Middle English Dictionary Entry
ketling n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ketling n. Also keteling & kit(e)ling, citling, kittilling. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI ketlingr 'a kitten'. Forms with -i- show influence of kitǒun. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The young of an animal; a whelp, cub, kitten; lioun ~; also fig.; (b) ?a youth, adolescent.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.33.22 : Dan, ketelyng [vr. keetlyng; L catulus] of a lion, flowe shal largeleche from basan.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)16.13 : Þai onfanged me..als lioun kitelinge Þat es wonand in hidinge.
- a1400 NVPsalter (Vsp D.7)56.5 : God..toke mi saule fra wickednes, Fra þe kitelinges [vr. whelps; L catulorum] of liouns ware.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)227 : Kytlynge: Catillus, catunculus.
- a1450 *Trev.Barth.[OD col.] (BodeMus 16)18.74 : Þis beste..norisscheþ hir ketelinges in howse.
- ?a1450 Agnus Castus (Stockh 10.90)187/29 : Þe vertu of þis herbe is ȝef a cat ete þer-of, it schal conseywyn and brynge forth kytlyngis anon.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)243 : I [the serpent] have her in myn hole kytlingis, that I have browt forthe.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)699 : Catulus: a kytylyng.
- ?a1500 Lndsb.Nominale (Lndsb)758 : Catellus: a cytlyng.
b
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)69b : A kittyllyng: catulus, catulaster.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?a1475 Com.Proph.M.(PennSt-U PS V-3)341 : The kittelinges of þe leon schal be transformed into fisches.
Note: New spelling