Middle English Dictionary Entry
shalk(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shalk(e n. Also (c1600) shawe & (early) scalc; pl. shalk(k)es, (N) salkes & (early SWM) scælkes, scalkas, scalk(k)es, scalken & (gen.) shalkene & (error) schalys. |
| Etymology | OE scealc |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) An adult male, a man; also, a person, human being; (b) a fighting man, warrior, knight; also, a king; (c) a servant, an attendant; (d) a giant, monster; (e) a ghost; (f) as surname.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)762 : Now, aþel lorde..onez a speche, And I schal schape no more þo schalkkez to helpe.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)1029 : If any schalke to be schent wer schowved þerinne..He most ay lyve in þat loȝe in losyng evermore.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)320/2 : Lordynges..Ȝe schappely schalkes and schene for to schawe, I charge ȝou..þat ȝe chatt for no chaunce.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)432 : Whi scholde any schalk þat God schop on erþe Have maistrie of men more þan anoþir?
- a1500 Wars Alex.(Dub 213)3267* : Had he shapyn Ay to shalkez shendship & illys..We had ben drawyn all bedene into dispare clene.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)72 : Cornelius..translated it into latyn..But he shope it so short þat no shalke might Haue knowlage by course how þe case felle.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)766 : Sithen showe hym hee shall, a shawe as it were [L conuertetur in humanam formam], Mich liche too mee by mark of my face.
b
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)940 : Heo scuten heora sconken, þa scalkas [Otho: kempes] weoren stronge.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2105 : Þe kingges..wenden bi þen scelden þat hit heore scalkes [Otho: men] weoren.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)2360 : Brenne..scheldede his scalken al-se heo to wiȝe solden.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)3979 : Alle þa nihte greiðeden his cnihtes heore scæftes & heore sceldes; þa scælkes weoren bischærred.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)9544 : Þer wes moni bald scalc [Otho: cniht] þe sceld weiden on sculdre.
- c1275(?a1200) Lay.Brut (Clg A.9)10235 : Up leoppen of scipe wode scalkkes beren to londe halmes & burnen.
- c1390(?c1350) Jos.Arim.(Vrn)510 : Schon schene vppon schaft schalkene blode.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)424 : Gauan gripped to his ax..Let hit doun..þe scharp of þe schalk schyndered þe bones.
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)2211 : He schotte thorowe þe schiltrouns with his scharpe wapen; Schalkez he schrede thurghe.
- c1450(c1350) Alex.& D.(Bod 264)20 : Þanne southte þei sone þe forsaide prynce, And to þe schamlese schalk schewden hur lettres.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1391 : Archars with arows of atter envemonde Schotis vp scharply at shalkis [Dub: salkez] on þe wallis.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)89 : In this shall faithfully be founden..What Shippes þere were shene, & shalkes with in.
- c1600(c1350) Alex.Maced.(Grv 60)484 : Hee sawe saile on þe sea seemelich knightes, Bothe schippes and schoutes with schawes of myght, Well i-armed..werre too holde.
c
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2061 : Þenn steppez he in-to stirop & strydez alofte; His schalk schewed hym his schelde, on schulder he hit laȝt.
d
- c1440(?a1400) Morte Arth.(1) (Thrn)1098 : Schouell-fotede was þat schalke and schaylande hym semyde.
e
- a1450 ?Audelay An a byrchyn bonke (Dc 302)219/42 : Þai fondon feldus ful fayre and fogus ful fow; Schokyn out of a schawe þre schalys [read: schalkys] at ens [read: ene].
f
- (1198) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.944 : Gereboldus le Scalc.
- (1209) Pipe R.Winch20/58 : Ada Scalc.