Middle English Dictionary Entry
ragnel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | ragnel n. Also ragenel, rag(e)nelle, ragnail, ranel, reinel. |
| Etymology | ?OF Raguenel, the name of a Saracen king in romance. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A devil; (b) a woman's name.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Patience (Nero A.10)188 : Þer ragnel in his rakentes hym rere of his dremes.
- c1400 *Bk.Mother (Bod 416)128/24 : Þei schulden seie to hemself wiþ here ragged arai, 'Fy auaunt, ragenelis!'
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1565 : There is a raggeman rolle þat Ragenelle hymself Hath made of mayntennance and motyng of þe peuple.
- a1500(?a1425) Chester Pl.Antichr.(Pen 399)514/651 : Help, Sathanas and Lucyfer! Belsabub, bolde bacheler! Ragnayll, thowe art my dere.
- 1591(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hnt HM 2)87/213 : Both Ruffyn and Reynell [vr. Ranell] will worke right as I them tell.
b
- c1500(?c1450) Wedding Gawain (Rwl C.86)319 : I hyghte Dame Ragnelle..That neuere yett begylyd man.