Middle English Dictionary Entry
mǒsel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | mǒsel n. Also moselle, mozel, mosle, musel & (errors) morselle, murselle. |
| Etymology | OF musel, muzel. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The snout of an animal; also, an ugly human nose; (b) a muzzle or halter for animals; also, in heraldry.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)43 : The greihounde..made a greet pitee wiþ his clees, in þe beest wise þat he myȝt, and wiþ his mosell [F musel].
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)62 : Of alle maner of greihoundes..þe best hewe is rede falow, wiþ a blak moselle.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)3837 : He of body resembleth the lyoun, And lik a greyhound the mosel [vrr. musel, mozell] and the hed.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)1512 : Amoryus..thrw yt [a potion] in the mowth of the dragon..Hys brystylyd mosel gan blwe wer as ony led.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)161 : It is figured as a swyn that in the eerthe hath his morselle [vr. murselle; F musel].
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)22753 : Hyt semyth..by thy owgely contenaunce, By lyfftynge vp off thy mosel, That thow pleyest the ape wel.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2151 : White alauntz..as grete as any steer..folwed hym, with mosel faste ybounde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)344 : Moosle, or mosul [Win: Mosle or mosyl] for a nette: Oristrigium.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.4 (Hrl 2169)237 : [Silver three bears' heads sable rased with] moselys of goulys.