Middle English Dictionary Entry
rumbelen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | rumbelen v. Also rumble(n, romblen, roumbelen, rummelen, rummelone, rummuelon, rom(e)len. |
| Etymology | MDu. rommelen, MLG rummeln & ON: cp. OSwed. rumbla, Norw. rumla, Dan. rumle. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) To make a rumbling sound; (b) to make a low noise; murmur, mumble, mutter; (c) of a crowd: to make noise or tumult; (d) to move with a rumbling sound; (e) to cause a rumbling sound by movement.
Associated quotations
a
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)1218 : Among al this to rumbelen [vrr. romblen, Romlyn, Roumbelyn] gan the hevene; The thunder rored with a grisely stevene; Doun cam the reyn.
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)439 : Rummuelon [Win: Rummelone; KC: Rummelyn], or prively mystron [Win: musteron]: Mussito [KC: Rumino].
c
- (c1375) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3725 : The peple cried and rombled [vr. rumbled, rumblede] vp and doun, That with hise erys herde he how they seyde 'Where is this false tiraunt, this Neroun?'
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)2754 : Þe peple gan to rumble & clappe & crye And the consules preyed of þe Citee The reuers.
d
- c1450(c1380) Chaucer HF (Benson-Robinson)1026 : Maistow not heren..The grete soun..that rumbleth up and doun In Fames Hous, full of tydynges, Bothe of feir speche and chidynges..hyt is not rouned; Herestow not the grete swogh?
e
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.1322 : In his sleue..he hadde a siluer teyne; He slyly took it out..And in the pannes botme he hath it laft And in the water rumbled [vr. romelith, roumbelynge] to and fro And wonder pryuely took vp also The coper teyne.