Middle English Dictionary Entry
rabel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | rabel n. Also rable, rabul. |
| Etymology | Back formation from rablen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A crowd of people, ?a noisy crowd; a large company of fighting men; also, a pack of hounds; (b) a medley or jumble of words.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1703 : A kenet kryes þerof..His felaȝes..Runnen forth in a rabel, in his ryȝt fare.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)1899 : Renaud com richchande þurȝ a roȝe greue, & alle þe rabel..ryȝt at his helez.
- 1386-1398 Rolle EDormio (Rwl A.389(1))53 : Þai may see þaire sorowynge þare wa es alle þe rabel.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)6315 : Thanne strok to Ector alle that rabel.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)1564 : Thamyrys, herynge of the grete route and rable, Thought it was best to werke wysely.
b
- c1400(1389) Wycl.25 Art.(Dc 273)466 : Nouþer God ne alle his seintus willen heren men for no rabul of wordis.