Middle English Dictionary Entry

oil(e n.
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Entry Info

Forms oil(e n. Also oille, oiel, hoile, hole, oili & (K) uile, (early SWM) ule, hule, uli, huli & oel(le, ol(e, (early SWM & SW) eoil(l)e, eoli(e, heoli & oli(e, holi, olige, (error) olyf.
Etymology CF uile, h)uille, oil(l)e, oele & AF olie & L oleum.

Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)

Note: Cp. ele n.(1).
1a.
A liquid substance, natural or concocted, which is unctuous, usually inflammable, and insoluble in water; an oil or oily substance.
Show 19 Quotations
1b.
A specific oil: (a) identified by source or principal ingredient; ~ of almaundes, ~ de baie(s, ~ of baume, ~ of (de) ben, ~ of brom, ~ of camomile, ~ of castor, ~ of chiches, ~ of dile, ~ of egges (eiren), ~ of euforbium; (b) ~ of hemp, ~ of hen-bane, ~ of heth, ~ of hil-wort, ~ of juniper, ~ (of) laurel (laurer), ~ (of) laurine, ~ lentiscine, ~ of (de) lilie, ~ of lin-sed, ~ of mandrage, ~ of (de) mastik, ~ of mirte-tre, ~ of mirtille(s, mirtine~, ~ of mirtine, note ~, ~ of notes, ~ of popi; (c) rape ~, ~ of serpentes, ~ of sesame, ~ of snailes (the snail), ~ of spikenard, ~ of (the) ston, ~ of swete almaundes, ~ of tartar (tartarie), ~ of ter, ~ of violet(es, ~ violet, ~ of wal-notes, ~ of whete, wol ~, etc.; (d) commune ~, ~ commune (simple), ~ of (de) olive, ~ of olive-tre, ~ olive, olive oil; (e) ~ of rose (roses, rosen, roset), ~ de rose(s, ~ rose (roset), a medicinal oil made of rose petals and olive oil; (f) a medicinal oil made in, or associated with, a place; (g) ~ incendiarie, oil used for setting fires; peinteres ~, peintinge ~, oil used in painting; (h) ~ benet, 'the blessed oil', a medicinal preparation; mete ~ [see mete n.(1) 1b. (d)].
Show 132 Quotations
2.
(a) Olive oil; (b) as used in medicine; (c) as used in cookery; (d) as fuel, esp. in lamps; also fig.; (e) as a cosmetic for the face, body, or hair; also fig.; -- not used in ancient times during periods of mourning; (f) as used in warfare; (g) as used for torture.
Show 81 Quotations
3.
Oil prepared for ceremonial or religious purposes: (a) used by the Hebrews for the consecration of priests, kings, etc.; ~ benet; (b) used in the Christian Church for anointing those who are ill, for extreme unction, and for christening; -- often distinguished from chrism.
Show 27 Quotations
4.
(a) Salvation; ~ of lif (merci, milce, misericorde, the tre of merci), a healing oil promised to Adam; salvation through Christ; welle of ~, a spring of salvation, ?Christ; (b) a miracle-working fluid in the bodies of saints, which flows from their bones after death; also, a similar oil flowing from a painting of the Virgin Mary.
Show 28 Quotations
5.
Fig. (a) Something which comforts, heals, or saves spiritually; love, compassion, grace, etc.; ~ of merci; (b) Christ; the name of Christ; (c) speech that is smooth and pleasing; beren up ~, to speak agreeably, agree with someone; bering upon oiles, flattery; holden up ~, speak agreeably, seem to agree; with gen.: agree with (sb.), flatter (sb.); holden up oiles, speak soothingly or flatteringly.
Show 15 Quotations
6.
Alch. A substance extracted from metals or other elements, a quintessence; ~ of lune, the quintessence of silver.
Show 6 Quotations
7.
Cpds. & combs.: (a) ~ barel, a barrel for oil; ~ berere, a tree that bears olives; ~ berie, fruit of the olive tree, an olive; ~ celer, a storage room for olive oil; ~ drastes, the dregs of olive oil; ~ fat, a vat or vessel for oil; ~ makere, a maker of oil; ~ makinge, the making of olive oil; ~ man, one who makes or sells oil; ~ milne, a machine for extracting oil; (b) ~ pie, meaning unknown; ~ pot, a pot for oil; ~ spot, a spot left by oil; ~ strem, fig. Christ, the source of salvation; ~ tempred, of lime: worked up with olive oil; ~ tre, an olive tree; ~ tunne, Fig. the vessel that contained the Saviour, the Virgin Mary; ~ vessel, a container for oil.
Show 28 Quotations

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)54 : Commodytes…commynge oute of Spayne…Bene fygues, raysyns…lycorys, Syvyle oyle, and also grayne.
    • Note: New comb.
  • c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)3.768 : The oyle of pees to stynte our langour.
    • Note: ref. to Christ?
  • (1275) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames359 : John le Ulemon.
  • (1297) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames359 : Richard Olmon.
    • Note: New sense

Supplemental Materials (draft)

  • a1500 Pmb-O.21 Artist.Recipes (Pmb-O 21) 275/24 : To ley gold on an emage, tak bul Armonyak and grinde it with payntorys holl and with vernysch, and ley it on þe emage.
    • Note: Additional quote, sense 1b.(g). New spelling.
    Note: ?Modify gloss: 'oil used in painting; linseed oil'.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: A supposed compound 'oile fehale' has been removed from sense 7.(a), along with its sole example. See the deprecated entry fehale ?adj. for details.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil de ben.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of balm.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of dill.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of eggs.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of euphorbium.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of eyren.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil de mastic.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil lauriol.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of heath.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of henbane.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of hillwort.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of mandrake.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of myrtine.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of myrtles.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(b)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of nuts.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of serpents.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of sisamie.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of snails.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of sweet almonds.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of tar.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(c)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of walnuts.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(d)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. common oil.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(d)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil de olive.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(d)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil olive.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(d)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. simple oil.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(e)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil de roses.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(e)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of rose/roses/rosen.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(e)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil of roset.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(e)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil rose.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(e)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil roset.

Supplemental Materials (draft)

Note: Med., etc. (sense 1b.(h)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. oil bennet.

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