Middle English Dictionary Entry
pellican(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pellican(e n. Also pelican(e, pilicane & (error) bellican & (in surname) pelke-. |
| Etymology | OE pellicane, from L & OF pelican & L pelecanus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) One of the Eurasian pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus or Pelecanus crispus); also, a porphyrio (?Porphyrio cærulens); as a symbol of Christ [quot.: Symb.Pass.]; (b) in representations as a heraldic device, a helmet crest, an embossed figure, etc.; (c) cook. a decorative entree in the shape of a pelican; (d) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)63/21 : Pellican is a fuhel se weamod & se wreaðful þet hit sleað ofte o grome his ahne briddes..ant þenne sone þrefter hit wurð swiðe sari..& smit him seolf wið his bile..& wið þet blod acwikeð eft his briddes isleine.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)67/20 : Pellican, þis fuhel, haueð an oðer cunde, þet hit is aa leane..dauið eueneð him þer to in ancre persone.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)70/11 : Þeo briddes fleoð wel þe habbeð lutel flesch, as þe pellican haueð, & feole fiðeren.
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)74/23 : Dauið anan efter þet he haueð ieuenet ancre to pellican, he eueneð hire to nihtfuhel þe is under euesunges: Similis factus sum pellicano solitudinis; factus sum sicut nicticorax in domicilio.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)101.7 : Ich am made lich to þe pellican [L pellicano] of ones.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.11.18 : A swan, acormaraunt, & apellican [vr. pellicane; L porphyrionem]..shal been abhomynable to ȝow.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.14.17 : Apellican [WB(2): pursirioun; L porphyrionem] & anyȝtcrowe..shal been vnclene & not been etyn.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Ps.101.7 : Lyc I am maad to a pellican of wildernesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)51a/b : Among briddes & foules, þe popyniay & þe bellican [L porfirio scilicet pellicanus] vsiþ þe foot in stede of hoonde, for þe popynyay & þe pellican takeþ mete wiþ his foot..þe pellican..hatte also porphirio.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)149b/b : The pellican [L pelicanus] is a bridde þat is I-clepid porphirion..and is a bridde of Egipt and woneþ in desert bisides þe ryuere nylus..And þere beþ tuo manere of pellicans; one woneþ in watres..& þe oþir woneþ in londe and loueþ wildirnesse.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)150a/a : It is I-seide þat þe pellicane sleeþ here briddes..& makeþ sorwe þre dayes and schedeþ hoot blood vpon ham and makeþ ham a lyue aȝeyne in þat manere.
- a1425(a1396) Maidstone PPs. (Wht)593 : I [Christ] was maad liyk the pellycan, That vpon wylde[r]nesse hym silf sleeþ, So redily to the roode I ran For mannys soule to suffre deeþ.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)640/37 : Nomina Auium..Hic pellicar: pellicane.
- a1425 Symb.Pass.(Roy 17.A.27)21 : Þe pelicane his blod did blede Þer-with his briddus for to fede, Þit be-tokenet on þe rode Oure lord us fede with his blode.
- c1425(c1400) Primer (Cmb Dd.11.82)p.41 : Domine, exaudi..I am maad liyk a pellican of wildirnesse; y am maad as a nyȝtcrowe in an hous.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)391 : Pellycann, byrd: Pellicanus.
- c1450-a1525 Falm.Squire (Leonard)165 : They herde vpon þe ȝatys on hyght..The pellycan [vr. pylycane] and the popyngay.
- c1475 As I me lenyd vnto (Trin-C R.3.21)36 : The Pellycan seyde with mornyng chere, 'Of cristes passyon I do compleyne That mankynde hath bought so dere.'
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)101.7 : Cassiodire says that..by the pellicane, that is, foghil of grete lennes, and is sustaynd with lytil mete, and fleghis noght with many, bot has delite be it ane, Heremytis ere likynd.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.309 : Þer is a bryd which is clepyd a pellican, pellicanus.
- a1500(?c1414) ?Brampton PPs.(1) (Sln 1853)p.30 : To dreedful deth I am dyȝt, As a pelycan in wyldyrnesse.
- a1500 Ancr.TSenses (Roy 8.C.1)33/31-2 : With sorow of hert and schryfte of mouþe, taking ensoumple of þe pellican in maner byfore seyd; An oþer propirte has þe pellicane..he is euer leene, and þerfor he may fleȝe þe better.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)701/42 : Nomina Volatilium Incomestilium..Hic pelicanus: a pelican.
b
- (a1430) Invent.Randolf in Archaeol.61171 : j sconce silver and gild pounced wiht two Pellicanes.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)5129 : Ȝit sall I send ȝow..a sertan of giftis..a diademe..With pellicans & pape-ioyes polischt & grauen.
- (c1460) Bk.Arms in Anc.4 (Hrl 2169)236 : [Sable a fesse silver between] iij pellycanys of sylvyr [wounding themselves]; Wylyam Pellesan, Yorke chyre.
- (1463) Will Bury in Camd.4938 : I yeve and be qwethe my signet of gold, with a pellican and my armys grave ther in, to Willam Baret.
- c1500(?a1475) Ass.Gods (Trin-C R.3.19)807 : Aftyr hym came there Charyte Rydyng on a tygre..On hys helme on hygh a pellycan he bare.
c
- c1475 Gregory's Chron.(Eg 1995)141 : The servyse of the fyrste cours..grette crabbys, lesche lumbarde, a bake mete in paste, tartys, and a sotylte i-callyd pellycane.
d
- (1309) Feet Fines Kent in Archaeol.Cant.11330 : Thomas Pellican.
- (1373) Let.Bk.Lond.G (Gldh LetBk G)315 : Thomas Pelkeshanke.
- (1420-21) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.493 : In navi Willelmi Edryche..De Roberto Pellican indigena pro i bala cum ii pannis di. curtis sine grano.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pelican.