Middle English Dictionary Entry
nighte-gāle n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nighte-gāle n. Also niȝte-, nihte-, nichte-, nikte-, nithe-, nectegal & nightgale, niȝtgalle. |
| Etymology | LOE nihte-gale, early A naecte-, nectæ-. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The nightingale; (b) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1300 Owl & N.(Jes-O 29)4 : In one swiþe dyele hale Iherde ich holde grete tale An vle and one nyhtegale [Clg: niȝtingale].
- ?a1300 Thrush & N.(Dgb 86)5 : For longing of þe niȝttegale Þis foweles murie singeþ.
- a1350 Lenten ys come (Hrl 2253)5 : Notes suete of nyhtegales.
- a1350 When þe nyhtegale (Hrl 2253)1 : When þe nyhtegale singes, þe wodes waxen grene.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)38b/a : Lucinea: anyȝt galle.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)117/10 : He hase..men ordaynd..for to kepe..gerfawcouns..nyghtgales syngand.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)102/36 : Þe nyghtgale to songe & melody all nyght is gyfyn.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)929 : Of þe nyghtgale notez þe noisez was swette.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)12973 : Nightgalis with notes newit þere songe.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)86a : A Nyghtgale: philomena.
b
- (1176) Pipe R.Hen.II126 : Walterus Nichtegale.
- (1231) Close R.Hen.III489 : Stephanus Nectegal.
- (c1275) Hundred R.Tower 1489 : Radulphus Niktegale.
- (1285) Feudal Aids 56 : Nicholaus Nytthegal.
- (1324) Court R.Lan.in LCRS 4158 : William Nightegale.