Middle English Dictionary Entry
kirtel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | kirtel n. Also kirtelle, cirtil, kiertel, (error) gyrtelle & (chiefly S & W) kurtel(le, curtel, -ul, cuertel, cuirtel, cortel, -ol, (error) kurdyll & kertel(le, certil. |
| Etymology | OE cyrtel |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A garment for men or boys, varying as to length, shape, and materials, usually (but not always) worn as an outer garment; coat, gown, tunic, cloak; (b) ~ and (ne) cote, ~ and cope (courte-pi, mantel, tabard), ~ ne hod, ~ nor coule; (c) a jacket or tunic worn under armor; (d) the seamless robe of Christ; (e) a garment made from the skins of animals.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)9292-4 : Whasumm itt iss þatt illke mann Þatt hafeþþ tweȝȝenn kirrtless [L tunicas], Gife he þatt an summ oþerr mann Þatt iss wiþþutenn kirrtell.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)139 : He..ches..Stiue here to shurte and gret sac to curtle.
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)127/30 : Se þe benimð ðe þine kiertel [L tunicam], ȝif him þine mantel [L pallium].
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)99 : His fader him [Joseph] ȝaf a kurtel þat rum was & wid.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)1155 : Þe Abite of frere he nam..blac was is cope a-boue, is Cuyrtel ȝwijt blaunket.
- c1300 SLeg.Fran.(1) (LdMisc 108)416 : Þe woundene ornen ofte a-blode..And bi-bledde is cuyrtel ofte.
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1061 : Jh'us is curtel a non of dude, And so duden alle in þat stude.
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.154 : Hail seint Michel..Þou hast a rede kirtil anon to þi fote.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1954 : Of tristrem kertel þe kniȝt, He fond a pece grene Of tore.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)211,213 : In a kirtel of silk he gan him schrede..Þe kirtel bicom him swiþe wel..Þe maidens biheld him feir & wel.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)191/9 : He yaf ofte his kertel [Vices & V.(2): cote] and his sserte to þe poure uor god.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)236/15 : Þo god het to aaron þet wes prest and bissop, þet alle his children weren ycloþed ine linene kertles and y-gert aboue mid huite linene gerdles.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.349 : Plato was ones wrooþ wiþ his servaunt, and heet hym doo of his kirtel [Higd.(2): clothes] and make his schulders naked and bare.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.437 : In his kirtel [vrr. curtel, cortol; Higd.(2): coote; L tunica] oon þat hadde a fende on hym was i-cloþed.
- (1388) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.63 : [A] kertel [of] fustyan [worth 8 d.].
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3321 : Yclad he was ful smal and proprelv Al in a kirtel [vrr. kertell, cote] of light waget.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1580 : For sikerly my dette shal be quyt Towardes yow how euer that I fare To goon abegged in my kirtel [vrr. doublet, goun] bare.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)4161 : His kyrtil [Göt: cirtil; Trin-C: curtel] sal we riue and rend, And blody til his fader seind.
- (1400) Will York in Sur.Soc.4512 : De xiiij d. rec. de Roberto Couper pro j kirtill de rubio mixto, fururato cum rubio pulayn, debili.
- (1422) Death Hen.V in Archaeol.65141 : Et j parva toga vocata curtyl.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)29/61 : Þe knightes þat in Calais were Come to sir Edward..In kirtell one and swerd in hand.
- ?c1430(c1400) Rule & T.St.Francis(1) (Corp-C 296)40 : Aftirward graunte þe mynystris to hem cloþis of probacion, þat is to seie, tweie cotis or kirtlis wiþ-outen hood.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)277 : Kyrtyl: Tunica, subuncula.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)201 : He es..boystously gyrdide in his kirtill all one.
- a1450 SLeg.Barlaam (Bod 779)114/19 : Þe king hym be held þo In a foul cirtil.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1071 : And seyngle in a kertil [vr. surcote] he stood.
- a1450 I herde a carpyng (Sln 2593)p.44 : Gandeleyn bent his goode bowe, and set therin a flo; He schet throw his grene certyl; his herte he clef on too.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)205/1 : So I have the curtyll, I kepe no more.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)154/82 : In kyrtyl of cammaka, kynge am I cladde.
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)660 : His kyrtell covyrd not his kne.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)848 : To-morowe þou shalle serue yn halle In a kurtylle of ryche palle.
b
- c1330 Orfeo (Auch)21/229 : Bot a sclauin on him he toke; He no hadde kirtel [vr. gowne] no hode.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)275/17 : He Rod in Curtel and Mantel al on, ffor oþur cloþyng hedde he non.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)228b/b : Aȝeins suche greues, it is defendid and socoured wiþ many leues & sprayes, as it were wiþ many curtils and cotes.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)268 : She..make þe Childe cloþes tyȝt, Curtel and tabard and hod al wyȝt.
- a1400 Preste ne monke (Cleo B.2)63 : For somme can with a pound of sape Gete him a kyrtelle & a cape.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)5.62 : He was cloþid in a caurymaury..A kertil [vrr. kirtelle, kyrtul, curtil, kurtell] & a courtepy, a knyf be his side.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.276 : If prestes weren parfyt, þei wolde no syluer take..Ne neither kirtel ne cote, þeigh þey for colde shulde deye.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4955 : Þat berne..fra his bed ryses, Cled all in clene gold, kirtill & mantill.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)5/8 : I am your bruther, bod trewlie nowder your kirtyll nor your cowle..is my sister.
- a1500(?a1400) KEdw.& S.(Cmb Ff.5.48)589 : In russet clothyng he tyret hym þo, In kyrtil and in surstbye [?read: curtebye] And a blak furred hode.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)188/18 : He..weryd but on sengyl curtyll wyth a mantel.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)23762 : Arður þe stronge warp he an his rugge a ræf swiðe deore..& ænne pallene curtel, ænne burne swiðe deore.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)1459 : Þe swerd vpon þe sheld glood And share þe hambark an hond brood; Al þe kertel he shere a-twoo.
- c1450 Eglam.(Clg A.2)1283 : To vnarme hym þe knyȝt gose -- Kyrtels [vr. cortyls] and surcotis and oþer close.
d
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)445 : Þo funden heo his curtel, þat he wes al ihol..hi casten heore lot hwes he scolde beo.
- c1300 SLeg.Pilate (Hrl 2277)168 : Oure louerdes curtel he dude on..Þat vnsued was of þred, as hit saiþ in þe godspel.
- c1300 SLeg.Pilate (Hrl 2277)177 : He makede mid him al þe ioye..For virtu of þe holi curtel.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.419 : Abowte þat tyme tunica Domini inconsutulis, þat is, our Lordes kirtel [vr. cortel; Higd.(2): coote] wiþoute semes, was i-fownde.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)16699 : A-bute his kirtel drou þai cutt, qua suld it bere a-wai.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)358/290 : Þis kirtill wolde I of you craue..I rede we drawe cutte for þis coote..For this mantell is myne.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)21.18 : Thai partid his clathes in foure partis, out takyn his kirtil, the whilke thai durst noght shere, bot laid kut thar on, wha sould haf it.
e
- c1390(?a1325) Adam & E.(2) (Vrn)222/35 : God ȝaf hem curteles tweyne of beestes felles.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)935 : God mad þam kyrtels [Göt: cirtlis; Trin-C: curteles] þan of hide And cled þar flexs wit for to hide.
2.
(a) A garment for women or girls, often an outer garment, sometimes worn over a smock or under a mantle, gown, or pilch; (b) ~ and cloke (cope, mantel, smok), goune and ~, etc.; (c) ~ cloth, a length of cloth for making a kirtle.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)4993 : Heo nom hire on anne curtel [Otho: cuertel] þe wes swiðe to-toren; hire hem heo up i-tæh, hire cneon he wes swiðe nehi.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)111/14 : We þeah ȝelyfað..ȝenoh beo ælcere mynecene, þæt heo habbe anne mantel & ænne curtel [L per singulas pallium et tunicam].
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)10/9 : Unwise..weneð þet ordre sitte i þe curtel.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)103/8 : Ha haueð prude sikerliche, hu se eauer hire curtel [Nero: kurtel; Recl.: kirtel] beo ischapet oðer iheowet.
- a1350 A wayle whyt (Hrl 2253)54 : Bituene hire curtel ant hire smok y wolde ben hyd.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)17/340 : Sche tar..Here kirtel, here pilche of ermine..here smok o line.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)83/1749 : Þo hire kertel was of idrawe..He rent hir smok to þe elbowe.
- (1367) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.69 : [Margaret Kemestere..and Lambkyn Flemyng..came to terms in a plea of detinue of a furred] gyte [and] kyrtile [and other things].
- (c1390) Chart.Abbey HG (LdMisc 210)352 : His moder..kytte an olde kirtel [vr. curtul] & made þerof clotþis.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6915 : For he hir kertell fond also.
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.122 : Scho ȝede out in hir smok..Withouten kirtelle or kemse.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)203 : Wyth lappez large..Dubbed with double perle & dyȝte, Her cortel of self sute schene, Wyth precios perlez al vmbepyȝte.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1831 : Ho laȝt a lace lyȝtly, þat..leke vmbe hir sydez, Knit vpon hir kyrtel vnder þe clere mantyle.
- (1413) Will All Sts.in BGAS 24123 : Jtem, lego Alicie Mynty meam togam viridis coloris duplicatam cum vna tunicula, videlicet, a kirtill de hwlyn.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)778 : Ful fetys damyseles two..In kirtles and noon other wede..Hadde Myrthe doon for his noblesse.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)235 : Aboute that temple daunseden alwey Women inowe..In kertels, al dishevele, wente they there.
- (1437) Invent.Q.Katherine in Sus.AC 37 (Add 32645)175 : Item, delivred to Johanette Potwo a kyrtyl of blak velvet benethe and damaske above..to Guillemette de Rewe a kyrtyl of blak cloth lyned with scarlet..to Jehannette Potow a kyrtil of violet sengle.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)12/32 : Þan sche gat hir an hayr of a kylne..& leyd it in hir kyrtylle as sotyllych & preuylich as sche mygth.
- (1441) Visit.Alnwick8 : Also that none of yow, the prioresse ne none of the couente..vse no lased kyrtels, but butonede or hole be fore.
- (1442) Let.Bekynton in RS 56.2184 : At your first commyng thider..that ye do portraie the iij doughters in their kerttelles simple.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)1194 : Þis hard hayre he wered hurre body nexst Vnder a curtull of purpur byse Enbroudrid wt golde.
- (1465) Acc.Howard in RC 57507 : My lady paid to Wadselle..fore makenge of a payre sleves to a kertelle, ij s.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)241/16 : They kneled in their kyrtyls there the kynge hovyth.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)443/14 : The said Isowde yaf..j curtell to the said luce of Irissh clothe.
- c1450(?a1400) Chestre Launfal (Clg A.2)232 : He sawe come out of holtes hore Gentyll maydenes two; Har kerteles were of Inde-sandel Ilased smalle.
- c1450(c1400) Emare (Clg A.2)392 : The lady..In kurtulle alone serued yn halle.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)10/30 : Sche sent hire cote vnto the chirche of Seynt Steven..Neuertheles, when sche was dede, they caste the same kyrtle apon hire body, and the spirit com a-yene, and sche was turned to lyf.
- a1500(a1450) Gener.(2) (Trin-C O.5.2)4380 : I must surely be disgised soo That I may goo vnknowen to eny wight; Your kirtill will I were be cause of light.
b
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1315 : In kertles and in Copes riche, Thei weren clothed, alle liche.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6890 : Hire kertell and hire mantel eke, Abrod upon his bed he spredde.
- (1431-2) EEWills91/10 : I be-quethe to Ione, my dowter, a blew goune and a grene kyrtyll.
- (1434) EEWills97/3 : Y be-quethe to Clemens, the woman that kepes me, a gowne of Musterdevylers & a kyrtell of musterdevylers with grene sleues & an hode of blak of lure.
- (1436) RParl.4.497b : There the seid Besecher felonousely and moste horribely ravysshed, and her naked, except hir Kirtyll and hir Smokke, ledde with him into the wylde and desolate places of Wales.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)104/18 : Þis good man bowt white cloth & dede makyn hir a gowne þerof & an hood, a kyrtyl & a cloke.
- (1450) Lin.DDoc.43/5 : All my other Gownes and kirtilles, that thei be departed to my wommen seruauntes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4340 : Is þam na surcote of silke ne serkis of raynes Ne kirtils of camlyn.
- c1450 Ponthus (Dgb 185)121/27 : He sent for hys tailyour and did shape for hir gyrtelles, gounes, and mantelles.
- a1475(a1456) Shirley Death Jas.(Add 5467)17 : Then not wityng wele what sheo did, or shuld do..fledd yn hir kirtill, her mantell hangyng aboute hir.
- (1465) Paston2.156 : They..lefte her no more gode but her kyrtyll and her smook.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)1178/7 : Than he rode streyt unto quene Gwenyver and made caste a kurdyll and a gown uppon her.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)p.41 : Her enteryd v vyrgynes with kertyllys & mantelys.
c
- (1467) Acc.Howard in RC 57400 : He schal have for the yere wages a gowne and in mony iij li. and his wyffe a kertelle clothe.
3.
Fig. The flesh, the body of man; a covering of worms; maidenhood, chastity; a plain literary style.
Associated quotations
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)185/14,19 : Vre alde curtel is þe flesch þet we of adam, ure alde feader, habbeð..Of þeo þe hare curtles toteoreð o þisse wise, seið ysaie, 'Deferetur,' [etc.].
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)95/27 : Schulen beon of wurmes his kurtel & his kuuertur.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)230/1 : Huo þet wyle loki clenliche þane huyte kertel [Vices & V.(2): robe] of madenhod, him behoueþ, [etc.].
- (c1412) Hoccl.RPEnvoy (Roy 17.D.6)5445 : O litell booke..Syn thou all naked art of eloquence..Why approchest thou his excellence Vnclothed saue thy kirtell bare allone?
4.
(a) A protective covering, a coat of plaster; (b) the outer skin of a snake.
Associated quotations
a
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.417 : Thre kyrtils do theron, of marbul greyne, But first let on be drie & then engrene A smaller cote aboue on that.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)268a/b : Þere serpentes..lyueþ so longe tyme þat þay doþ away here olde skynnes and kurteles and bycomeþ ȝonge aȝein.
5.
Anat. (a) One of the tunics or membranous sheaths in the eyeball; ?also, all of the membranous matter of the eyeball; (b) the tubular coat or sheath of a vein; one of the sheaths of an artery; (c) one of the membranes of the middle or inner ear; (d) one of the membranes in or around the brain.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)24a/b : Whanne þe liknes of þe þing comeþ to þe siȝt vpon þese pirames, þenne þe liknes of liȝt & colour passiþ by þe smale curtiles [L per medium tunicarum] & humoures of þe eiȝe.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)40b/a : Þe yȝe is Imade of x þinges, of seuen smale curtels & þre humours..Þe seuene curteles ben vij þine skynnes oþir webbes þat biclippiþ þe forseide humours..foure ben in þe formest partye, of þe whiche hatte tela aranea..þe secounde vena grapi, þe þridde cornea, horny, þe ferþe coniunctiua..& þre ben in þe inner partye, þe whiche þre hatte rethia, sederina [L secundina], & serotica [L scyrotica].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)84b/b : Þe fury vertu of þe basyne destroieþ & wastiþ þe kirtil of þe iȝe & þe humour cristallyne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)98b/b : Lest þe quittir of bleynes hurte som kertil of þe yȝe oþir þe blak of þe yȝe.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)33b/b : Þe hete of þe herte makeþ it [arterial blood] more sotile & clere..for he schulde swete & wose out lustiliche by þe hard curtilles of arteries.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)64b/a : Alle þe veynes bene maad of o kurtell [L tunica] & nouȝt of two as þe arteries bene & woosen..Also þese arteries ben made & compowned two smale leþerne pipes þat beþ clepid kurteles.
c
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)43a/b : Þese hooles ben wralled & I-wounde..and þat is for coolde aier þat schal nouȝt entre to swiftliche to greue þe inner kirteles [L panniculos].
d
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)32b/b : It [smoke from indigestion] comeþ vpward to þe brayn & smyt miringas, þe smale curtiles [L tuniculas] þerof, and hurttiþ & greueþ hem sore & brediþ somtyme emygrayne.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)893 : I…sawe…trees y-traylid fro toppe to þerthe, Coriously y-courid with curtelle of grene.
Note: Prob. fig. sense of clothing.--per REL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. kirtle.