Middle English Dictionary Entry
knil n.
Entry Info
| Forms | knil n. Also knille, knile, cnul, knel(le, (error) kinl. |
| Etymology | OE cnyl |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. knol n.(2).
1.
(a) The tolling of a bell; tolling for the dead; soule ~, q.v.; (b) a blow, shock.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)179 : Le clerck soune la drener apel [glossed:] laste knel [vr. laste appel].
- (1439) Acc.Bk.Carpenter Co.4 : Itm., paide for ye terment of John syvile, for ye pitte, knell, and dirige, iij s. j d.
- (1454-56) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31242 : Knelles, pyttes, and bequests.
- (1458-60) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31247 : Item, Resceyved of John Barry for the pytte and the knelle of the wyfe of Stonehovs, vis viij[d]
- (1460-65) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31394 : Item, Resceyuyd of Alison Jamys for the pytt and the knyll of Salmon Jamys, x s.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.24 : O wrecheyd fleche..What arte thou now? Thy knyl is ronge, Thy dyrge is done, the erthe hase the swallovyd.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)164/9 : And yn þe deþ of a man, þer at hys knyle, þre tretys schuld be rongen [vr. songon].
b
- a1450 ?Audelay An a byrchyn bonke (Dc 302)220/81 : Soche a carful kynl [read: knyl] to his hert coldis, So doþ þe knyf ore þe kye, þat knoc kelddus.