Middle English Dictionary Entry
nẹ̄dle n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nẹ̄dle n. Also nedel(e, nedelle, nidel, (early) nædle, (error) medyl & neld(e, (errors) eld, uelde, nedelde. Forms: sg. gen. nẹ̄dles, nẹ̄̆ldes, etc. & nẹ̄delies; pl. nẹ̄dles, nẹ̄̆ldes, etc. & (early) nelden. |
| Etymology | OE; cp. A nēdl, WS nǣdl. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A sewing needle; ?also, a pointed instrument, style [quot.: (c1392) 30/8]; seuinge ~; (b) surg. any one of various kinds of needle used in surgical procedures, a surgical needle [not always distinguishable from (a)]; fether ~, ?a needle attached to the quill of a feather; (c) fig. sewing, needlework; ?also, tailoring; with hire ~ and (hire) thred, by means of her needlework; (d) ~ case, ~ fodder [cp. OE fōdder case, sheath], a needlecase; ~ werk (craft), ornamental needlework, embroidery; werk of nedles, werking (werkri) with nedles; ~ werk, embroidered fabric; eie (hole) of the ~, the eye of the needle; ~ prikinge, the prick of a needle, prikinge of nedles (the ~); nedles point; pak(e ~ [see pak(e n.]; (e) in proverbial sayings and idioms: ~ eie, nedles eie, ~ hole, hole of a ~ (eie [cp. Mat. 19.24]; not an ~, hardly anything; the point of a ~, a ~ point, an infinitesimal space or period of time; naked as a ~, stark naked; ne (nought) yeven a ~, yeven a ~, etc., not (nought) worth a ~, a ~ worth, persant as the point of a ~.
Associated quotations
a
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)550/33 : Acus: nelde.
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)6341 : Tær iss all þatt eorliȝ [?read: eorþliȝ] þing Þatt minnstremann birrþ aȝhenn Wiþþutenn cnif & shæþe, & camb, & nedle.
- a1225 Wint.Ben.Rule (Cld D.3)113/16 : Syn ȝesealde fram þere abbodesse ealle neodbehefe þinȝ, þæt is, mentel..seax, greffe, nedle.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)79/27 : A Sapere þe ne bereð bute sape & nelden.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)166/25 : A wummon þe haueð ilosed hire nelde..secheð hit ananriht.
- ?c1335 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913)p.156 : Hail be þe tailurs..Aȝens midwinter hote beþ ȝur neldes.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.38.23 : He was..a wyrcher with neeldes [Corp-O: nedlis].
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)24/16 : This litel hole þat is no grettere than a smal nedle shal be cleped the comune centre defferent of planetes.
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)30/7 : With a nedle thow shalt stike the comune centre defferent of thin Epicicle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.559 : Nomore than a blind man thredeth His nedle be the Sonnes lyht, Nomore is reson thanne of myht Whan he with drunkeschipe is blent.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)83b/b : It semith þat þe yȝe were I-pricked wiþ nedeles.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)48 : Than shul ȝe slitte þe tounge vndirnethe and put a nedel wiþ threde by twix þe worme and þe tounge.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)97,99 : A sylvre nedle [F aguille] forth y drough..And gan this nedle threde anon.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)2a/a : Acutela: a litel nelde or sharpenes.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)352 : Nedyl, to sow wythe nattys, or oþer boystows ware: Broccus.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.602 : Al esely me may vndo the skyn With prickyng of a nelde or of a pyn.
- (1446) Invent.Lytham in Chet.n.s.6081 : iij levours, j thakkyngknave, j spetill, j Sewyng neld, xiij Syderopes.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)40 : Take a nedyl & a þrede, & sewe þe fore partye of the Capoun to þe After parti of þe Pygge.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1370 : Þat he fiches & firmes sa fast to þe wall, So nere vnethes at ane eld [Dub: a nedyll] miȝt narowly betwene.
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)2000 : He teyde a tredde on a pole With an nedil ther-on I-fest, And ther vppon a qwik cole.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)113/10 : Sowe him In..with þi nedel, with þis power no man hath..but þou.
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking in Studia Neoph.16 (Hrl 2340)6 : Take the nedill and þe þrede and put throwte the neder lidde, and so of the oþer and knytte bothe thredes on the top of his hede; then she [the hawk] is enciled as she oght to be.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)8.249 : Hewe..at Loncolne..was..prikkede thro alle the body with nalles, neldes, and pynnes.
- a1500 Stel is gud (StJ-C S.54)p.267 : Stele is gud in euery nedyll, So be thes women both falce and fekyll.
b
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)36/1-2 : Haue a nedle þre cornerid, whos iȝe schal be holid on boþe sidis, so þat þe þred þat is in þe nedle may lie in þe holowȝ place.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)52 : Take a nedel [Dgb: nydel] and bowe it in þe myddel þat it be croked, and take wel and sotilly þe flessh þat is vpon þe ye wiþ þe nedil, and drawe it up on hie.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)55a/a : It is done þat a threded nedele [Ch.(2): þrede nedelde; L acus infilata] is put in þorgh boþe lippez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)77b/b : In leuyng stille þe nedilez [Ch.(2): nedeles], be þe þrede volued vpon hem As wymmen doþ in her sleuez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)92a/b : Þat is corrupt be it cauterized wiþ a syluer nedil.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)133a/a : Þe instrument with which is put away þe catharact is seid of arabic, elmadat, of latine, acus, i. a nedile.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)89a/a : Þou schalt sewe a sotil wounde with a smalle nedel & a smalle þrede, & a grete wounde wiþ a grete nedel & a grete þrede.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)135a/a : Þou schalt drawe a þrede with a nedel of lede..so þat þe to partie of þe þrede cumme þoruȝ oute þe wounde.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)5/1 : Some..instrumentes..beeþ..to sewe wiþ, as a nedel and a pype or penne.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)192/8 : By þe nedeles longe, playne, and enoyntede in þe poynte, and þresquare in þe tayle.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)192/19 : Incarnatyf sewynge is made wiþ a stalke of a feþere led yn wiþ a fether nedle [*Ch.(1): wiþ nedele] in grete and depe woundes, whos lippes be moche atwynne.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)503/23 : Instrumentes..as ben rasoures, and spatures, gret hokes and smale, dyuerse cauteries, nedeles, towe, cotoun.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)63a/a : For sum membre muste be sewid wiþ silk or þreed, summe wiþ ficchinge of nedlis, Summe by drauȝt of plastris.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)63a/b : Thanne þou muste haue a maner of instrument lijk a goos penne which schulde be of gold or of siluer and summe men vsen to haue in sich an instrument smale fenestris þoruȝ þe which þei moun se þe bettere wheþir þe nedle haue sufficient fastenynge in þe fleisch or noon.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)150a/b : Þe nedele þat þe wounde schal be sewid with schal be þre squar and scharpe & of good stele, & clene, And þe sidis of þe yȝe schal be holowe.
- c1475 *Mondeville (Wel 564)150b/a : Jf þe wounde þat schal be sewid be ony þing alterat, þe sidis of the wounde schal be frodid wiþ the nedele ouþir wiþ anoþir scharp þing vn to þe tyme þat it blede.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)21a/2 : If the wounde be so gret that the byndyng' suffice not, sewe the wounde with a squar' nedyll, evyn threde waxid'.
- a1500 *Lanfranc CP (Wel 397)21a/21 : It is good' and nedefull to sewe the synewe with a nedyll.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)59/21 : Þou mayst take a nelde and a selkyn þrede and take þe here to-gedre fro þe bon doun-ward.
c
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)2199 : Ȝe beþ men bet iteiȝt..To hamer & to nelde [vr. nedle], & to mercandise al so Þan wiþ suerd oþer hauberc eny bataile to do.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.401 : He made his douȝtres firste lerne lettrure, and þerafter he made hem lese [?read: lere; ?read: use] þe nedle [vrr. neld, nelde] and þe distaf.
- c1390 Evang.(Vrn)362 : Þat Mayde won hire bred, wiþ hire nelde [vr. nedil] and hire þred.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)16.266/474 : Heo..fedde hire wiþ hire nelde and þrede.
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)16.268/659 : Wiþ hire Nedle and hire þrede fful honestliche coude heo hire fede.
d
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)95/20 : Nalde me tellen him alre monne dusegest þe forseke a buffet for a speres wunde? a nelde [Pep: nedel] pricchunge for an bihefdunge?
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)145/8 : A bleddre ibollen of wind ne deueð nawt in to þeose halwende weattres, Ah a nelde prichunge warpeð al þe wind ut.
- (c1380) Chaucer CT.SN.(Manly-Rickert)G.440 : Euery mortal mannes power nys But lyk a bladdre ful of wynd..with a nedles point, whan it is blowe, May al the boost of it be leyd ful lowe.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.3.20 : In þat dai þe lord shal don awei þe ournement of shon & boces and beeyes &..nedlefoddris [Dc 369(1): oynement boxes; WB(2): litil vessels of oynementis; L olfactoriola] & ereringis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.26.1 : Þou schalt make..tenn cortyns of byse aȝeyn foldid..dyuersid wiþ needle werk [Corp-O: nedle werk; WB(2): broidery werk; L opere plumario].
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.35.35 : Þei maken þe werkys of carpentrye, of browdrye, & of werkry with needils [Corp-O: werkyng with needlis; L plumarii] of Iacynct & purpur.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.36.37 : He made a tennt..of Iacynct & purpur, red sylc & byse foldyd aȝeyn, with þe werk of needlis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.39.28 : Þey maden..byse lynnen brechez, þe gyrdill..of byse..twynnyd with neeld craft.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)449/11,13 : Putte þe here in þe hole of þe nedle..Or take þe two endes of a wommanes here..and putte ham in þe eyȝe [*Ch.(1): hole] of þe nedel.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)352 : Nedyl case: Acuarius.
- ?a1450 Lanfranc (Add 12056)45/30 : Þe akynge þat scholde be made of þe prekynge of þe nelde.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4941 : J yeve and beqwethe..to William Lawshull my botorescle set in gold with nedil werk.
- (1467) Acc.Abingdon in Camd.n.s.51134 : ij paroll de nedylworke.
- 1472 Acc.St.Edm.Sarum6 : Item: j cope of blew velvet, And the passion in the orfrayes ther of of nedill worke, y callyd Seint Edmunds cope.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)127a/b : A rigour is not ellis but riȝt as it were the prickynge of nedelis or of netlis in þe fleisch.
- a1500 Gloss Dict.Garland (Hrl 1002)123 : Willelmus..habet in foro ista vendenda ante se acus, et acuaria [glossed:] nedylcasys.
e
- a1225(c1200) Vices & V.(1) (Stw 34)69/9 : Ne mai na more..ðe riche mann cumen in to heuene riche, ðanne mai ðe oluende cumen ðurh ðe nædle eiȝen.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)203/12 : Samsones strengðo..Alixandres hereword..alle somet aȝein mi bodi ne beoð nawt wurð a nelde.
- ?c1335 Þe grace of godde (Hrl 913)90 : Hit is as eþe forto bring A camel in to þe neld is ei As a rich man to bring In to þe blisse þat is an hei.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4012 : Þo he þe stede was opon, He ȝaue a nedel of his fon.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)101 : [Of] such þre y ne ȝyue auelde [read: anelde]..[B]ot if y slee hem..ne kep y neuere ete bred.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mat.19.24 : It is liȝter..a camel for to passe thorwȝ a nedelis eiȝe [vrr. the hoole of a nedle; the hoole of an nedel eiȝe], than a riche man to entre into the kyngdam of heuenes.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 10.25 : It is liȝter..a camel for to passe thorw a nedlis yȝe, than a riche man for to entre in to the kyngdom of God.
- c1390(c1350) NHom.(2) PSanct.(Vrn)312/188 : Also strait hit is..To a worldly riche mon..To entre in to þat rial ȝate..As to a Chamayle..To passe þorwh an Nelde-eiȝe.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)50/34 : Bot ȝif hij han þise two, I nolde nouȝth ȝiue a nedel for al her werk as to come to parfit lyf.
- a1400 Ancr.(Pep 2498)117/31 : Fram his hede to his fote nas nouȝth als mychel skyn hole opon hym as..men miȝth sett on a nedel poynt þat it nas to broken.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)1.155 : Loue..Was..portatyf and persant as þe poynt of a nedle, That myȝte non armure it lette ne none heiȝ walles.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.162 : Take two stronge men and in themese caste hem..bothe naked as a nedle.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.56 : Semiuyf he semed And as naked as a nedle.
- a1400 Pep.Gosp.(Pep 2498)68/25 : Who so hym affieþ in his richesse ne may nomore entren wiþ inne þe blisse of heuene, þan a camel may þorouȝ a nedel hole.
- ?a1425 Orch.Syon (Hrl 3432)107/34 : Þe tyme oonli is as myche as þe point of a needle, and no moore.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)8828 : Ector held..the felde, He ȝaff of hem nouȝt alle anelde.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)16449 : Non of hem schal other mysdo Lastande the trewes a nedle worth.
- c1440(?c1350) Mirror St.Edm.(4) (Thrn)31/14 : Lyghtere it ware a camelle to passe thurghe a nedill eghe þan þe riche to com in-to þe blysse of heuen.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)62/9 : The Gospell seith that a camell scholde sonner passe through a nedillis yȝe than a richman scholde entre in-to the kyngdome of hevin.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)361 : Þe Jewes..Made hem naked as a nedel.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)4026 : Genosophis..ay is naked a [read: as a] nedill as natour þam schapis.
- c1450 Spec.Chr.(2) (Hrl 6580)222/6 : Whi takest thou the..packes of the traytour?..not so schalt thou entre. The nedel ee or the hole of it is streyte and receyuez not such packes.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)792/14 : The fayryst lady..that ever he sawe, and she was as naked as a nedyll.
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)18316 : A camell may hym-silffe applye To passen thorugh a nedelyes eye [F porte acus], Whiche is a thing not credible.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)13/123 : When all mens corn was fayre in feld, Then was myne not worth a neld.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)123/233 : I ete not an nedyll Thys moneth and more.
2.
A magnetized needle, compass needle; ~ and ston, needle and lodestone; bi ston and ~, of ~ and (of) ston, etc.
Associated quotations
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.1422 : Malgre the nedle and ston Wynddrive he was al soudeinly Upon the strondes of Cilly.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.541 : He hath his rihte cours forth holde Be Ston and nedle til he cam To Tharse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.685 : With help only of nedle and of stoon, Þei may nat erre what costys þat þei gon.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)107/15 : Ȝif the dyamand be gode and vertuous, the ademand draweth not the nedle [Man.(2): nedill] to him whils the dyamand is þere present.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)753 : Schipe-men..Castez coursez be crafte, when þe clowde rysez, With þe nedyll and þe stone.
- c1450(a1449) Lydg.Doubl.(Frf 16)62 : Happy ys hir lodmanage, Wyth nelde and stoon her course to dresse.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.World (Hrl 2255)65 : Off nedyl and stoon direccioun fayllyng, In his iourne the shipman doth erre.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)801 : Men have practised by nedle and by stone Thiderwardes..Gone and comen.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)6056 : Maryners euerychon By nelde and vertu of that ston Know her cours and her passage.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)58 : The eldist man that is halde wisist among hem..seethe to the nedille for to gide the ship.
- a1550(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Sln 1873)2932 : Herof grete evidence..In the Magnete stone..doth appere, Which vndir ye sowth sterre dryvith nedillis awey.
3.
An object resembling a needle: (a) the fibula; (b) naut. a device for hoisting and spacing shrouds, channel; seilinge ~ [see seilinge]; (c) arch. a needle beam, support beam; (d) a device for killing wolves [see Gaston Phoebus La Chasse, chap.70]; (e) seint peteres ~, ~ of seint peter, St. Peter's Needle, or the Pillar of Julius; prob. an Egyptian obelisk believed to have been erected to commemorate Julius Caesar; (f) a strip of impure silver used for assaying silver ores [see Singer, et al., History of Technology, p.45], a touch needle.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)19b/b : Þe lesse [focile]..liggeþ nere vnder þe knee on þe vtter partie And..is called acus, i. a nedille.
b
- (1294-5) in Sandahl ME Sea Terms 178 : In Meremio empto ad Nedles pro heuedropes, xij d.
c
- (1428) *Acc.R.Newlond : [Oak for repair of mill] nedelys.
- (1437) in Salzman Building in Engl.509 : The brest pece shall be ij fote square, the pece under hym xvj enches of breed and xiiij enches thikke, the nedelis bitwene hem tweyn iiij fote bitwene the joyntes, framed up and downe, and planked on bothe sides, and bitwene eche nedil x enches.
- (1440) *Acc.R.Witham & Cressing : Nedelles et rewelbord.
- (a1472) Acc.Bodmin in Camd.n.s.1425 : Item, for cariage of neldis for scafelys, vj d.
d
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)34 : Also men taken hem in puttes and with nedels [F aguilles] and with anceps, or with venomous poudres þat men ȝeuen hem in flessh, and in mony other manere.
e
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.227 : Iulius Cesar his piler..haþ in heiþe two hondred feete and fifty..Þis arche and piler is i-founded and y-sette vppon foure lyouns. Pilgryms ful of lesynges clepeþ þis arche and piler Seynt Petres nedle [Higd.(2): nelde].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)4.211 : Iulius his piler..now pylgryms clepeþ Seynt Petres nedle [vr. neld; L acus Petri].
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)229/18 : Tumulus..at Rome..is callyd Acus Sancti Petri, scilicet, Nedel of Seynt Peter, and it is in doute whether it be oo stone or mo stones.
f
- (1469) Indent.Edw.IV in Archaeol.15173 : Oure seid lord the kyng willeth that ii gode stones and good nedeles for to touche be alwey ther, redie to the use of the same oure lord the kyng, and on his coste to make assaie of gold of the caratte bytwene the marchaunts and the seid maister.
4.
In place name; also, in the name of a street.
Associated quotations
- (1288) Leet R.Norwich in Seld.Soc.58 : Nedelerowe.
- c1400 *Anc.Pet.(PRO) 9425 [OD col.] : La terre deuaunt les nedeles del Isle de Wight.
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)13 : North north west The Chapell of Hoggis, and the Nedles south and north.
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)14 : At the nedlis it flowith south est and by south fro the nedles to Portlonde.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1486 Sln.Bk.Hawking (Sln 3488)139 : Put þi þrede and thi neld thorgh the other lyd, and make thi threde fast.
Note: Additional quote(s)
- (1387-8) in Salzman Building in Engl.468 : Les nedles serront dune pee dassise de laeur.
Note: Antedates sense 3.(c)
Note: Other exx. in Salzman doc. 67
Note: Salzman glosses 'upright supporting posts'
- a1450 Treat.Horses (Sln 2584)105/278 : Take an eye of an hen & wynde a þrede þer-aboute…or ley þer-on a gret neld, & if he flete, þi capytel is good.
Note: Additional quote(s)
- (1466) in Cox Churches Derb.4.86 : One Sepultre clothe, with one crisonne cloth wroght with ye nylde to henge att the hoele of ye saide sepultre clothe.
Note: ? nedle n.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1336-7) *Acc.Exch.K.R. [OD col.]19/31 m.5 : In packenedoles emptis ad dictum velum cum eisdem cusandis. ij.d.
Note: Sense 1.(d), comb. pake ~. This appears to be the same passage quoted under sense pak(e n., 3.(a), but transcribed slightly differently, with spelling 'packenedeles.' If the spelling with -o- is genuine, it represents a new form.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. needle.