Middle English Dictionary Entry
oilet n.
Entry Info
| Forms | oilet n. Also oliet, olyet, ulet, ulyet, (?) ylet. |
| Etymology | OF oillet. Some quots. in sense 1. may be F. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A small opening in a wall or window, usually for observation or the discharge of missiles.
Associated quotations
- (1333) in Salzman Building in Engl.113 : [40 pieces of Caen stone for] oyletz [not worked].
- (1346) *Acc.Exch.K.R.470/17.m.1 [OD col.] : Et de..xl peciis petrarum de Cadamo pro oylett[is] non operatis.
- (1383-4) Acc.Abingdon in Camd.n.s.5146 : Solut' Symoni vitreario pro oyletus trium fenestrarum claustri xxxv s. iij d.
- (1399) in Salzman Building in Engl.113 : [The purchase of glass for 4] oylettes [of the louvre].
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.6451 : Troyens..dide her besynes In her diffence, and made hem plounge lowe With caste of quarel..Þoruȝ olietis.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)363 : Oylet, holy yn a walle: Foramulum.
2.
(a) A small loop on the edge or uppermost part of a curtain; a small loop or opening in cloth or lace; (b) ?a metal ring inserted in a cloth eyelet to prevent wearing.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ex.26.4-5 : Lytill oiletis [alt. from: ryngis; L Ansulas] Iasynctyns in þe sydis & in þe ouermostis of þe corteyns þou schalt make, þat þei mown be couplid to gyþers. Þe cortyne schall haue fyfty oiletis [alt. from: ringis; L ansulas] in eyþer party so sett inne þat o oilete [alt. from: ringe] may comme aȝeyns anoþer.
- a1425 Direct.Laces in Studies Robbins (Hrl 2320)p.102 : A brode lace wt cros and olyet..A round lace wyþ cros and olyet: Set 12 bowes..And yf þu wolt þat þe lace be grete, take a whyp-corde and knyt þt o ende wt þy bowes.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)363 : Olyet [Win: Olyette] made yn a clothe, for sperynge: Fibularium.
b
- (1446) Will York in Sur.Soc.45102 : De laton rynges et ulyettes.
3.
(a) An opening for the eyes in a helmet; (b) the eyed portion of a hinge; (c) meaning uncertain.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)14.630 : On Of hem..wolde han be-Reved Seraphe his lif, Forto han smeten him AMiddes the Fase Thorwh the Oylettes [F l'ouvreture] of his helm.
b
- (1447) in Salzman Building in Engl.297 : [6] ulettes [of iron with as many] hokis [were used for doors].
c
- ?a1500 Trin-C.LEDict.Suppl.(Trin-C O.5.4)598/39 : Ocellulus: an ylet.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1484 Fragm.Hour-Lines (Trin-C R.14.52)660/1175 : Take than a compas or oilet of a foote and sette into the poole and another into the pointe remembred, to drawe agenst the lift part of the quadraunt.
Note: Editor's note: "oilet: Possibly a form of oilet 'eyelet'; in any case, obviously a device for drawing an arc, mentioned as an alternative to compasses."
Note: ?New sense.
Note: Note that the 'or oilet' is interlinear. The phrase 'compas or oilet' also appears at l. 1205, where 'or oilet' is again interlinear. 'compas or oilet' appears again at l. 1210, though not interlinear, and a few more times in the same paragraph, not interlinear.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1484 Barrel Gauge(1) (Trin-C R.14.52)662/1227,1228 : Take þe cofre. And of that latitude take the diametre, and that, as often as thow maist into oo side of the yerde thow signe marke or oilet, thow do [so] oft. And if so, at the first front of sight thiese signes shuln be, forwhy with the same oilet therof the first signe shal dwel and abide vntouched.
Note: Editor: "oilet: A small hole (eyelet). A wood-cut from an early printed book (1485), reproduced in Folkerts (1974, 22), shows a gauging rod with holes punched in it to mark the graduations."
Note: ?New sense.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1484 Instruct.Quadrant (Trin-C R.14.52)665/1348 : Bigynne to tel toward the side of C (that is to wite, toward the side of ther the oilettis stonde).
Note: Editor's note: "oilettis: The pinnules or pierced sighting vanes (QV: tabule perforata) fixed to one of the straight sides of the quadrant."
Note: ?New sense.
Note: See editor's remarks under 'A Note on Technical Terminology,' p. 618: "Oilet (= oillet, eyelet), meaning 'a small hole or perforation,' is not really a technical term but a common one used descriptively in the instrument texts. In Some Uses of the Old Quadrant it refers to the holes in the sighting vanes on the edge of the instrument. In The Art of Gauging 1 it refers to the holes pierced in the gauging rod to mark graduations. The most puzzling use is in the second fragment on drawing hour lines, where oilet seems to refer to some sort of device for drawing circles, suggested as an alternative to draftsman's compasses."