Middle English Dictionary Entry
lullen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | lullen v. Also lull(e, lullien, loulen. |
| Etymology | Imitative; cp. MDu. lollen to mumble, Swed. lulla to rock to sleep. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. lullai.
1.
(a) To induce sleep in (a baby) by rocking, crooning, etc.; also, sing a lullaby; ppl. lulling, soothing; (b) to fondle (sb., a baby, his limbs), caress; also, fondle a baby; (c) to charm (sb.) into forgetfulness, beguile; (d) to repose peacefully.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Arun 220)p.143 : L'enfaunt..par sa norice seyt berce [glossed:] lulled.
- 1372 Als i lay vp-on (Adv 18.7.21)15,19 : Ich a moder..Is wone to lullen [Hrl: lullon] louely & singgen hire child o slepe. Swete moder..I preye þe þat þu lulle [Hrl: roke] me & sing sum-wat þer-to.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.839 : Hir litel child lay wepyng in hir arm..And in hir arm she lulleth it ful faste.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)317 : Lullyn, or byssyn: Sopio.
- a1450(a1400) Medit.Pass.(2) (Add 11307)156 : Þat ȝonge child whan it gan wepe, Wiþ song sho lulled him a-slepe.
- a1450(c1400-25) Legat Serm.PD (Wor F.10)12/97 : Where is þat ilke ioye bi-come þat i hadde, whanne i lullid þe in þi cradil?
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)50.58 : As the modir the Child lulleth On slepe.
- c1450 As Reson Rywlyde (Lamb 853)18 : My sone þat y was woont to fede, To lulle, to lappe, with songis rijf.
- a1450 Blyssid be þat mayde (Sln 2593)p.18 : In a manjour of an as Jhesu lay and lullyd was.
- c1475 A babe is born our (LdMisc 683)p.225 : A babe is born, our blysse to brynge; A maid ther was dyd lully and synge.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)76a : To lull: Neniari.
- a1500 Bevis (Chet 8009)150/3252 : I haue lullid hym so well That it [his head] akyth never a dele.
- c1450 Surge mea (Clg A.2)50 : Þu lylye in launche, That lappes me louely wyth loulynge [Lamb: liking] songe!
b
- c1390 Disp.Virg.& Cross (Vrn)72 : Feet and fayre hondes..I custe hem ofte; I lulled hem, I leid hem softe.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Cl.(Manly-Rickert)E.553 : And in hir barm this litel child she leyde With ful sad face and gan the child to blisse And lulled it and after gan it kisse.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1823 : He lulleth hire, he kisseth hire ful ofte, With thilke bristles of his berd vnsofte.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1236 : [Mankind to Sloth:] com nere, þerfore, myn fayre foode, & lulle me in þyne armys.
- a1450 Ch.Feasts (Roy 18.A.10)84 : My brid is borne by beest in boure; My primerose, my paramour, With love I lulle þee.
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)1.227,233 : The chyeld for to hille, to lulle, and to leede..To lyfte it, to lulle it, and to fede it eke.
- c1475 There stood (Trin-C R.3.21)57 : I lappyd the, I lullyd the, I layde the soft, I kyssyd the oft opon my kne.
- a1500 As Reson Rywlyde (Dc 78)19 : I lullyd hym, y lapped him, y wolde him fede.
- a1500 Thys mayden (Ashm 189)3 : Thys mayden..knelyde by-fore here..chylde; She lullyde, She lappyde.
c
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1044 : Lete vs lullyn hym in oure lust tyl he be dreuyn to dampnynge dust.
d
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)647 : We will seasse till..the sun be at rest..And yche lede, as hym list, lullit on slepe.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)172/100 : My lytyll childe lyth all lame þat lullyd on my pappys.