Middle English Dictionary Entry
shelchene n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shelchene n. Also shelchine, shulchene, -one, (SW) ssilchene, ssulchene. |
| Etymology | OE: cp. WS scilcen, scylcen, A *scelcen. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A maidservant; a handmaid of God.
Associated quotations
- a1250 Ancr.(Nero A.14)6/4 : Alnis bute ase a schelchine [Corp-C: þuften; L ancilla] to seruien þe leafdi to riwlen ðe heorte.
- a1300 I-hereþ nv one (Jes-O 29)279 : Þer com o schelchene gon þat wes myd kayphas.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)194/34 : Þe Duyk let a-non þis mayde fette, and Axede ȝwat heo were; 'godes schulchone [Corp-C: ssilchene],' heo seide.
- c1300 SLeg.(LdMisc 108)194/36-38 : Þe Duyk seide, 'hov miȝt þov gentil womman and eke a schulchone beo?' 'Ȝus,' seide þat maide þo, 'hit is more fraunchise to beon gode schulchene [Corp-C: ssulchene] oþer is þral, þane king oþur Iustise.'