Middle English Dictionary Entry
nōseling(e adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | nōseling(e adv. Also naselinges. |
| Etymology | From nōse n.(1) & -ling(e suf. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. neselong adv.
1.
(a) On the face, with the face downward, prone; in a prostrate position; lien ~; (b) on the back, supine; lien ~.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(?1409) Vision Staunton (Roy 17.B.43)67 : Þyulk sowles lay noselyng on the grownd and grouelyng.
- 1457 Bevis (Naples 13.B.29)31/649 : Noselyng [vrr. neslong, plat, flatlyng, flatt; Auch: Beues..leide him deueling on þe grounde].
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)989/24 : He felle downe noselynge to the shippebourde.
- c1475 7 Sages(1) (Eg 1995)29/752 : Noselyng [vr. grovelyng; Auch: þe child lai diueling].
b
- (?a1390) Daniel *Herbal (Add 27329)f.159va : [For litargie:] ℞ aspalt & castore, & mak pelotes with ious of wode-rue, & whan nede be, relente ones or twies in ious of þe same herbe or wyn, & with a nasal put in þe nasethirles, þe pacient liyng naselynges [Arun 42 (f.36v); noselyng; L (Circa Instans, 1525 ed., f. 227va-vb): egro iacente supino].
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.79vb : Þai þat ben gretly sekenessede on þis maner malady, here face is rede and lippis ar blo..& often tyme þai loue for to liggen noselyng [L (Isaac, De Febrium, 4.11): supini iacent], & hard þai slepe, and open mouth, and þe pouse is feble.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: The draft glossary to the Liber Uricrisiarum had the correct gloss, "noselyng, adv. liggen ~ to lie on the back, to lie supine 79vb," and is the basis of our sense (b). 'Supine' was mistakenly changed to 'prone' in the final printed edition of the Liber Uricrisiarum, probably under the misleading influence of MED's sense (a). The quot. from the Herbal confirms sense (b), and shows Daniel to be consistent in his usage.