Middle English Dictionary Entry
mōl n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | mōl n.(2) Also mole, moul & male, maile & (error) molde. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI māl, suit, action at law. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A payment; tribute; rent; right ~, just rent or tax, fair payment; unright ~; (b) ~ man, one who pays rent in place of feudal service; smal ~ man, a lesser tenant; ~ lond, land held by payment of rent; as place name; ~ aker, ?a piece of such land; (c) ?a law suit, legal action.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)10180,10188 : Ȝiff mann brohhte hemm aniȝ fe Inntill þe kingess male, Ne wolldenn þeȝȝ nohht takenn itt Butt iff mann ȝæfe i mare..Forrþi badd hemm Sannt Johan Forrbuȝhenn grediȝnesse & sammnenn laȝhelike & rihht Þe kingess rihhte male.
- a1200 Trin.Hom.(Trin-C B.14.52)179 : Unneðes hie winnen giet here louerdes rihttes, and hem seluen eten þe werste þat hie of eorðe tilien, and giet ne wile þe louerd ben paid mid his rihcte mol, ac mid swike-dome..binimeð his underlinge þat he sholde biliuen.
- ?a1300 11 Pains(1) (Dgb 86)404/161 : Of men hoe taken hounriȝt mol, wor-þi hy beþ in silli sol.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5376 : I giue him woningsted to wale For euer-mare, wit-outen male.
- (1422) Doc.Coldingham in Raine N.Dur.104 : Yai sale pay ffor ye male of ye said lande til me or my Successors..x pond of vsuale payment.
b
- (1226) in Wallenberg PNKent530 : De la Molland.
- (1254) in Wallenberg PNKent108 : De la Mouland'.
- (1272) Inquis.PM Hen.III813 : [57 s. 11 d. rent of] smalmolmen.
- (1279) Hundred R.Tower 2425a : Custumare tenente Mollond'.
- (1290) Doc.in Vinogradoff Villainage185 : Omnes tenentes de molland solebant esse custumarii.
- (1291) Doc.in Vinogradoff Villainage186 : Liberi tenentes qui vocantur fresokemen. Sokemanni qui vocantur molmen.
- (1294) Close R.Edw.I399 : [Certain other bondmen who are called] Molemen.
- a1300 Cust.Rent in OSSLH 226 : Molmen, operarii, [and] cottars [all gave the poultry rent].
- a1300 Cust.Rent in OSSLH 2102 fn. : Dominus potest facere prepositum suum de quolibet molman duodecim acras terre tenente ad minus..Et tunc ille molman qui fuerit prepositus erit quietus de tota annuali redditu suo et de omnibus consuetudinibus.
- (?a1300) Doc.in Vinogradoff Villainage185 : Si tota terra fuerit mollond primogenitus de iure et consuetudine debet eam retinere.
- (?a1300) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)126 : Mollande.
- (1312) Doc.in EHR 26337 : Et debet metere ligare et coppare unam acram frumenti que vocatur Moleacre.
- (?1327) in Ewen Surnames Brit.178 : Ate mollonde.
- (1338) in Wallenberg PNKent108 : At[t]e Mollonde.
- (1340) Close R.Edw.III355 : Adam le Maleman.
- (1377) Close R.Edw.III510 : [A third part of all the ancient rent of freemen as of] molmen [..to be taken].
- (1419) in Madox Form.Angl.(1702)285 : Unam parcellam terrae..vocatam Moldeland.
- (1438-9) Cust.Rent in OSSLH 210 fn. : Tam libere tenencium quam tenencium custumariorum vocatorum molmen.
c
- (1430-1) RParl.4.376a : If the saide Alianore, wyf to James, be certified mulire, en ony Court afore yis tyme, that no maile of siche certificate made for ye saide Alianore..bynde, hurt ne conclude any persone or persones but hym and his heirs yat was made partie to ye plee.