Middle English Dictionary Entry
Polaine n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | Polaine n.(1) Also poleine, poialme, pullane, pullein & pole, pul & (Latinate) polonia. |
| Etymology | OF & L. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Poland; (b) ~ wax, a type of wax imported from Poland.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)190b/a : Saxonia haþ boemia and Polonia [L poloniam] in þe Eeste syde, westualia in þe weste.
- a1400 Þis world ys delyd (Roy 13.D.1)p.273 : In Europe ben londes mo..Russie, Hungrie, and Sclavonie, Pullane.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)4/24 : A man come from the west syde of the world..may..go þorgh Almayne & þorgh the kyngdom of hungarye þat marcheth to the lond of Polayne [Man.(2): Poialme, F Polainie, vrr. Poialme, Poulaine, Polayne].
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)604 : Sir Lucius..lettres he sendys Onone into þe Oryente..The myghtyeste of Macedone, with men of þa marches, Pull and Pruyslande presses with oþer, The lege-men of Lettow.
- a1450 Mandev.(3) (BodeMus 116)5/4 : The reume of Hongery..lestyth to the lond of Poleyne [L terre Polonie].
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)124 : Wt Emperour come..twey lordys þt been counceillors wt þe kynge of polayne.
- a1500(a1470) Brut-1461(1) (Add 10099)521/4 : Þe King of Pole..laid siege to þe castel of Marienburgh.
b
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)124/24 : Sette ȝowre oyle ouer a softe fyir, and putte þer-inne ii pownd of fayre schepystalow..and þanne take poleyne-wax.
- (1464) *Maldon (Essex) Court Rolls Bundle 41, no.8 [OD col.] : c de pulleyn wax et quarter de lussheban wax.
- a1500 Weights in RHS ser.3.41 (Vsp E.9)18 : By this weyght ys sold copred and grey wax, Poleyn, and Rason and Spreuse wax.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.366 : Wood he had and other marchaundise..Wynes swete and mykell poleyn waxe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Rwl.C.506 Artist.Recipes (Rwl C.506) 180/16 : To make of .ij. li. wex .iij. li., take .ij. powndes of fayre med wex and breke it to small gobettes, [etc.]..and whan it is colde schafe þy wessel be þe fyre, and whelme þe wessel downwarde and þan þe wex wyl fall owt, and þis þei cleppyþe Pullayn wax.
- ?a1475 Cmb.Dd.5.76 Artist.Recipes (Cmb Dd.5.76) 222/34 : Whelme downe þi wessell and þi wax schall fall oute, and þat es callud Polayn wax.
Note: New spellings.
Note: Editor's note: "þis þei cleppyþe Pullayn wax. Thus we learn that 'Polish wax' was not necessarily actualy from Poland; cf MED s.v. wax n.(1), 4.(e)." Glossary: "Pullayn wax..Poleyn wax n. 'white wax (literally 'Polish wax')'."
Note: ?Perh. modify sense (b).