Middle English Dictionary Entry
molle n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | molle n.(1) Also mol(e, moul & mold(e. |
| Etymology | Prob. OE; cp. MDu. mol, molle, MLG mol, mul. A few forms have d by anal. with mōld(e-werp(e or mōld(e n.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The common European mole (Talpa europæa); as an ingredient in medicine; also as an image of covetousness or folly; moseling ~ [see moselen (d)]; (b) ~ hep, ~ hille, mole hill; ~ plough, a kind of plow [cp. moleplough in OD]; ~ spade, a tool for catching moles; (c) in place names and surnames [see Smith PNElem. 26.42].
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)117 : Taulpes: molles, i. talpa.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)81/22 : Þei ben ful couetouse men..whiche doon as a molle, þe which is alwey norischid in þe erþe into þe deeþ.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)426/3 : Take of..þe powdre of a brent molle [*Ch.(1): moldwerp; L talpe].
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)342 : Molle: Talpa.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.927 : Alle her hoolis ther the mold is ynne Saue oon, the moost, vnstoppid must they be.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)4.130 : The molde [L gloss.: talpa] & other suche as diggeth lowe Anoy hem not, in hard lond yf they growe.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)38/17 : A philosophre seith to this purpos that a fool is liche a molle the which herith and vnderstandith not.
- a1450 Terms Assoc.(1) (Rwl D.328)603 : A laber of molles.
- c1450 Earth(3) (Cmb Ii.4.9)33/33 : Erthe wrotys in erth as molys don in molde.
- c1450 Mandev.(4) (CovCRO Acc.325/1)2410 : The molle bi the erthe cleueth.
- ?c1450 Iff a man (Stockh 10.90)305/411,414 : Take and fle a mole owte of þe skynne And boyle it..þanne ete þe molys flesche; Þis is medycyne good to trye For þe cold dropesye.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)71/11 : Brenne an hol molle al to pouder.
- a1475 Asneth (Hnt EL 26.A.13)18 : He plesed neuer lady wel þat lakked corage; For as þe oule ys vn able to blase þe sunne bemys, So ys þe moselyng molle to iaile þe rede rose.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)18390 : Lyche a molle they abyde; In erthe is hoolly ther labour, In erthe ys also ther tresour.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)700/39 : Hec talpa: a molle.
b
- (1362) Doc.Manor in MP 3451 : Molplow.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)63 : Þanne alle þe moulez fram henne to parys..makeþ molhepes [F talpines] in þys medes.
- (1416) Rec.Norwich 1320 : [William Coteham with a spade called a] molspade [struck William a mortal blow].
- (c1422) Invent.Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.12206 : j mollspade, j instrumentum pro talpis capiendis.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)152 : At a molle hille j stumblede and fil doun.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)323/27 : They sette hem downe uppon two mollehyllys there besydys the fyghtynge place.
c
- (1225) Pat.R.Hen.III591 : Simonem Molekin.
- (1275) Hundred R.Tower 2175 : Willielmus Molehunte.
- (1284) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)78 : Molecumbe.
- (1301) EPNSoc.6 (Sus.)78 : Mollecombe.
- (1332) Sub.R.Sus.in Sus.RS 10263 : Robto.le Moulhunte.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1500 Army.32 Artist.Recipes (Army 32) 211/3 : Forto make..a blake hors whyt. Take a molle and put hyt in water þe space of .iij. dayes, and after take þat water and wasshe þi horse..and the blake harys shal awey and whyt shall come.
Note: Additional quot., sense (a).