Middle English Dictionary Entry
batail(le n.
Entry Info
| Forms | batail(le n. Also batal, baitale, batel, patayle. |
| Etymology | OF |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Armed conflict, warfare, combat; fighting; (b) don (fongen, taken) ~, engage in combat; beden (proferen) ~, challenge to combat, offer battle; deliveren (given) ~, fight against (sb.), make war upon; holden ~, carry on warfare; abiden ~, submit to combat.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Cross (LdMisc 108)336 : In weorre and bataylle he was so muche þat þare-of nas no fin.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7395 : Hii bileuede þer aboute & conseilede of batayle.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)83 : Errour in batayle ne may naȝt by amended.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1853 : Euerich of yow shal brynge an hundred knyghtes..Al redy to darreyne hire by bataille.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.301 : Þe Amazones cleped hire ofte to batailleward [L ad bellum] wiþ trompes.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4335 : How that the lyf of Ector sholde be lorn, If thilke day he wente in to bataille.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)3463 : Herd wit-in hir wamb þai [the twins] faght..Bituix vn-born a batel blind.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6970 : Quen þat þai to batel [Göt: batayle] yede.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)1 Kings 16.18 : A man curaiows in batayl and wyse in wordis.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)125/36 : He hath..ouercomen the grete Cane of Cathay in bataylle.
- a1400 Siege Jerus.(1) (LdMisc 656)1095 : Beter wer..batail to deye þan þus in langur to lyue.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)1216 : Þen Pollux..Brusshit into batell & moche bale wroght.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1580 : Mortal bataile in hourys ii or iii Termyned is.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)27/1 : That swevyn..was a tokyn of grete batayle.
- c1475(?c1451) Worcester Bk.Noblesse (Roy 18.B.22)6 : Whethir that werres and batailes meintenyng..ben laufulle according to justice or no.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Inf.Chr.(LdMisc 108)1108 : Wolle ȝe..A ȝeines us bataile holde?
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)1095 : He had boden on him fiȝt, Batail of him to fong.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)1112 : Y schal for þe take bataile.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1131 : Burnes he sent..& egged him swiþe, bi a certayne day bataile to a-bide.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)189 : What boy bedyth batayl..hym were betyr to ben hangyn.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2064 : Bold batayl now wyl I byde.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)2435 : To se what ware to do, To take trewse or batell.
- (c1450) Capgr.St.Aug.(Add 36704)8/20 : Cartage, a grete cite whech helde batayle with Rome..many ȝeres.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)120/7 : That no man take no batayles in a wrongefull quarell.
- (a1475) Fortescue Gov.E.(LdMisc 593)129 : A subgett..hath gyven bataill to the same kyng.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)2231 : At the Cite he lay And had batell euery good ffryday Vppon the Sarȝins.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3278 : Aythur to sterte vppon A stede, styffely for to do batayle.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)133/27 : Þe horrybull best..proferet batayll to George.
- a1500(?c1450) Merlin (Cmb Ff.3.11)344 : Till thei fill vpon hem that the kynge Ban delyuered grete bataile.
- a1500 7 Sages(1) (Cmb Ff.2.38)134/2794 : The sarsyns..Durste not come owt to geue batayle.
2a.
(a) A hostile encounter between two armies, a battle; plain ~, open combat; ~ of the se, naval battle; (b) don (holden, nimen) ~, to engage in a combat; smiten ~, to pitch a battle, make an attack; yeven a ~, engage (an enemy); (c) bataille brugge, Battle Bridge; chaump ~, ~ place, battlefield; ~ wright, a warrior.
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 SLeg.Eust.(LdMisc 108)4 : Maister he was of al is ost at eche bataile to fiȝhte.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7590-3 : Þere as þe bataile was, an abbeye he let rere..Þat is icluped in engelond abbey of þe batayle.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.988 : He faught and slough hym manly as a knyght In pleyn bataille.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2512 : Trompes..That in the bataille blowen blody sounes.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.455 : And prayed God for þe savacioun of his men to fore þe bataille.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.61 : At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2537 : Long apparailynge biforn the bataille maketh short victorie.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.892 : Mars..doth mervailes Upon the fortune of batailes.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)1 Kings 14.22 : Alle the Iraelitis..felawshipten hem seluen with hem in the batayl [WB(2): batel; L proelio].
- (c1426) Audelay Poems (Dc 302)194/25 : At Agyncowrt at þat patayle, þe floure of Frawnce he fel þat day.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)113a : Þe bataile of þe see bytwene þe Emperour & antony.
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)985 : After the bataille of Crecy was idoo.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)1293 : Offten in playn batayle þey slowe knyȝtes.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)259/14 : Seynt Mychaell..bade hym..goo ynto þe bateyle boldely.
- a1500 Octav.(1) (Cmb Ff.2.38)140/1254 : Thy sleue y wylle bere on my spere In the batelle playne [Thrn: al playne].
b
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)46/32 : Huy come And i-metten heom with heore host and þe batayle nome.
- c1300 SLeg.Becket (LdMisc 108)2355 : His folk dude þe bataille.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)8236 : Þe erl of flaundres..Mid tuenti þousend of men aȝen hom wende vaste & smite an bataile wiþ hom.
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)10593 : & smite þer an bataile þat wel couþ is.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1144 : He wold be boun bleþeli þe bold batayle to hold.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)11.9 : Howgh Aȝens the Egipciens he scholde do ȝif with hem heeld he Ony bataille.
- 1485(a1470) Malory Wks.(Caxton:Vinaver)11/19 : Hys enemyes..dyd a grete bataylle upon his men.
- a1500(?a1390) Mirk Fest.(GoughETop 4)259/12 : When þe cytesons..shuld ȝeue hom a bateyll.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)9 : He came with a grete oste and yave the Sarseyns a batayle.
c
- c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11)7295 : Staunford brugge..nou me clupeþ it bataile brugge uor þe bataile þat was þo.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)7495 : Yon es a stalworth batail wright, And þou lered neuer for to fight.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)5544 : Al his folk..comen hem to chaumpe bataile.
- a1500(?a1400) Torrent (Chet 8009)997 : He wyscheyd hyme a batell plase, Ther as hym lyst welle.
2b.
A prolonged conflict, a war.
Associated quotations
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)34 : Þe wer lasted so long..þe batayl, it bigan..Bitvene þe douk morgan And rouland.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)117 : Þe batayle of troye.
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)277 : Ȝif þou wolt knowe þe Batayle of Aufrik or of Rome, Red a Bok þat hette Lucan.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)128a/a : Þe lond of biheste was grauntid to þe children of israel aftir þe batayle and fiȝtinge of fourty ȝere in desert.
- c1450(c1425) Brut-1419 (Cmb Kk.1.12)335/12 : The prysoner þat was take yn the botayle of Spayngne.
- a1475 Siege Troy(1) (Hrl 525)164/8 : The batayle of troy, that was so stought.
3.
A body of warriors, esp. as ready for battle; an army or a division of it; troop, company, battalion; also fig.
Associated quotations
- c1300(?c1225) Horn (Cmb Gg.4.27)855 : Þe ilke bataille Cutberd gan assaille.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)2080 : Vp ȝou is comen a strong batayle Of Sarrazins.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)249 : Sobrete heþ þe uerste batayle [Vices & V.(2): vanwarde] ine þe oste of uirtues.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)1152 : Þanne busked þei here batayles on þe best wise.
- c1380 Firumb.(1) (Ashm 33)5453 : He..departede his host on v batail.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)527 : His broþer and a batayle weore bosket bi-sydes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)334a/b : Þe trompe..is som tyme y blowe to arraye batayles and som tyme for batayles schulde smyte togidres.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)4307 : Darrie makeþ ten bataillynge, Jn eueryche bataile tuenty þousynde Wel diȝth kniȝttes.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.371 : Pallamydes cam..In-to þe felde with many stronge bataille.
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)1247 : Þe world may yhit..Be lykend..To a feld ful of batailles Of enemys.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)5849 : Fals-Semblant..With all the folk of her bataille, Shull at the hyndre gate assayle.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7346 : Foure batels they gan make..and forth they gon, The foure gates for to assaile.
- c1440 PLAlex.(Thrn)17/8 : Than thir twa batalles met Samen & faughte to-gedir.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)40a : Þe batailles encountreth or smyȝteþ to gedre.
- (a1464) Capgr.Chron.(Cmb Gg.4.12)217 : Kyng of Frauns had iiii batayles.
- a1500(?a1400) Morte Arth.(2) (Hrl 2252)3306 : Arthur..Arayed hym with batayles seuyn.
4.
Single combat, esp. as a customary or legal device for settling an issue; ~ of God, querele of ~; singular ~; acheven(haven)the ~, win in single combat; joinen the ~, of a defendant: consent to single combat; of an official: arrange a single combat.
Associated quotations
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)1197 : Ȝef men habbeþ bataile inume, Ich wat hwaþer schal beon ouer-kume.
- c1330(?c1300) Amis (Auch)863 : It schal be proued in batail..bitven hem to.
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1632 : Harneys hath he dight..to darreyne The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)7.105 : Þay [Edmond and Canute] dede a syngular bataille [L pugnam singularem].
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)7477 : Quere sal we find a man þat dar þe batail [Frf: batal]..Aȝayn ȝon warlou vndertake?
- a1425(?c1350) Ywain (Glb E.9)1003 : Wheþer es þe better of þa?..He þat has þe bataile.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)2111 : So that I myghte liven, and nat fayle To-morwe for t'acheve my batayle.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)37 : Be he in stede of the tenaunt to pletyn and defendyn his righte..and that no batayle hym oweth ioindre.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)2.4305 : Romeyns..Be synguler bataile hadde wonne the victoire.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.161r : Sheo was accused of spousebreche, So atte last sheo putte hure dome vpon the quarell of batell which a yong childelyche man that she hadde brought with hure oute of Engelond toke vpon him in hure side ayenst her accusour that was a man huge and strong as a gyaunt.
- 1448 *Glo.Chron.C (Arms 58:Kooper)f.161r : When they come to bataylle of God, the accusours hem iforkyt, the child hadde the mastrye.
- a1486 Ordin.Lists in RS 55.1 (Lnsd 285)305 : Whan they may not preve their cause by witnesse..the conestable hath power for to joyne that batell.
- a1500(c1465) SEChron.(Lamb 306)48 : A bataylle at Westmester be twene Sir John Aunsell knyght, appellaunt, and Thomas Katerton, defendaunt.
5.
(a) A spiritual or moral conflict or struggle; also, distress, tribulation; spiritual ~; (b) a struggle (against evil, lust, etc.); (c) an attack or affliction; moven (setten) ~.
Associated quotations
a
- a1325(c1280) SLeg.Pass.(Pep 2344)1102 : Bytwene his fflesch & his soule þe batayl was wel stronge.
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)91 : Charite wynþ ine eche þinge..hy heþ þe maystrie ine alle batayles.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Wisd.14.22 : In gret bataile [WB(2): batel; L bello] of vnkunnyng liuende.
- c1390 Ihesu þi swetnes (Vrn)82 : To heuene he [Ihesu] wente wiþ muche blis, whon he vencust his batayle.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)16a/b : To teche & informe men, what nedith in spiritual bataile to vse þe offys of prelacye.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)7133 : The universite..armes tok Ayens this fals horrible bok, Al redy bateil for to make.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)2.6 : Men moten..be strong in spiritual bateil.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)2.m.8.20 : And yif this love slakede the bridelis, alle thynges that now loven hem togidres wolden make batayle contynuely.
- ?c1430(c1400) Wycl.FCLife (Corp-C 296)192 : Angelis..ben in ful victorie of here enemys & we ben in perilous baitale.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)198 : Ihesu..was in contenuell batell, and hugge sorowe.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)5.127 : To overcome vices is a vertu of goode disposicion..in these batelles we be stronger then oure selfe.
b
- c1300 SLeg.Aug.Cant.(LdMisc 108)42 : For-to fiȝhte a-ȝein þe Deuel and to batayle gon, huy mauden þe signe of þe croiz.
- a1400(c1303) Mannyng HS (Hrl 1701)7537 : Seynt Poule techyþ vs for þat batayle A sykyr fyght..He seyþ, 'y forbede ȝow echoun with womman for to go alone.'
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)16.164 : On crosse vpon caluarye, cryst toke þe bataille Aȝeines deth and þe deuel.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)328 : The freelnes of the wil is to be..leid aside with greet bateil..and greet craft.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)90 : Whether thou woldest venquise the body or yelde thee to him, Bataile thou hast to him in alle times and he to thee.
c
- (1422) Reg.Spofford in Cant.Yk.S.2380 : A yens whome oure goostly enimy..moves batell goostly of fleshly lustes.
- a1450 St.Kath.(3) (Richardson 44)33 : Þe kynges messeger..tolde hir what batayl was sette aȝeynst hir on þe next morwe.
- c1450 Lychefelde Comp.G.(Lamb 853)376 : Whanne y..þinke y wolde..forsake all batailis & gilis, Þe world biddiþ me bataile blijf.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)369 : For there Sir Porus the prynce in-to the prese thrynges, And bare the batelle one bake and abaschede thaym swythe.
Note: Additional quote(s) sense 3.. The phrase beren on bak appears not to carry its usual sense (bak n. sense 5. 'to carry on one's back'), but rather to be a combination of the adverbial phrase on bak 'to the rear, backward' (bak n. sense 9.(a)) and beren v.(1) sense 4.(a), 'to push (sth.) back, thrust,' where, indeed this example is quoted.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.26vb (2.2) : Þer is fiȝt and bataile bitwene þe kynde and þe maladie.
Note: Additional quot., prob. sense 5.(b).