Middle English Dictionary Entry
polet n.
Entry Info
| Forms | polet n. Also polette, pollet, pulete, pullet, pult(e. |
| Etymology | OF (cp. CF polet, pollett & polete, AF pullet) & ML pulletus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A young chicken; a pullet; (b) in surnames.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)7.264 : 'I haue no peny,' quaþ piers, 'pulettis [vr. pultys; B: poletes] to biggen, Noþer gees ne gris, but two grene chesis.'
- (1412-13) Rec.Norwich 260 : 4 pollettes, 6 d.
- (1423-4) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.179/1219 : Item, for xiiij polettes, iiij s. j d.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)416 : Pulte, yonge hen: Gallinella.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)38 : Take Polettys y-rostyd & hew hem.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)247/8 : Þe pullett was on þe platir.
- a1500(?a1425) Lambeth SSecr.(Lamb 501)74/39 : Wyntyr is cold & moist, in þe whylk it nedes man lyuyng..to torne aȝeyn to hote meites & to hote maters, as puletys & motoun & fruturs & rostyd mallerdes.
- a1500(a1450) Ashmole SSecr.(Ashm 396)57/16 : Ete that tyme..pulletis ensayned.
b
- (1297) Visit.St.Paul in Camd.n.s.5523 : Sauare le Pulete.
- (1317) Nickname in LuSE 55147 : Will. Pultbayn.
- (c1346) Nickname in LuSE 55147 : Rob. Pultbayn.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475 Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Sln 1721)f.21ra (1.4) : Pullettes [R: Pork and bef ar heuy metes; pullecces and wilde foule & fissches þat ar note wel grete and not ouer fate and ar squamouse, i. skalide, ar liȝt metes.}
Note: Need date. New spelling (pl.) = pullettes.