Middle English Dictionary Entry
pō̆rt-colī̆ce n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pō̆rt-colī̆ce n. Also portcolis(e, -coliȝs, -culis, portecolis, -colies, -coleis, -koleis & porcolis; pl. portecolises, -colesses & portcolice, -colis, -coles, portecoleis, -cules & porcolis, -cules. |
| Etymology | OF; cp. CF porte colëice, -colice, -coulïece; AF porte colyr, -culeicie. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A portcullis; (b) a representation of a portcullis used as a military badge; also, the leader using or authorizing such a badge; i.e., the Duke of Somerset [quot.: (c1450)]; (c) fig. a spiritual defense symbolizing Christ or St. Edmund.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)8310 : Alle þe gates þai schetten fast And lete falle port colice on hast.
- a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862)27/314 : He..dide make vj ȝates, ywys, With drauȝtbrygges & portcolys.
- a1400 Bevis (Eg 2862)67/197 : Þe cite was closed with a dyche..With brugges and portecules.
- a1400 Bevis (Eg 2862)210/129 : Þe portcoles weren draw.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.628 : At euery tourn wer grete gunnys sette..A portecolys stronge at euery gate.
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)674 : At aiþer entre was, iwys, Straytly wroght a portculis, Shod wele with yren and stele.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)410 : Poort Colyce: Antephalarica, secerniculum.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)97a : Make at eueriche ȝate double defens wiþ double arches..and on þe vtter arche a strong portekoleys, hangynge with yren rynges.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1939 : Porcules [vr.portecoleys] and gates vp he wan.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)616 : Ledes lepen to a-non, louken þe ȝates..& portecolis with pile picchen to grounde.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)611/3 : Seforniculum: a portcolyȝs.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2719 : Þen shalt þow see in hast A port-Colyse the to-fore.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)620/10 : The Syssoynes folowed on faste, that ten of them were getyn within the yatys, and four slayne wyth the portecolyes.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)254 : In-to the town were but two entrees, and at eche entre two porte colyses.
- a1500 Rich.(Dc 228)1939 : Porcolys..ȝate [Cai: Porcules and gates vp he wan].
- a1525(?1451) Cov.Leet Bk.258 : Ther shuld be made certen portecolesses, spayers, Cheynes.
b
- (c1450) The Rote is ded (CotR 2.23)6 : The Castell is wonne where care by-gown; The Portecolys is leyde a-down.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1297 : What so the duke commaundeth..In werk or wacch or feeld..it was fulfild anoon -- The signys mute, in aventure a sterre, A portcolys, a sonne, it wil not erre.
c
- a1450(c1433) Lydg.St.Edm.(Hrl 2278)439/1475 : O Gloryous martir..Be thow our swerd..Our portecolys [vr. poortcolys]..Gate off dyffence.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)141 : Iesu..is..Our tour, our castell geyn powers infernall, Our portecoleys, our bolewerke, and our wall.