Middle English Dictionary Entry
mallen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | mallen v. Also mellen, melen, (early) meallen. |
| Etymology | From mal(le n. Also cp. OF maillier. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To beat (sb.) with hammers or mauls; crush (clods); ~ to the erthe, beat down (a building), demolish; togeder malled, pounded together, hardened by pounding; (b) to drive (sth.) with a hammer; (c) ~ thurgh, to pierce (sb. or sth.) with a pointed weapon; thrust (metal) through (someone's heart); (d) ~ to ded (ground), to kill (sb.); -- also without obj.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(?c1200) SWard (Bod 34)12/98 : Swarte þinges ha iseoð, as deoflen þet ham meallið [Tit: mellið] & derueð.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)2.17 : The cloddis malled be with mannes hond [L Glebae omnes dolabris dissipandae sunt].
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3038 : Mynsteris and masondewes they malle to þe erthe.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)532 : Delve vp the torf, have it togedir malled, Therof the wal be mad high footys iii Abcve grounde.
- a1475 VPhilibert (Brog 2.1)p.19 : The fendis mallis thi curssid flecche.
b
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.516 : Out of the roote a pece it is to pike..This pece amydde his trunke hit is to malle [glossed: percutere; L figatur].
c
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)508 : Þere..Meeten miȝtful men, mallen þorw scheldes.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2950 : Thane sir Gawayne was grefede and grypys his spere..Metes þe maches [read: marches] of Mees, and melles hym thorowe.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)3841 : Þan he moues to sir Modrede..And mett hym in þe myde-schelde and mallis hym thorowe.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)556 : Spakly her speres on sprotes þey ȝeden..Schoken out of scheþes þat scharpe was ygrounde, & mallen [vrr. melyn, mallede wiþ þat] metel þroȝ vn-mylt hertes.
d
- c1400 Wit & W.(Cmb Res.b.162)D/12 : And Angus at ham als he we was on-borne, Mirthes and mankes and melles to grounde.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)4037 : I sall even amange his mene malle hym to dede.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)10994 : Pirrus..beheld How his Mirmydons with might were mellit to ground.