Middle English Dictionary Entry
lullai interj.
Entry Info
| Forms | lullai interj. Also lullaie, lullei, lulai, lulli, lullou, lollai, lolai, loullai, lolli. |
| Etymology | From lullen . |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A soothing expression used in lullabies; singen ~, to sing a lullaby; (b) part of the refrain of a drinking song; (c) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- ?c1335 Lollai lollai (Hrl 913)1,5 : Lollai, 1[ollai], litil child, whi wepistou so sore..Lollai, [lollai], litil child, child lolai, lullow [rime: ertow].
- 1372 Lullay lullay litel child þu (Adv 18.7.21)17 : Lullay for wo, þu litel þing.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)204/18 : Þou fedist þat Flour..and sang þer-to Lolay! my Swete, I bare þe, Babe.
- a1450 I saw a swete (Add 5666)p.98 : Lullay, lullow, lully, lullay..Slepe softly now.
- a1450 The Fader of Heuene (Sln 2593)13 : Lullay, lullay! lytil chyld, myn owyn dere fode, how xalt þu sufferin, be naylid on þe rode?
- a1475 A babe is born our (Brog 2.1)2 : A mayddyn I hard loullay synge.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)129/164 : As me semyth as be here fraught, 'Fayr chylde lullay' sone must she syng.
- c1475 A babe is born our (LdMisc 683)p.225 : 'Lullay,' she sange and saide also, 'My nowne dere sone, why artow wo?'
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)76a : Lulley [Monson: Lulay]: Nenia.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)130/442,445 : Syng lullay thou shall, for I must grone And cry outt..on mary and Iohn..Syng lullay on fast.
- a1500 Als i lay vp-on (StJ-C S.54)20 : Euery modyr sekyrly yt can here cradyll kepe, sche most syng lullay To bryng here child on slepe.
- a1500 Thys mayden (Ashm 189)p.7 : Euer A-monge A maydene songe, 'by, by, lully, lullaye.'
b
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)7.108 : Þanne seten somme & sungen at þe ale And holpen ere þe half akir wiþ 'hey trolly lolly'.
c
- (1311) Court R.Colchester 125 : Roger Lollay.