Middle English Dictionary Entry
pal n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pal n. Also palle, paul(l)e, pel(le, (Cornish) bali, (Latinate) pali, pauli & (early) pælle, peal, & (error) pauke; pl. pelles, etc. & (early) pellen. |
| Etymology | OE pæl (from L) & L pallium & OF paile. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. pallioun & pel n.(2).
1.
(a) A fine cloth; a type of fine cloth, ?satin; fine clothing; (b) purpel (purpure, red, riche, worth) ~; cloth of ~, clothes of ~, garnement (mantle, robe, surcot) of ~, pavilioun of ~; (c) cheisel and ~, gold and ~, pelure and ~, pured and ~, purpure and ~, ~ and purpure, scarlet and ~, siclatoun and ~, silk and ~, etc.; proud (proudeste) in ~, prikede in ~; (d) ~ clothinge, clothes of fine cloth; ~ werk, fine cloth, ?satin; (e) clothes of ~, ?simple, robe-like clothing.
Associated quotations
a
- c1175 Orm.(Jun 1)8173 : All þatt wæde..wass..off þe bettste pall.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9588 : Glad æuer-ælch cniht, al mid pælle [Otho: palle] bi-þæht.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)425 : Iosep feng þene nap; mid pal he was biweued.
- ?a1300 Jacob & J.(Bod 652)517 : He toc his benetene hat, wiþ pal þat was biweued.
- ?a1300 Maximian (Dgb 86)14 : Pal wor [read: for] prude he drou.
- ?a1300 Sirith (Dgb 86)23 : He..com in to þen halle Þer hoe wes srud wiþ palle.
- c1330(c1250) Floris (Auch)274 : Þe porter is proud wiȝalle; Euerich dai he goþ in palle.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5119 : Wit pall he cled þam of affrik.
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)25465 : Nauþer aske I..palle [Vsp: purperpall] to couer mi bane ne riche robe wiþ veire & grise.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1637 : I schal..Apyke þe in porpre cloþe, palle alþerfynest.
- a1425(c1300) Assump.Virg.(1) (Add 10036)133/795 : A seynt sche souȝt..Off silk and gold wounden in pal.
- c1440(a1400) Eglam.(Thrn)1077 : Þe riche kyng to þe land gaste -- His knyghtis weryn in palle.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)2278 : Þis twaylle y-bordryd abouȝt was Wt palle þe mountenesse ofe han hondbrede.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)319 : Þe ape..bar þat chyld yn pelle ywounde.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1407 : Sche..clodede hym yn pell [Ashm: paule].
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1776 : Of mayne..Ne sawe he body ne face But menstrales y-clodeþ [read: y-cloþed] yn palle.
- a1500(?c1400) EToulouse (Cmb Ff.2.38)705 : To the chaumbyr they went soone, Knyghtys cladde in palle [vr. pauke].
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)377/308 : Thise laddys thai leven as lordys riall..to be even picturde in pall As kyngys.
- ?a1525(?a1475) Play Sacr.(Dub 652)264 : I thynke..Hasterli to hange your parlowr with pall, As longeth for a lordis pere.
- -?-(1407) Will in Som.RS 1628 : [A bed] de Pauli [viz., of white and blue with the curtains and all the apparel].
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)197/111 : A felawe-schipe þare cam go Of þe faireste children..Ȝonge þingus of on age in ȝwite cloþus of palle.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)568 : He ȝaf him robe of palle And pane of riche skinne.
- c1330(?c1300) Reinbrun (Auch)p.643 : In pourpre pal þei gan him schrede.
- a1350(a1325) SLeg.Cec.(Ashm 43)7 : Þis maide werede robe of pal & cloþes swiþe riche.
- c1390 KTars (Vrn)42/358 : In cloþ of riche purpel palle And on hire hed a comeli calle, Bi þe soudan heo was sette.
- a1400(c1250) Floris (Eg 2862)598 : He is wonder proude withalle; Euery day he goþ in ryche palle.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5147 : Þai ar cled in riche pall.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)11054 : Thei..leyde him [Hector] on a clothe of palle.
- c1440(a1350) Isumb.(Thrn)123 : The knyghte offe his mantille of palle And over his weyfe he lete it falle.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)441 : Gawayne..Ledis hym owte of the haulle Vn-tille a paveleone of paulle.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2478 : Thane was þe prynce puruayede and þeire places nommen, Pyghte pauyllyons of palle and planted in seegge.
- ?a1450(?1350-75) Pass.Christi in Norris Anc.Corn.Drama (Bod 791)1784 : Hethough cercot a baly.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)228/1 : Than he pyght his pavylyons of palle.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)158/198 : I xal qwyte ryght wel ȝour mede with gold and tresour and rych wede, with furrys rych and wurth pelle.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)212/14 : The þridde [altar] was in the est..and i-couered a-bowte with rede palle.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)391 : Of gode sylke and of purpull palle Mantels above they caste all.
- a1500 Pennyw.Wit(2) (Cmb Ff.2.38)197 : Sche put on hur a garment of palle.
c
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)650 : Nefde Brutus nenne swa wreche man þat gold & pal ne dude him on.
- c1225(?c1200) St.Kath.(1) (Einenkel)1450 : O schene nebschaft..þet schulde beon..ischrud..wið pel & wið purpre!
- a1275 *St.Marg.(2) (Trin-C B.14.39)107 : Ciclatoun ant purpel pal scaltou haue to wede.
- c1275 Þene latemeste dai (Clg A.9)5 : Ȝe þat sittet i-schrud wið skarlet & wið palle, Wel soþe tiþinge Ich ou wile telle.
- a1300(c1250) Floris (Vit D.3)296 : Bedde heo hem haueþ ibrouȝt..of selk & pal iwrouht.
- a1300 A Mayde Cristes (Jes-O 29)146 : He haueþ bi-tauht þe o tresur þat is betere þan gold oþer pel.
- a1325 SLeg.(Corp-C 145)29/131 : Goþ and makeþ a nesse bed..of materas of cheisil and of palle.
- c1330(?c1280) SLeg.Annun.,etc.(Auch)p.152 : Of v thinges he bitauȝt hem werk..Of flex, of silk, of cheisel, Of porpre, & of palle.
- c1390 Bi a wey (Vrn)38 : I-put he was in pore array, Nouþer in purpul ne in pal.
- c1390 Disp.Christian & J.(Vrn)166 : On vche a syde of þe halle Pourpul, pelure and palle.
- a1425(c1333-52) Minot Poems (Glb E.9)24/110 : Pride in prese ne prais I noght Omang þir princes prowd in pall.
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)37/250 : Þe riche man sat in his hall Cled in purpure and in pall.
- ?a1425 Whi is þis world (Trin-C B.15.39)18 : Where is bicome cesar þat lord was of al? or þe riche man cloiþd in purpur and in pal?
- c1425 Yk.Hours Cross (Yk-M 16.K.6)41 : For hethyng þai hym cled in purper & in pall; þai set on his heyde a cron of thorn wit-all.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1288 : Thise hende..Behelde..Palaisez proudliche pyghte, þat palyd ware ryche Of pall and of purpure, wyth precyous stones.
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)223 : Þat puyson to profe, that prouddeste in palle Profirde it two presoners.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Merlin (Corp-C 80)4460 : Jn the kynges tyme jt schal be-falle that aftyr the schal regnen in pured & palle.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)1792 : Heyl, prinse, proude, prekyd in palle!
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)435 : Wemen haue wille..To fret hom..With pelur and pall & mony proude rynges.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3393 : Þus sett oure syre..In pelour & in pall & proud men him by.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)62/30 : Joseph was cled in a white cote & in pall & purpur wovyn with golde.
- c1450(a1375) Octav.(2) (Clg A.2)620 : In Ierusalem sche gan dwelle And made cloþes of gold & pelle.
- c1450(a1400) Libeaus (Clg A.2)1835 : Syr knyȝt aunterous!..Þauȝ þou be proud yn palle Fyȝte þou most wyth vs!
d
- a1400 Cursor (Trin-C R.3.8)5125 : He dud on him pal cloþing [Vsp: O pall on him he did clething] And on his hond sett riche ring.
- c1440 Degrev.(Thrn)645 : Scho come in a veluet..Alle of palle-werke [vr. pall-work] fyne, Cowchide with newyne, Furrede with ermyne And couerde with pryde.
- a1500 Awntyrs Arth.(Dc 324)19 : Her hode of a herde huwe, þat here hede hedes, Of pillour, of palwerke [Thrn: Wroghte with peloure and palle], of perre to pay.
e
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)351/334 : Mi gyrdill gay and purs of sylk and cote away thou shall..Ihesu..ware noght bot clothes of pall.
2.
(a) A cloak, mantle, robe; also, an ornamental covering for a horse, trapping, caparison; also fig.; -- also sg. with pl. meaning; golden (purpel, red, riche, silken, etc.) ~; (b) a papal and archiepiscopal vestment, the pallium.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)451 : Ȝef us peal [Otho: pal], ȝeue us hors, ȝeue us haihe scrud.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2676 : Ha leopen an heore feire hors bi-wriȝen mid fæire palle [Otho: palles].
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)13657 : Sceldes blikien, burnen scinen, palles goldfaȝe.
- c1300 Body & S.(5) (LdMisc 108)p.27 : Ȝwere beon..Þi cendels and þi riche palles [vr. purpelpalle]?
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6657 : Gold and siluer and purpel pelles, Mete and drink and mani þing elles.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6968 : King Vriens and his kniȝtes..Token al þis riche praie, Pelles, purper, gold and monaye.
- c1330 Le Freine (Auch)178 : Þerin sche leyd þe child for cold, in þe pel as it was bifold.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Esth.8.15 : Mardoche..shynede in kingis cloþis..wrappid with a sylkene pal [WB(2): mentil; L pallio] & purpre.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.3.22 : In þat dai þe lord shal don awei þe ournement of..chaunging cloþis & litle pallis [WB(2): mentils; L palliola] & sheetis & pynnes.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)2503 : Coupes, pelles, broches..Alisaunder freli diȝttes After werþe amonge his kniȝttes.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6687 : Jch will chargen alle þine beestes Wiþ pelles and ciclatounes honestes.
- c1400 Bible SNT(1) (Selw 108 L.1)Mat.5.40 : Whoso wyle stryue wiþ þee in þe dome & take fro þee þi kote, lefe þou to hym also þi palle.
- a1425 NPass.(Cmb Gg.5.31)123/1203 : Þai did apon hym [Jesus] a purpill pall [Rwl: clathes of purpure].
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)8560 : A noble Troye, thow fair Cite..Thi toures hye and thi faire walles, Thi ladyes alle with golden palles.
- c1425 Found.St.Barth.37/5 : Whan this gallowus man toke hym by the skyrtis of his palle or mantyl he cryed vppon hym horriblely.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)353 : The mane in his mantylle syttis at his mete, In paulle purede with pane, fulle precyousely dyghte.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)822 : In grene gres tyl he be graue Putte hym in þi precyous pall, Coueytyse.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)p.232 : Cayphas shewyth himself..ij doctorys with hym arayd with pellys aftyr þe old gyse.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)130/6 : There shal I yelde glory & worship for shame & repreef, a palle of preisyng [L pallium laudis] for mornyng.
- a1500 Mirror Salv.(Beeleigh)p.106 : In a palle white and rede was wele cledde oure Ladye.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.113 : Sampson þe archebisshop took wiþ hym þe palle.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.451 : Þat Ȝere þe pope Honorius sente þe pal [L pallium] to Honorius archebisshop of Caunterbury.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.9 : He wente toward Rome to fonge þe palle of þe pope.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)130 : He [Stigandus, Archbishop of Canterbury] usurped his office, in so mech that he used the palle.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)25/3 : Offa..yaf the archebysshoppis palle to Aldulphe, þe bysshope of Lychefelde.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)6.239 : He recurede the use of a palle to that seete þat Paulinus hade lefte at Rowchestre.
- c1475(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Hrl 661)p.157 : Palle [Grafton: Gregory hym made archebishop of Caunterbury..And had the paule..sent to hym].
3.
(a) A fine covering for an altar, a bed, or a seat; a bed-cover, an altar-cloth, a corporal; a coverlet, a shroud for a corpse or an icon; also, an altar-napkin; palles of the auter, altar-napkins; under ~, in bed; (b) a decorative cloth hanging; a curtain; (c) a piece of cloth, strip; bi palles, in shreds; -- used fig.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9503 : Wes þat kinewurðe bed al mid palle ouer-bræd.
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)23/401 : Rymenhild..sette him on pelle, Of wyn to drinke his fulle.
- c1300 SLeg.(Hrl 2277)575/125 : Me beddede hem so softe as me miȝte & palles vpe hem caste.
- c1300 SLeg.Mich.(LdMisc 108)92 : Weouedes huy founden þreo; With rede palles huy weren i-heoled, þe faireste þat miȝten beo.
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)4882 : Wiþ þat hij seye þat bodi y-wis Liggend on a pal of pris.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.6680 : I wolde fle Into the chambre forto se If eny grace wolde falle, So that I mihte under the palle Som thing of love pyke and stele.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11516 : Had þai na bedd was spred wit pell.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)370 : Hire bed was made..Myd pelles and myd riche cloþe.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7727 : Antygon he hiȝth in halle, And Alisaunder vnder palle.
- c1400 St.Alex.(2) (Trin-O 57)74/566 : Þat lich hy lete by-wake and shrude With palle.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)378 : Palle, or pelle, or other clothe.
- (1448) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 1349 : The folwyng partayne to the Altar of the Blessed Marie in le Jesan: Fyrst a palle of Rede wt lyonnes of gold embroudyd.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)11235 : In hure chaumbre vpon a pal Þey corouned hure wyþ a coronal.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2)1816 : Ȝef hyt falle On vestement oþer on palle, Awey þow moste þe pece cotte, And hyt brenne & a-monge þe relekus putte.
- (1453) St.John's Heads in Archaeol.52676 : An old pall for Saynt Johnys hedd.
- (c1465) Invent.Cirencester in BGAS 18 (Bod 6530)327 : Ornaments of Seynt Mary Chapel..iiij pallis, ij keverlyts, xi bankers.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.33 : A myncheon scholde not towche the palles [Trev.Higd.: towayles; L pallas] of the awter.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.171 : Iulianus..toke holy veselles and palles of the awters and wipede his partes posterialle.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)1816 : Al weren þe hællen bi-hongen mid pellen.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)3540 : Eueri strete Was bihonged..Wiþ mani pal and riche cloþ.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)202 : Al þe cite was byhonge Wiþ riche samytes and pelles longe.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)122/12 : In the walle are cortynes and halles and palles of silke to be hongen and reysed.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)1 Kings 21.9 : Þe swerd of Goliaþ philistee..is wrapped wiþ a pal [WB(2): in a cloth; L pallio] aftyr þe preestis coope.
- c1475 Chartier Quad.(1) (UC 85)147/19 : In many parties [of the mantle] the preent of the erthe is naked and discoueryd and the trees and seedys lyke as vnroted, cast awey and hanging ouerthwert by palles so that men may vndirstande noon ordinaunce nor hope to haue frute.
- -?-(1457) Will in Som.RS 16173 : [A piece of cloth of gold called] le palle.