Middle English Dictionary Entry
rotelen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | rotelen v. Also rotel, rutlen, ruthlen; sg.3 roteleth, roteletz, ruteletz, rutels; p. rotled. |
| Etymology | MDu., MLG rotelen, MLG rutelen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ratelen v.
1.
(a) To make a rattling sound in breathing; make a death rattle; (b) of a banner: to flap; (c) ~ togeder, of weapons: to rattle against each other in battle.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400 Alle his frendes (Hrl 7322)12 : His teþ shulle Ratelen, & his þrote shal Rotelen.
- a1400 Recipe MS Hal.in Rel.Ant.1 (Hal 335)p.54 : Alde man ay slepand; his twa membres waxes calde agayne kynde..if he rutills: this er the takenynges of dethe.
- a1400 Whanne þe ffet (Hrl 7322)4 : Þe ffet coldetz..þe þrote Roteletz, And þe hew ffalewetz.
- a1400 Wonne þin eren (Hrl 7322)6 : Wonne..þin teth ratilet..and þi þrote ruteletz, Al to late..þen is te wayn atte yate.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)58/37 : When..the nose ende waxes scharpe..his eghne waxes holle, the chyn falles..his fete waxes calde..if he rotell, thiese are þe takynynges of dede.
- a1450 Fasc.Mor.(Rwl C.670)Tag 51[55] 8 : Þe þrote roteliþ, And þe sowle is wente owte.
b
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)924 : Mony abaner of gold and ynde Þat day rotled [Ld: rateled] wiþ þe wynde.
- a1425 KAlex.(LinI 150)1863 : Mony scheld þer was yfounde, And mony baner was rotelande.
c
- a1500 Conq.Irel.(Rwl B.490)17/12 : Fer with-in nyght come an hoste..on euery syde Smytynge vp the hoste..wyth wepyn ryngynge, Speris and sparris rutlynge [Dub: ruthlynge] to-giddyr.