Middle English Dictionary Entry
pilken v.
Entry Info
| Forms | pilken v. Also pilke, pileken, (SWM) peolkin, polkin. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. Swed. dial., Norw., Faroese pilka, Dan. pilke. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Of a bird: to strike at or pick clean (sth.) with the bill; used fig.; (b) to deprive (sb.) of goods by exercise of power; (c) in surname.
Associated quotations
a
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)36/23 : Þe bakbitare..bekeð mid his blake bile o cwike charoines, ase þe þet is þes deofles corbin of helle; ȝet wolde he te teren & pileken [Corp-C: pilewin; Tit: picken] mid his bile roted stinkinde fleshs..þet is, ȝif he nolde siggen non vuel bi non oðer bute bi ðeo þet rotieð..hit were ȝet þe lesse sunne.
b
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)46/2 : Þe þridde cunne of fikelere..preiseð þe uuele..as þe þe seið to þe cniht þe robbeð his poure men..'for eauer me schal þene cheorl peolkin [Nero: pilken; Cleo: polkin] & pilien.'
- a1350 Ne mai no lewed (Hrl 2253)41 : Þer sitteþ somenours..Hyrdmen hem hatieþ, ant vch mones hyne, for eueruch a parosshe heo polkeþ in pyne.
c
- (1251) Nickname in LuSE 55143 : Rog. Pilkebene.