Middle English Dictionary Entry
nouel n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | nouel n.(1) Also nouelle, neuel(e, noel, nuel. |
| Etymology | OF nöel |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Christmas, the feast of the Nativity.
Associated quotations
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)65 : Loude crye watz þer kest of clerkez & oþer, Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte.
- (1435) Proc.Privy C.4.295 : To be paied by him for þe wages..fro þe feste of Seint Michel last unto Noel þanne next folowyng by a quarter.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)6870 : Now cometh the feste of nowel [F noel] jn whiche the goode Lord was bore.
2.
(a) A cry of joy at the birth of Christ, esp. in carols of the Annunciation and the Nativity; crien (singen) ~; (b) a cry of general rejoicing or thanksgiving; ?also, a mild oath [quot.: c1450].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Fkl.(Manly-Rickert)F.1255 : Ianus sit by the fyr with double berd..Biforn hym stant brawen of the tusked swyn And Nowel [vrr. nowell, nouel] crieth euery lusty man.
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)198/1 : Nowel! nowel! nowel! Þer is a Babe born of a may In saluacion of vs.
- a1450 In bedlem this berde (Trin-C O.3.58)3 : In bedlem þis berde of lyf Is born of marye, maydyn and wyf..Nowel nowel.
- a1450 A babe is born al (Sln 2593)p.78 : Nowel, el, el, el, Now is wel that euere was woo.
- a1450 Blyssid be þat mayde (Sln 2593)p.18 : Nowel, nowel, in this halle, Make merye, I prey you alle.
- a1450 Nowel el (Sln 2593)p.169 : 'Nowel, el,' bothe eld and yyng, 'Nowel, el,' now mow we syng.
- c1450 Owt of ȝour slepe (SeldArch B.26)p.21 : Owt of your slepe aryse and wake, For God mankynd nowe hath ytake..Nowel!
- a1475(?1445) ?Lydg.Cal.(Rwl B.408)357 : A curyous caral þis Crystemasse As to syng nowel when þat we hens passe.
- c1475 Tydynges trew þer (Brm)p.122 : Newell! Newell! newell! newell! Thys ys þe songe of Angell Gabryell.
- a1500 Vnder a tre (BodPoet e.1)p.186 : 'Nowel, nowel, nowel,' Syng we with myrth; Cryst is come wel With vs to dewell.
b
- c1450 Capgr.St.Kath.(Arun 396)2.747 : Thenke ye not what ye seyde wol late, newel [vr. parde]? Ye spak not longe syth and seyde ryght thus: Ye wulde, ye seyde, haue oon to gouerne vs.
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)486/27 : The xxv day of Maye..all þe peple of comons..made ioye and myrth and song..Nowell! Nowell! Nowell! and peas, peas, peas be to vs!
- c1453(c1437) Brut-1436 (Hrl 53)558/24 : Þe cros in Chepe was riolly arrayet like a Castell, with toures pight full of baners, and þer-in Angeles syngyng 'Nowell, Nowell'.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)20 : Kyng Herry the Sexte..To London, welcomer be noo persone; O souuerayn Lord, welcom! Now wel, Now wel!
- ?a1475 MS Hal.in Halliwell D.p.582 : Therfore let us alle syng nowelle, Nowelle! Nowelle! Nowelle! Nowelle! And Cryst save mery Ynglond and sped yt welle.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)179/23 : Remembre thyself that kryedest 'Nowell' for veray ioye and gladnes of the dolereux deede, for the whiche thou saist now an hundred tymes a day 'Ellas'.
3.
As surname [some quots. may be OF].
Associated quotations
- (1130) Pipe R.Hen.I147 : Noel.
- (1182-3) Pipe R.Chs.in LCRS 929 : Tomas Noel.
- (1200) Fine R.King John64 : Thomas Noel.
- (1235-6) Bk.of Fees1.538 : Johana Noel.
- (1297) Sub.R.Yks.in YASRS 164 : Robertum Nuel.
- (1327) Sub.R.Stf.in WSAS 7243 : Roberto Nowel.