Middle English Dictionary Entry
medle n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | medle n.(1) Also melde, meile, mel(e. |
| Etymology | OF medle, meele, vars. of OF mesle. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
The fruit of the medlar tree, a medlar; ~ tre, the medlar tree (Mespilus germanica).
Associated quotations
- c1330(?c1300) Bevis (Auch)1287 : A sat and dinede in a wede Vnder a faire medle tre.
- a1400 Mirfeld Sinonoma (Pmb-O 2)29 : Mespyla sunt fructus, meyles idem.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)646/28 : Hec mesculus: meletre.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)178b/a marg. : Meldez. Nespula is a fruyte fri. & sic.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)63/27 : Be þer giffen lentes with vinegre..perez, coyncez, & meldez [L Mespila..Cotonea] & sich oþer.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)716/37 : Hec mespulus: a meltre.
- 1598(a1475) Flower & L.(Speght)86 : I was ware of the fairest medle-tree.