Middle English Dictionary Entry
bāle n.(3)
Entry Info
| Forms | bāle n.(3) Also ball. |
| Etymology | OF bale & ML bala (from Gmc.). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A package or bale (of merchandise), perh. specif. of a certain weight or size; (b) without of: ii bale(s flax, two bales of flax; etc.
Associated quotations
a
- [ (1325) in Gras Eng.Cust.Syst.389 : Pro una bala de bugge. ]
- [ (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester7 : Cours Madyr le bale ij d. Alum le bale ij d. ]
- (1371) Doc.Cust.Sea in NRS 4991 : Quinque bale wayde, et sex bale de alum.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)4201 : Þay fulde sakkes, & trossede males, To Charyotes þay drowen þe grete bales.
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)157 : Þer watz busy ouer-borde bale to kest, Her bagges & her feþerbeddes.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)120a/b : Be it [a corpse] bounden ful strongly or fast wiþ stronge bendez as balez ar bounden.
- (c1430) Let.Christ Ch.in Camd.n.s.198 : For a bale other ij of almaundys and resonys.
- a1450(?c1430) Lydg.DM(1) (Hnt EL 26.A.13)339 : Be many an hille and..vale I haue trauailed with my marchaundise, Ouer the see do carye many a bale.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)181 : Eche maner merchaundyse in bale [F en bale] or in fardele.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)22 : Bale of spycery, or other lyke: Bulga.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)198/171 : Se here lumbardye; of spycery þer growyth many An C balys.
b
- (a1399) Oath Bk.Colchester8 : Itm. for j Bale Oatys ij d.
- (1425) Grocer Lond.in Bk.Lond.E.205/310 : For losse off ij ball peper off Steven Brown.
- (1438) Will Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.4330 : For vij bales flax.
- (1458) GRed Bk.Bristolpt.2 p.59 : For euery bale Madere and of alyme ther putte to sale.
- a1500(a1451) Commodities Eng.(LdMisc 593)553 : 13 Bale flexe..23 bale Woode, 24 Cotton.
- a1500 LRed Bk.Bristol1.154 : Item of every last of Bale whityng and of makerell salt c. ffisshe.