Middle English Dictionary Entry
scailen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | scailen v. Also scail, skail, skaillen. |
| Etymology | Prob. Celt.: cp. OIr., MIr. scaílid, Sc.Gael. sgaoil, Ir. scaoilim; cp. MnE dial. (chiefly in the five northernmost counties) scale, Scot. skail to disperse, depart. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. shailen v.
1.
(a) Of persons: to separate, part company; scatter, disperse; (b) ben scailed, to be scattered or dispersed; (c) of vapor or smoke; to dissipate, disperse; (d) of hair: ?to disperse; ?flow or hang loosely.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2456 : Þai wit þaim moght haf na rest; þai most þan scail [Göt: most nede part; Frf: ga ellis] and seke þair best.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)2524 : Þair folk scaild [Göt: þai scatrid] ai-quare a-boute; Abram..þat haiþen lede he smat a-mang.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19996 : Þe apostels..skaild [Göt: sundrid] wid quar, Ilkan into contre sere þe cristen folk þe lagh to lere.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19505 : Þai þat war scaild [Göt: skailed; Trin-C: scatered]..Fra stede to stede walcand þai yede.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)22304 : Cummen I am to gedir yow Þat has ben scaild ai to nu.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)383 : The Indyans..were skaterede and skayled and skyftede in sondere.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26995 : Quat es mans lijf bot fam, And a rek þat mai noght last, Bot skailles [Frf: scailis] wit a windes blast.
d
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18836 : His hare like to þe nute brun..Apon his sculdres ligand wele, Bi his eres skailand [Frf: shailande; Trin-C: slydynge] sumdele.
2.
(a) To dismiss (an assembly); (b) to loosen (sth.); pull down (sth.); knock down (a heap); -- used fig.
Associated quotations
a
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)13850 : Wit þis þai scaild [Göt: partid] þair semble.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26021 : Þis reuth es like a castand gin, Scailand [Frf: scailande] a hepe es samen o sin.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)26048 : Þan mai he schak þaa postes tuin, O lust o flexs, o pride o lijfe, Þis his [Frf: hous] skakand don dos he drijfe, And skail [Frf: scailis] sua þat es [Frf: hous] of hell.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)27899 : All þat euer festis wiit, Drunkennes þan skailes it.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500(1439) Lydg.Sts.AA (Lnsd 699)2137 : The erthe scaldid with fervence of the sonne, Heete on nyhtis was intollerable, Ther grew no frute, the schyes wer al donne, Greyn cam not vp, lond was nat arrable.
Note: New sense: intrans