Middle English Dictionary Entry
bālei(s n.(2)
Entry Info
| Forms | bālei(s n.(2) Also bales, balys. Pl. bāleis, bāleese, baelys, bāleises. |
| Etymology | OF balei(s |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A rod or switch for flogging; (b) fig. a source of tribulation, scourge.
Associated quotations
a
- a1259 MParis CM (Corp-C 16)5.324 : Ferens in manu virgam quam vulgariter baleis appellamus.
- c1350(a1333) Shoreham Poems (Add 17376)46/1284 : He makede a baleys, And bet out..Þo þat bouȝte and sealde ine godes hous.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)11.132 : Gramer..I gon furste to write, And Beot hem wiþ a Baleys But ȝif þei wolde lernen.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)95/5,6 : Þou beetist him wiþ a baleys [L virga]..he þat spariþ þis balys, hatiþ his childe.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)29b : Fustis: a staf or a baleyes.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)190/24 : Þei bowndyn hym..& beetyn hym on hys fayr white body wyth baleys, wyth whippis, & wyth scorgys.
- (1440) *Capgr.St.Norb.(Hnt HM 55)2954 : At þe grete ȝate stood porteris with baleys.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)105 : Yerdes and baleys [F verges et balays].
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)54 : To be betyn nakid withe baleese and sharpe roddis.
- c1475 Mankind (Folg V.a.354)800 : He skaryth ws with a balef [read: bales].
- a1500 This endrys nyȝt (BodPoet e.1)p.111 : Her shall I be Hang vpon the rode, With baleis to-bete.
- a1500 Tundale (Adv 19.3.1)470 : With brennyng baelys thei hem dong.
b
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)12.12 : Amende þe..with pouerte and with angres; And with þise bitter baleyses god beteth his dere childeren.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)434 : Now lestene welle how they made us a baleys, Whan they borowed at the toune of Caleys.