Middle English Dictionary Entry
nighter-tāle n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nighter-tāle n. Also niȝter-, niȝtur-, nigter-, nihter-, (early) nither- & (N) naghter-, naȝter-. |
| Etymology | ON (cp. OI nāttar-þel) with substitution of ME night & tāle for ON morphemes. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Nighttime, night; -- only in phrases: bi (a, on, upon, with) ~, on the ~, at night, by night, during the nighttime; also, at nightfall.
Associated quotations
- (c1300) Havelok (LdMisc 108)2025 : Hwo mithe so mani stonde ageyn, Bi nither-tale, knith or swein?
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.97 : So hoote he louede that by nyghtertale [vr. nygter tale] He slepte namoore than dooth a nyghtyngale.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2783 : Þai..bad þat he suld send þam oute, Þe gestes him com wit nighter tale [Göt: bi nighter tall].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2991 : Vp ras þe king on nighter tale [Frf: niȝtter-tale].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3920 : Wijf and barn, wit flitting hale, All stal þai forth wit nighter tale [Frf: bi niȝtter tale; Göt: on þe nihttertale].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7783 : His men þam come on nightertale [Frf: on naȝtter-tale; Göt: a nythertale; Trin-C: bi nyȝturtale].
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11596 : Wit naghtertale [Trin-C: By nyȝt] he went o tun.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)15847 : Quar-for haf yee..me..als a theif vm-soght Wit lantern a-pon nightertale?
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)306 : Go we now to wacche By nightirtale.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Alex.(Ashm 42)359 : Wantonne barnes..Come to him on nightir tale [vr. by nyghter tale].
- ?a1425(?a1350) Castleford Chron.(Göt Hist 740)19883 : Kyng arthur herd how þat baldulf Wald com opon him als a wulf Bi nighter tal so dose A thef.
- ?a1425 SLeg.Nich.(CmbAdd 3039)68/259 : On nyghtertale withouten dome to dede þai sulde be broght.
- (1437) Let.Bk.Lond.K (Gldh LetBk K)215 : Duringe þe solempne Fest of Cristemasse..covenable watch be kept & lanternes light be nyghtertale in þe manere accustumed.
- (1437) *Pet.Chanc.PRO ser.CP 1 file 12no.156 : John Hoton of Aysgarthe..by nyghtirtale with other mysgouerned people..come to the Toune of Thrisk.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)1.910 : The mous by nyghtertale [L nocte] on hit wol fonne.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)3849 : By nyghtertale he was slayn.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)324 : Be nyȝter-tale he sall þe neȝe, þis note to begyn.
- (1455) Doc.in Gilbert Cal.Dublin 1287 : Hyt was ordeynyt that no maner beger..ne scholer walke by nyghtertall abegyn.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)227/734 : By nyghtertayll dede shuld he be.