Middle English Dictionary Entry
obolus n.
Entry Info
| Forms | obolus n. Also obulus |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A small measure of weight; a weight used to balance a scale; (b) a halfpenny; ~ weight, an amount equal to a halfpenny in weight.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)333a/a : Euerich weiȝt haþ a certeyn manere and propre name..þe leste party of wighte hatte Calculus and þe fourþe parte of obulus and weyeþ tweye greynes of tilles..Obulus weieþ þre huoles and was some tyme of bras y-schape as an arowe and haþ þe name þerof, for an arwe hatte obulus in grew.
b
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)111/9 : Yeldyng to hym and to his heires ij shillings ix d. at ij termes of the yere, that is to sey, at the fest of seynt Mighell xvj d. obolus, and at the fest of our Lady in marche xvj d. obolus.
- a1500(?a1450) GRom.(Hrl 7333)35 : Þou shult of me haue neyther j d., ne obolus, ne quadrans.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)96/22 : Take iii penywyghte of scamonye and ii penywyght of rubarbe..and obolus weyght zedewale.