Middle English Dictionary Entry
shā̆kel n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shā̆kel n. Also shakelle, shakkel, shakle, chakel, (NEM) shekel & (in place names) shakul, sakel, sachal, shalke, shauil; pl. shakel(e)es, etc. & shacles, (early SW) sheakeles. |
| Etymology | OE sceacel, sceacul. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A fetter, bond, shackle; a hobble; also fig.; ?also, an earring; (b) a u-shaped coupling with a bolt passing through holes in the ends, used to connect a plow beam or wagon tongue to a draft chain; ~ pin, the bolt used to close such a coupling; (c) in surname and place names [see Smith PNElem.2.98].
Associated quotations
a
- c1230(?a1200) Ancr.(Corp-C 402)51/26 : Ah ancres bisperret her schulen beo þer ȝef ei mei lihtre ba & swiftre & i se wide schakeles [Nero: scheakeles], as me seið, pleien in heouene large lesewen.
- c1390 Vrn.Mir.Virg.(Vrn)145/13 : Synne i[s] cald þe deueles schakel, His net, his tool, his takyng takel.
- (1394) Wardrobe Acc.Rich.II in Archaeol.62512 : En iij paires tranelles oue schakeles et tourettz et loynes.
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)44b/b : Numella: a shakel.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)443 : Schakkyl, or schakle: Murella, numella [KC: murenula].
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)2654 : Þou schalt be schakyn in myn schakle.
- c1450 Trin-C.LEDict.(Trin-C O.5.4)617/3 : Tortillus: a shakyl.
- (c1454) Pecock Fol.(Roy 17.D.9)97/19 : It be so þat a staf and a schakil ben neiþir moral vertues neiþir moral vicis.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)1064 : A plant, whils it is grene, or it have dominacioun, A man may..make ther-of a shakill, a with, or a twist.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)111b : A Schakyll [Monson: Schakylle]: Numella.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)118/72 : Bot begyn she to crok..Wo is hym is of oure cok, ffor he is in the shekyls.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)6/15b : Vincella: shakyll.
b
- (1343) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.99205 : 2 schacles de ferro pro carucis.
- (?c1343) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100543 : 3 Schakles et 1 croper pro longa carecta, 26 s. 9 d.
- (1404) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.100397 : 1 schakyll pro cariacione.
- (1422-3) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103619 : 3 Shakelys de correo.
- (1446) Will Durham in Sur.Soc.295 : vij shakels ferri, unde ij sine shakelpynnez et v cum shakylpynnez ferri.
- (1465) Doc.Finchale in Sur.Soc.6p.ccxcix : Husbandria apud Fynkhall..ij cowters, ij chakyls, xiij vaynclouts, [etc.].
c
- (1101-08) EPNSoc.27 (Der.)99 : Sachalcros.
- (1219) EPNSoc.32 (West Riding Yks.)201 : Schakelhull.
- (1235) EPNSoc.27 (Der.)99 : Schakilcros.
- (1276) EPNSoc.32 (West Riding Yks.)201 : Shalketonestal.
- (1286) EPNSoc.32 (West Riding Yks.)201 : Sakeldene.
- (1294) EPNSoc.27 (Der.)99 : Schauilcros.
- (1298) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)199 : Chakelford.
- (1370) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)199 : Shakulford.
- (1400) Comp.R.in Frost Hullapp.11 : Roberto Shakles.