That he, that whilom was so gay And of the daunce joly Robyn [F li biaus Robins], Was tho become a Jacobyn.
c
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)3479 : Þan sete þei þre to solas hem..euen ouer þe ioly place þat to þat paleis longed.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)1743 : Quyclych payeþ þys truwage..And wendeþ forth on ȝour viage ouer þys iolif brigge.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3316 : Ful streight and euene lay his ioly shode.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.3931 : A ioly poppere baar he in his pouche.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Sh.(Manly-Rickert)B.1613 : Ye shal my ioly body haue to wedde.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.48 : Phebus the sonne ful iolyf [vr. ioly] was and cleer.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)941 : Thys Jerusalem Lombe hade neuer pechche Of oþer huee bot quyt jolyf [rime: ryf, wyf, stryf, fyf, þryf].
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)929 : So cumly a pakke of joly juele Wer euel don schulde lyȝ þeroute.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)2.1031 : Though the beste harpour upon lyve Wolde on the beste sowned joly harpe That evere was..Touche ay o streng.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)610 : These ymages..neithir ben jolyf [F mignotes] ne queynte.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7246 : And love noble men and gay, That joly clothis weren alway.
- ?c1430(?1382) Wycl.Pet.Parl.(Corp-C 296)520 : A worldly preest..wiþ fatte hors and jolye and gaye sadeles.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.Priesthood (Corp-C 296)169 : Ioly chauntynge þat stireþ men & wommen to daunsynge.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)154 : Thy ioly lif wil turne the to no ese.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)1474 : Corven wyndows of glase With joly bandis of brase.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1228 : Wo, wo, wo! worþ on ȝou boþe, Jerusalem, þe Jewen toun, & þe joly [vr. fayre] temple.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)316 : That was Jocund and Joly..Hit was þe souerayne Citie of the Soyle euer.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1368 : [They] ffongit no florence..Gemys ne gewellis ne no ioly vessell.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3340 : And vij degrece..ware Ientilly Ioyned in a Ioyly wyse.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4823 : Þare fand þai Revers..ricchest of þe werd, Þof it ware Ioly Iurdan or Iacobs well.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5261 : Þat was ioyned full of gemes & of ioly stanes.
- a1475 Herkyn to my tale (Brog 2.1)p.85 : The samun sanng the hy mas, the heyryng vas the clark, The porpos at the organs, ther was a golly wark.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)699 : Dowcettes, payne puff, with leche Ioly Ambere.
- a1500(c1386) St.Erk.(Hrl 2250)229 : I justifiet þis joly toun on gentil wise.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)239 : Euerych hadde oon a iolyf coronall With syxty gemmys and mo.
- a1500 Eglam.(Cmb Ff.2.38)1200 : The kyng of Sydone came..Wyth mony knyghtys..That yoly [vr. riche] colourys bare.
4.
In surnames; -- also as name of a dog.
Associated quotations
- (1281) Hundred R.Tower 2640 : Johannes Jolif.
- (1304) Feudal Aids 2262 : Johannes Jolye.
- (1316) Pat.R.Edw.II591 : John Joligate.
- (1319) Pat.R.Edw.II475 : Roger Jolifboie.
- (1322) Abbrev.Plac.Edw.II340 : Willelmus Jolifwille.
- (1337) Court R.Colchester 1159 : Thomas Jolyf.
- (1370) Halmote R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.8297 : Et eciam terram quam Radulphus Jolibody quondam tenuit.
- (1380) R.Cov.in Dugd.Soc.1637 : Ricardus Jolipere.
- (1393) Merchant R.Cov.in Dugd.Soc.176 : Iohannes Iolypere de Couentre.
- (1394) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.27 : [Certain friars..maliciously killed a brachet called] Jolyf.
- (1409-10) *in Pilkington Surn. : Jolipas, Henry.
- (1428) Feudal Aids 5164 : Thomas Jolyf.
- -?-(1314) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.9616 : Radulphus Jolifberd, mercer.