Middle English Dictionary Entry
mō̆tlẹ̄ adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | mō̆tlẹ̄ adj. Also motlei, motlegh, motli, mottelei, mottelai. |
| Etymology | From noun. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Parti-colored, variegated in color; woven in various colors; ?also, made of motley cloth; cook. streaked with different colors, marbled; (b) scarlet ~, ?variegated or particolored fine cloth; ?motley fabric predominantly scarlet in color; velvet ~, ~ velvet, worsted ~. [In these quots., it is difficult to distinguish adj. from noun.]
Associated quotations
a
- (c1380) Stonor Suppl.2 : We lefte wt the scollemastyr of Ewuellme..to redde gownis and a motley gown.
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.528/21 : Pro xxiiij virgis de rubano motteley, precium le vlna, xv d.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)36 : Ȝif þow wolt haue it Motley, take þre pottys..& coloure þat on with Saunderys & þat oþer wyth Safroune & þe þrydde on a-nother degre..an when þey boyle, caste al to-gederys in-to on..and he wol be Motley whan he ys lechyd.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)63 : Le ij cours..Vyand Motlegh.
- c1450 Brut-1431(1) (Eg 650)447/25 : Þe þryde course: Dates in composte, Grene [?read: Creme] motteley.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)603/46 : Polimitus: Ray or motle or medlee.
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)141 : Datys in composte, creyme motley, and poudrid welkys.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)82b : Motley [Monson: Mottelay]: Calamita, polimita, polimitus.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)49aa : Israhel louyde Joseph .. and made for hym a motley cote.
- 1558(?a1440) Burgh Praise Lydg.(Add 29729)23 : Ye have gadred flowris in this motli mede.
b
- (1396) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.116 : [8 cushions, 4 of them of cloth of gold and 4 of] scarlet motle.
- (1402) RParl.3.506a : Que null homme, si ne soit Banret ou de pluis haute estate, use Draps d'or, de velwet, Draps de cremosyn, Draps de velwet motley.
- (1406) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.41 : [One dozen of] scarlet motle.
- (1406-7) Rec.Norwich 254 : [For a piece of] worsted motlee [given to a messenger].
- (1415) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)9.273-274 : iv Capas de Motley Velvet rubeo de auro..Duas Copas de Motley Velwet nigro, rubeo, & viridi.
- (1429) Will Braybroke in Ess.AST 5301 : I yeue..to the saide cherche..my principal vestiment of motle ueluet, cope, chesible, and ij tunicles.