Middle English Dictionary Entry
nōble n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | nōble n.(2) |
| Etymology | From adj. & AF noble n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An English gold coin usually equivalent to 6 s. 8 d.; ~ english, ~ of gold; half ~ [see also half adj. 2d.], dim. ~, half noble; (b) any of several European gold coins; ~ of scotland, a Scottish gold coin; burgoin(e ~, a gold coin of Flanders; (c) the weight of a gold noble, originally 138 6/13 grains; ~ weight; (d) prestes nobles, a loan (prob. a forced loan) to the king.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1344) in Rymer's Foedera (1816-69)3.16 : Une autre monoie d'or, currante la piece pur qarante deners d'esterlings, qui serra appelle maille noble. Et la tierce monoie d'or currante la piece pur vynt deners d'esterlings, que serra appelle ferlyng noble. ]
- [ (1350) *Memoranda Roll 24 Edw.III Communia, Easter m.2 [OD col.] : Vne monie dor currant la piece pur vj s. viij d. desterlyne que serra appelle le Noble dor et serront xl et deux teils pieces en la liure du pois de la Tour de Londres. ]
- (1350) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.233 : [Isabella de Toppesham..was attached to answer a charge of detaining 80 florins called] nobles.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.259 : I have i-fonge in chaunge enlevene grotes turoneys for a duket, þat is worþy half an Englisshe noble.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3256 : Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe Than in the tour the noble yforged newe.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.907 : So that ye offre nobles [vr. noblis] or sterlynges.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.250 : And lene folke þat lese wol a lyppe at euery noble.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)10.289 : Þanne shal borel clerkes..be prestiore at ȝowre prayere þan for a pounde of nobles.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.248 : So is possessioun payne of pens and of nobles.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)15.501,507 : Now is routhe to rede how þe red noble Is reuerenced or þe Rode..Bothe riche and religious þat Rode þei honoure, Þat in grotes is ygraue and in golde nobles [vr. nobiles].
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)11.283 : Lokeþ þat loue be more þe cause þan lond oþer nobles [vr. noobles].
- (1418) Will in Bk.Lond.E.218/13 : I be-quethe to Jon Euenwode iiij nobls, and a goune.
- ?a1425(a1400) Brut-1377 (Corp-C 174)294/21 : Þe King..commaunnded forþwiþ his coigne of gold, vnder descripcioun of the name of Engelond and of Fraunce, to be made, þe beste þat myȝte be, þat ys for to seyn, þe floreyn þat was clept þe 'noble', of value of vj s. & viij d., and þe 'half-noble' of iij s. iij d., & þe 'ferþing' of value of xx d.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.3 TDWorld (Corp-C 296)183 : Iurrouris in questis wolen forsweren hem wittyngly for here dyner & a noble.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)62/4 : On of hem..left hir a nobyl..to go wher sche wolde..for wyth hem..sche xuld no lengar abyde.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)357 : Nobylle, of mony: Nobile.
- (1444) Will York in Sur.Soc.30111 : I wil yt the prisoners of Yevilchestre have a noble to parte amonge hem.
- (1448) Let.Christ Ch.in RS 85.3195 : Oure lege lord the Kyng is nout abyl to bere the flouridlys nor the schyp in his nobyl.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)34 : For iiij thynges oure noble sheueth to me, Kyng, shype, and swerde and pouer of the see.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3673 : All pargestis of plate as pure as þe noble.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)372/15 : Yn þe same yere was þe Kingis coyne chaynged þrouȝ-out Engelond, by þe King and his counsel, þat is to say, þe noble, half noble, & ferthyng of goolde.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)435/14 : Þer was fon emang his medcyns iij nobles of gold.
- (1451) Lin.DDoc.52/7 : If yer come a-nothir abbot than I will he hafe a nobyll to pray for me.
- (a1452) Doc.in Kingsford EHist.Lit.(CotR 2.23)363 : Þey..engrose þe gold and send hit over the See, and gete vpon the nobull xvj d., that is iiij s. at the pounde, the whiche hath made the Reeme full bare of gold.
- c1470(?1458) Wey Money (Bod 565)1 : At Calyse ye schal haue for a dim. nowbyl Englysche or for a doket, xxiiij plackys..For a dim. nowbyl or for a doket xxxj lylyars, hyt ys Braban money.
- (1463) Acc.Howard in RC 57192 : Payd ffor iiij c and a quarter of saltfysche, pris the c, vij nobelys ix d.
- (1465) Procl.Edw.IV in Archaeol.12405 : Every noble of gold which nowe goith for vi s. viiij d. shall from thensforth be and renne..to and for the value of viij s. iiij d. sterlings..the half noble iiij s. ii d. and the ferthing of gold ii s. i d.
- (1469) Indent.Edw.IV in Archaeol.15167 : Lord Hastyngs hath undretake..to make v maner of golds..on pece therof rennyng for x s. of sterlings, which shalbe called the noble of gold.
- (?1470) Stonor1.114 : Ther restyth behynd unpayed therof v nobbles iij s. iiij d.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)11359 : Alle ffolk may nat noblys telle; Nor alle ffolk may not Rubyes selle.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)828 : Best we haue wyne, Ande a cosyn of myn Wyth ws for to dyne. Thre nobles wyll I spende frely.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)255 : A Nobylle: nobile.
- a1500 GRom.(Add 9066)300 : The thirde vessell was of lede, and full of nobils and precious stones with in.
- c1500(?c1450) Wedding Gawain (Rwl C.86)593 : Her arayment was worthe iij mlle. mark, Of good red nobles styff and stark.
- -?-(1435) Doc.in Power Craft Surg.317 : If he wole not ȝut ceese thanne for the iij warnynge ij s., And for the fourthe tyme a noble.
b
- (1417) in Löfvenberg Contrib.Lex.66 : [Nobles of Flanders commonly called] Burgoigne nobles.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)44 : Shall any prynce..Wheche hathe nobles moche lyche to oures, Be lorde of see?
- c1500 Money Coins MSS Hast.in HMC (Hnt HU 1051)1.419 : The noble of Scotland of iij d. quad. weight, v s. x d..A noble of Scotland, of the on syd a kyng ridyng with a swerd in his hand and a boute this scriptur Jacobus dei gra. Rex Scotorum and on the odir side a crosse chekon crownyd and ther in a lyon Rampyng and a bowt this scriptur Salvum fac populum tuum domine, weyng iij d. weight and ij d. batement, vj s.
- c1500 Money Coins MSS Hast.in HMC (Hnt HU 1051)1.420 : A Noble of Scotland with a stare on the on syde with in iiij endis of a crosse chekon, on the on ende of the crosse chekon a flowredelys and this scripture sayng Exurgat deus and on the other side an unicorne with a shilde by twix is ij fete and in the shild a lyon and abowt is neke a crowne, weyng ij d. ob. weight, iiij s. iiij d.
c
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)165/22 : And make trociscos, i. pylotes, of a noble [*Ch.(1): gilden; L aurei] weighte.
- (1449) Will Brugco in Nichols Illust.132 : To the whych said chirch Y bequeth a gret holy-water stoppe of silver, with a staff benature, the said benature, and staff weyng xx nobles in plate and more.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)220 : So was the Kyng of Frauns delyvered, and his raunson set at iii milliones of florenes, of whech too schuld weye a nobil.
d
- (1469) Ills under 3 Kings in Camd.10 (AshR 33)47 : By dymes, taxis and prestis noblis and other inordinat charges uppon theire subjettes and commons.
- (1469) Ills under 3 Kings in Camd.10 (AshR 33)48 : As by meanes of borowyng withoute payment, takyng goodes of executours of rich men, taxis, dymes, and preestis noblis.