Middle English Dictionary Entry
bāl(e n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | bāl(e n.(2) Also baile, bale-fir, bole-fur, balowe-fir. |
| Etymology | ON; cp. OI bāl (corresp. to OE bǣl); prob. influ. by bāle (1), esp. balowe-. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A blazing fire, esp. one for burning victims or corpses; also, hell-fire; bale-fir.
Associated quotations
- a1325(c1300) Songs Langtoft (Cmb Gg.1.1)p.318 : Thar wer thai bal [?read: in bal] brend.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22644 : Þe wind þan sal..driue þam dun all vntil hell..In þair bale alle for to brin.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22648 : Þe income to be in yur bale.
- a1425(c1300) NHom.(1) Abbess (Cmb Gg.5.31)p.169 : The byschoppe..bad, scho sulde be brynde in bale.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1048 : His bakke..He bekez by þe bale-fyre.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)714 : Þe kyng..Bade a bole fur [vr. bale fur] betyn, to brennen þe corses.
- c1450(?a1400) Siege Milan (Add 31042)488 : Thay tuke þe grete lordes with Ire And brynte þam in þat bale fire.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)562 : As blesenand as bale fyre.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2231 : All þe burȝe at a braide was on a bale [vr. blasse] kyndild.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)2658 : Sum bedis in a bale-fire brin him to poudire.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)233 : My qwene..In þe ȝondere balowe fyre is buskedde to brenne.
- c1450(a1400) Chev.Assigne (Clg A.2)344 : The chylde..brente here in þe balowe fyer alle to browne askes.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)23/26 : Shall thay neuer wyn away hence vnto domysday, Bot burne in bayle for ay.
- c1600(?c1395) PPl.Creed (Trin-C R.3.15)667 : First to brenne þe bodye [of a heretic] in a bale of fijr, And syþen þe sely soule slen.