Middle English Dictionary Entry
pibel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pibel n. Also pible, pibbil, pibbul, pibble, pebil, peb(b)ul, pob(b)el, pubel, puble, pubbil & pepulle, peple, pepble, pupel & (in place names) papel, papil, popel, pople & (error) polel. |
| Etymology | OE papol- in papol-stān, popel-. Also cp. MnE dial. popple & pipple. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A small, smooth stone; (b) a stone used as a missile in warfare; -- also coll.; (c) ~ ston, a small, rounded stone; also, a stone used as a missile in warfare; (d) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.59, 70]; (e) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Magd.(2) (LdMisc 108)469 : Huy i-seiȝen bi þe stronde a luytel child gon pleye with publes [vrr. paplis; stones] on is honde.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)117 : Vche a pobbel in pole þer pyȝt Watz emerad, saffer, oþer gemme gente.
- (1478) in Salzman Building in Engl.139 : [3 cartloads of] pebyllis.
b
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)99b : Loke þou haue..Smalle pebbul [vrr. pebil stones, pepulle] to caste wiþ hond and wiþ stafslynge.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)823 : Engynes..to þe burwe þrewen..A burne with a balwe-ston was þe brayn cloue; Þe gretter pese of þe panne þe pyble [vrr. polel; pomel, stone] forþ strikeþ, Þat hit flow in-to þe feld a forlong or more.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)2320 : If we wite a seege on vs comynge..faste haue in the multitude of stonys..And coggys, cogulys, & pibblis [L saxa] rounde.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Prov.20.17 : Sweete is to a man þe bred of lesyng, & after shal ben fulfild þe mouþ of hym with a litil pibbil-ston [L calculo].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.353 : Whan oþer wepene failleþ, þey haueþ good publestones [Higd.(2): moche stones; L lapides pugillares] redy at hond.
- (1426) in Salzman Building in Engl.139 : Pubelston.
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)6.37 : A forgh iij footes deep thy londes thorgh With grauel, or with litel pibbul stonys [L lapidibus minutis] Vnto the mydward fild ayeyn this forgh.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)33/11 : Tak & hete ij rownde pepble stones & cast þam in thyn herbis & sprenkill a-bown salte & vynagre.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)99b : Loke þou haue also plente of hard rag stones & rounde pebul [vr. peple] stones of rever, smaller, gretter & alþer grettest.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)99b : Alþergrettest pubbil [vr. pupel] stones of a manis lift or more to ben I-leide on þe walles þe whiche whan þei ben I-schoue out ouer þe walles, alle ordenaunce and also men þat stondeþ vnder, þei mowe slee or breke.
d
- (1108) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)130 : Papelvich.
- (1190) EPNSoc.33 (West Riding Yks.)231 : Popelton.
- (1226) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)592 : Poplesford.
- (1229) EPNSoc.32 (West Riding Yks.)17 : Popelwell.
- (1257) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)592 : Popelford.
- (1356) EPNSoc.17 (Not.)130 : Papilwik.
- (1388) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)5.21 : Publesyk.
e
- (1303-4) Acc.Chester in LCRS 5975 : William Pobel.