Middle English Dictionary Entry
pointel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pointel n. Also pointelle, pointil(e, pontel, pǒuntrelle. |
| Etymology | OF; for forms, cp. ME pointe n.(1); for pǒuntrelle, cp. also ME custrel , var. of custī̆le. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A writing implement; stylus; ?pen or pencil; (b) a punch; (c) surg. and med. a sharp pointed instrument used for administering medicines, scraping, probing, etc.; (d) a pointed implement for picking up food, ?a fork; (e) a measure of weight equal to three stone or forty-two pounds.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Jer.8.8 : Verrely lesing wroȝte þe liyng poyntel [vr. poyntil; L stilus] of þe scribis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Job 19.24 : Who ȝyueþ to me þat þei be grauen in a booc with an iren poyntel, or with a pece of lede, or with a chisel, þei ben grauen in flynt?
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Luke 1.63 : He, axinge a poyntel, wroot seyinge, 'John is his name.'
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.251 : Þe Grees write first yn wex wiþ poynteles of yren; the Romayns ordeyned þat no man schulde write wiþ poynteles of yren but wiþ poyntels of boon.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)6.331 : Iohn Scot..tauȝte children at Malmesbury, þe whiche children stiked hym to dethe wiþ here poyntelles [L stylis].
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.525/16 : Pro iij poyntell, j d.; pro..quaternis papiri..et pennis, [etc.]
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sum.(Manly-Rickert)D.1742 : His felawe hadde..A peyre of tables al of yuory, And a poyntel polysshed fetisly, And wroot the names alwey as he stood.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)11087 : Asked þan sir zachari Tables and a pontel [Ld: poyntele] tite.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1533 : Þer apered a paume, wyth poyntel in fyngres..and grymly he wrytes.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)57/2 : Certis, þe fals poyntel of þe scribis haþ wrouȝt open lesyng.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.5064 : Riȝt anon to scharp my poyntel, I wil me dresse.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)62a/b : Stilatus: wyþ poyntel wreten.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)73a/b : Galien..sawe þat childe pricked wiþ a poyntelle [Ch.(2): penne; L grafio], of which alsone þe aquous humidite was ȝetted out.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)406 : Poyntel: Stilus, graphium.
- (1446) Will York in Sur.Soc.45102 : De poyntels, iiij d.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)31a : Þere schal ben made a rolle..in whiche wiþ penne or wiþ poyntel schul ben entred þe names.
- c1460 MOTest.(Lngl 257)14579 : Wold god my wordes were wretyn..With a poyntyll of stele in a hard stoone of flynt.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)109 : The same man..be his malicious disciples was punchid to the deth with poyntelis.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)86/5 : In Tessalye was he throwen vndir and deed in a counceyle by writing poyntelles.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)682/32 : Stilus, graphus: a poyntyle.
b
- (1476) Plea & Mem.R.Lond.Gildh.112 : [2] pyles, [2] aundeviles..[with other small things as] nyppers, pountrelles.
c
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)39a/b : Þe filþe..is remoued in moistynge þe palpebrez with leuke water & wipyng þam with subtile cotoun inuolued vpon a poyntelle [L stilum].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)119a/a : Be þai anoynted wiþ palea or a poyntel in which be alitel of cotoun ydrenched in ewe dulci of alkemistrez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)129a/a : Þer be put in a poyntelle vnder þe palpebre, And be it raised vp & excoriate hooly with þe poyntel or with a penne.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)135b/b : Þe medicyner of þe ere haue apte instrumentz to his wirching, as ar stilez, i. poyntelez, curatoriez, & leuatoriez.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)185a/a : Make pouder..and putte it in þe yȝen wiþ a poyntel of siluer.
d
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)171/2 : Sho wold not tuche hur meate with hur handis hur selfe, bod after hur carvur had cutt itt in morcels, she wold take it vpp with poyntels & crukis of gold & putt itt in hur mowthe.
e
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester8 : Welde..iij ston facent un poyntel et si le poyntel, ob.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Sln.122 Artist.Recipes (Sln 122) 116/17 : Put alle these thynges in an erthyn potte, and stop hem faste þat non eyer come þerin, saf make an hole as moche as a puyntel may go inne.
Note: New spelling.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pointel.