Middle English Dictionary Entry
scāle n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | scāle n.(1) Also s(c)kale, scalle, (NEM) skail. |
| Etymology | ML scāla shell, scales, dish; also cp. OF escale (var. of eschale) & ML scalia, scallia; some N quots. in senses 3. and 4. may belong to ME scōle n.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. shale n.(1) & scole n.(1).
1.
(a) A scale of a fish, serpent, fabulous creature, etc.; also fig.; pl. used as pun on the name of Thomas de Scales, killed in 1460 [quot.: c1460]; (b) pl. the elytra of an insect; (c) ?the hide or skin of an animal; (d) the outer covering of something, such as the shell of a nut, the peel or rind of a fruit, the husk or hull of grain, etc.; also fig.; (e) the surface of a stone or gem; (f) a fleck or scale of metal such as brass or iron; also, one of the small metal plates in chain armor; (g) ~ oistre, ?a scallop.
Associated quotations
a
- c1330(?c1300) Guy(1) (Auch)7161 : Þer is comen opon þi lond A best..Þe smallest scale þat on him is No wepen no may atame.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Lev.11.9 : Al þat haþ fynnes & scalys [L squamas] as wel in þe see as in floodes & stondynge wateres ȝe shol eten.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.3456 : Lich as thei weren fisshes skales Ther fellen from him now and eft, Til that ther was nothing beleft Of al his grete maladie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)159a/b : Fisshe þat is y-bredde in þe see haþ harde scales & þicke..ryuer fisshe hath sotil scales.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.2055 : Meremaydnes..fro þe brest, with skalis siluer shene, Ben of her shap fysches.
- a1425(c1384) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ezek.29.4 : Pharao, kyng of Egipt, greet dragoun that liggist in the mydil of thi flodis..Y shal glewe to gidre the fisshis of thi floodis to thi scalis.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)81a/b : Squamez beþ litele hard superfluitez in bodiez to þe maner of scalez of fishez, gendred about þe vlcere of introsite [read: nitrosite] of humours.
- c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson)189 : A gardyn saw I..With..colde welle-stremes..That swymmen ful of smale fishes lighte, With fynnes rede and skales sylver bryghte.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3895 : Now comes a company of Crabbe-fische..With backis..biggir & hardere Þan ony comon cogill-stane or cocatryse scales.
- c1460 Of alle mennys (Dub 432)120/138 : All þei had scaped vpon a nyght, Saue þeire skales were plucked away.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)108a : A Scale of a fysche: Scama, Squama, Squamula.
- a1500(?a1475) Guy(4) (Cmb Ff.2.38)6829 : Hys body ys longe..Skales he hath all abowte..He ys an vgle, fowle dragon.
- a1500 Let.Alex.(Wor F.172)200 : Sum [serpents] forsoth wern with Rede scalis, sum with nailes of white colour.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)703/41 : Partes animalium brutorum..a fynne..a fedyre..suama: a scalle..a gylle.
b
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)9b : Þe good bee is knowe by tokenes of kynde, by mouthe, by schynynge colour, by cleernes of his scales.
c
- c1500 King & H.(Ashm 61:Hazlitt)476 : Ther is no dere in this foreste, And it wolde oune hym feste, Bot it schuld spyll his skale.
d
- c1400 *PPl.C (Trin-C R.3.14)13.145/f.31a : On a walnote wiþoute is a bitter bark, And aftir þat bitter bark, be þe skale awey, Is a kirnele of counfort.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)6.682 : He fantasied bi a crafft vnkouth, Withynne a scale..Of a note to haue fyr in his mouth.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)3.747 : Evyn like as the golden Rynde..dothe his pypens in the skalis blynde [read: bynde]..Right so maye..This day hath borne the holsom holy frute.
- c1450(?a1422) Lydg.LOL (Dur-U Cosin V.2.16)3.756 : As the grayne of the Garnet slethe Þe stronge accesse..Right so this day, oute of the golden scale, The holsome pepyn and the grayne of lyve, Criste Ihesu, gan firste to apere.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)217 : Tak of fenel scales viij partes, & of netles parte 1 & drye hem ageyns þe sonne.
- a1500 Hal.Gloss.(Eg 829)7 : Squama: a scale or a pile.
- ?a1500(a1475) Wright's CW (Lamb 306)401 : Þe stuard..Was fayne to swyngelle þe scales owte.
e
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)1005 : Jasper hyȝt þe fyrst gemme..Þe emerade þe furþe so grene of scale.
f
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)173b/b : Som [medicines] doþ þis bi accidens as stiptike corrosiuez adust..in litel quantite as..bras & scalez of it adust & wasshen.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)180b/a : Vlcerez..ar mundified in wasshing with mel rose, puttyng in collir made of..soffroun of yren with squamez, i. scalez, of þe same with hony.
- c1450 *Bk.Marchalsi (Hrl 6398)24a : Steel..fallit not a-wey so comnynlich of scalis, as doth þe jren.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)613/15 : Squama: a scale or a mayle.
g
- 1419 Liber Albus Lond.in RS 12.1275 : Ensement, defendue est qe nully soit si hardy dentrer es niefs ne en bateux qe amesnent scaleoisters, moules, welkes, et hanocynes.
2.
(a) A thin crust or flake formed on the epidermis in skin diseases, on a tumor, around a wound, etc.; a scab over a sore; also, pl. dandruff [quot.: c1450]; (b) a lamina or splinter of a bone; (c) pl. the scales on the eyes of Paul before his conversion.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)99a/a : Humour so I-closid bytwene felle and fleissche, if hit is..flewmatik, ofte hit makeþ grete schabbes and white, wiþ scales.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)32b/b : Testudo..is founden somtyme with sanie and sqamez or scalez [Ch.(2): scurfes] or fistulez.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)113a/a : Þe vse of hem in þe first makeþ þe body to be inflate..after falleþ squamez or scalez [Ch.(2): flages or schales] & þe skyn.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)120b/a : Tinea, i. scalle..beþ litel vlcerez þat falleþ in þe heued in which is a vesic crustose which haþ many spicez..lupinose, like in figure & liquour to lupinis fro which floweþ as war cortices and squamez, i. scalez white & drie.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)40/20 : Þis oyntment shal drie, and shal make skales to rise fro þe sore.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)394/27 : Scabbe and..ycche..ben bilede infecciouns of þe skynne..with scales and wiþ crustes.
- ?a1450 Lanfranc (Add 12056)4/12 : Cap. iij of whelkys in þe vysage & scalys [L furfuribus] and crustlys.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)585/25 : Furfura: the scales of the hede or berde.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)103a/b : Þe squamis or þe scalis ben smallere but þer ben mo þerof; and þei ben keuerynge þe place aboute þe wounde and..lijk..þe flawis of bran.
b
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)184a/a : Þe sexte fourme is aproperde for to reisen vppe scales of bones.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)77a/a : Sum scale of þe boon is corrupt þat muste be arerid.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)77a/b : Þis emplastre drawiþ out scalis or smale pecis of boonys or þornes or ony lijk.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19691 : Skales [Göt: Schalis; Trin-C: Shales] fell fra his [St.Paul's] eien a-wai.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Deeds 9.18 : Anoon as the scalis felden fro hise iȝen, he resseyuede siȝt.
3.
(a) A drinking cup, goblet; also, a bowl [quot.: ?1474]; (b) ?a storage container for grain.
Associated quotations
a
- (1391) Acc.Exped.Der.in Camd.n.s.52100/21 : Vasa Argentea..soluti pro vj skales argenteis, ponderis viij li. xviij s. iiij d. st. et viij scot. pr.
- (?1474) Stonor1.147 : Item, yn þe Kechyn..j fflesshe axe..j skymmer of laton, a scale of tree, [etc.].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)108a : A Scale of Ale.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)108/249 : Ye hold long the skayll [rime: ayll]; Now lett me go to.
b
- (a1451) Doc.in Sur.Soc.4599 : Item, j scale pro grano ponendo, vj d.
4.
(a) One of the pans of a balance; ?also, a balance, scales [quots.: 1469, 1480];
(b) in cpds. and combs.: weght scales [see weght n.(1) 7.(a)]; weiinge scales [see weiing(e ger. 1.(a)]; wei ~, q.v.; etc.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 NHom.Narrat.(Vrn)313/87 : No good dede haþ þis mon don þat we in þis scale mai Aȝeyn þeos foule synnes lai.
- (1412) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.243 : [A board of] spruce [worth 4 s., a] beme [with a pair of] scalys [worth 4 d.].
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.London (Trin-C R.3.20)175 : Rightwysnesse Of alle vertues..is pryncesse, For by þe scales of hir balaunces Sheo sette hem alle in gouuernaunces.
- a1456(a1449) Lydg.Mum.London (Trin-C R.3.20)215 : Rightwysnesse..With hir balaunces of equytee, Haþe þe scaalis honged soo, Þat she haþe no thing to doo..with Fortunes doublenesse.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)349/27-8 : When it [stone] was put in þe balance to be weyed in þe to skale, it weyed more þat [read: þan] all þat evur þai cuthe put in þe toder skale.
- (1469) Indent.Edw.IV in Archaeol.15169 : The seid maister or his depute or deputees shall take and have by the handes of the seid wardeyn for the werkyng, coynyng, scales, and all other costes and expenses of the seid maister aboute the same clerely xiiii d. by nombre.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)108a : A Scale of A balan[c]e: lanx.
- (1480) Wardrobe Acc.Edw.IV in Nicolas PPExp.131 : Sperrers of lynnen cloth iijj Standing glas j; Standisshes with weightes and scales iij.
- a1500 Lamb.Mir.Virg.(Lamb 432)323/14 : The child was laid in one scale, and the wex in a nother.
b
- :
5.
One of the two sides or panels that form the handle of a sword.
Associated quotations
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)442 : Scale, of an heste [KC: hefte, capula manubrii].
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)28.219,221,235 : Thanne to the handyl Of this swerd, there nas non swich In Middillerd, For tweyne Skales [F costes] it hadde, with-Inne the hond, Of two diuers bestes..the ton sckale was In Maner of A Serpent..The tothir Skale is Of A fysch of the Se.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Pmb-O.21 Artist.Recipes (Pmb-O 21) 275/32 : Tak þynne plates of led..and hynge þem ouer þe vessel, and fylle þe vessel half ful of wyn lyes..and ley it vndyrneþe with hors muk al abowte, and let it stond..and þan tak hem away and schalyth þem and it wyl be lyk schalys of fyche &c.
Note: Glossary: "schalys n. 'scales (as of fish)'."
Note: New spelling.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. scale.