Middle English Dictionary Entry
pille n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pille n. Also pillem. |
| Etymology | MDu. pille & OF pile; from L pilula. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A pill containing a medicament; ~ cochie (rasis, a pill containing a purgative; ~ fetid, ?a foul-smelling pill; (b) a pellet found in a pigeon's gizzard.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)250/22 : He schal ofte be purgid wiþ pillis [L pillulis] cochie rasis; þat is þe beste þing laxatif þat mai be for iȝen.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)111a/b : Obtalmia..when þat it cummeþ of fleume..þe cure þerof is euacuacioun wiþ pillem cochie.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)142b/b : Purge þe pacient wiþ pillem fetide.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)198/2 : For a stynkyng brethe. Take pylles off þe powder off cassea lignea, off storax, and calamynt and chew yt.
b
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)254/820 : Take..the kernellis of chery stones..and þe pile þat is in þe stomake of douse [read: doufe] byrdis and make poudre þer of & vse it.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pill.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. fetid pill.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc. (sense (a)), see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pill cochie.