Middle English Dictionary Entry
shelf(e n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shelf(e n. Also (in names) shel(ve, chelf(e, chel(ve, scel(ve, scelef, self(a, selva, selve, shef, sheve, seve, sel(le, shal, shil(f, shilve, scilve, scille, sclif, silve, silvæ, sholf, solf(e, sol(ve, shulf, shulve, shul(le, sulf, sulphia; pl. shelf(e)s, shelves. |
| Etymology | OE scylf, scelf, scilf & scilfe, scylfe; cp. MLG schelf. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A shelf; (b) a cabinet, cupboard; (c) a grassy bank; (d) ~ reste, ?the moldboard of a plow; (e) in surnames; (f) in place names [see Smith PNElem.2.104-6].
Associated quotations
a
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3211 : His augrym stones layen faire apart On shelues [vr. schelfes] couched at his beddes heed.
- (1398) Will York in Sur.Soc.4245 : Lego..necessaria shopæ meæ pertinencia..cum les shelfs & ollis de geyn.
- (1422) Doc.in Sur.Soc.8516 : Thay awarde and deme..yat the lede pype and the shelfs be the wyfes of Symond of Stele.
- (1423) Doc.Brewer in Bk.Lond.E.160/607 : Item, cc & xvj Feet of okene bordes & ij bordes of Elme for Shelves yn þe forseid almarie.
- (1451) Will York in Sur.Soc.45118 : De candelstykes, haynes, shelfez cum lez salver.
- (1460-65) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31396 : Paied for a durre & a Schelffe.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)68/304b : Epilocarium: schelfe.
- a1525 I pray yow maydens (CmbAdd 7350)p.280 : Will ye haue of the podynges that lye on the shelf?
b
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)445 : Schelfe..armarium, repositorium.
c
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)661 : I schurtted me in a schelfe in þe schawes faire.
d
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)69 : By sythe lyþe þe Ryȝtthe, And more a boue lyþe þe shelfryȝtth [F leschecoun].
e
- (1201) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames317 : Matilda de Selleg; Richard de Selueleg.
- (1241) Close R.Hen.III290 : Willelmus Shelvemel.
- (1327) in Kristensson ME Top.Terms40 : Will. atte Shelue.
- (1385) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames317 : John Shelton.
- (1473-4) in Reaney Dict.Br.Surnames317 : John Shelley.
f
- (c1135-89) EPNSoc.13 (War.)283 : Octesselfa.
- (c1137) EPNSoc.31 (West Riding Yks.)83 : Taddenessclyf.
- (1165-75) EPNSoc.31 (West Riding Yks.)83 : Tanessolf.
- (1176) in Ekwall Dict.EPN383 : Schaldene.
- (1183) EPNSoc.13 (War.)283 : Octeselle.
- (1197) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)76 : Sellege.
- (1198) EPNSoc.31 (West Riding Yks.)248 : Shelfleie.
- (a1200) EPNSoc.13 (War.)283 : Octesselva.
- (a1200) EPNSoc.13 (War.)283 : Ostesilvae.
- (1203) in Ekwall Dict.EPN396 : Scelton.
- (1210-12) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)249 : Gumessolve.
- (1212-19) EPNSoc.35 (West Riding Yks.)192 : Bacsol.
- (1214) in Mawer PNNhb.& Dur.177 : Sciluedon.
- (1219) in Ekwall Dict.EPN396 : Sevelond.
- (1220-30) EPNSoc.31 (West Riding Yks.)249 : Schellai.
- (1221) EPNSoc.13 (War.)283 : Ohteshulue.
- (1230) EPNSoc.13 (War.)283 : Ocsulf.
- (1234) in Ekwall Dict.EPN396 : Shevelond.
- (1242) EPNSoc.9 (Dev.)433 : Silvestane.
- (1249) in Ekwall Dict.EPN396 : Schylve.
- (1254) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)76 : Selvele.
- (1255) EPNSoc.13 (War.)283 : Oxeschulf.
- (1256) EPNSoc.4 (Wor.)138 : Scelue.
- (1258) EPNSoc.31 (West Riding Yks.)83 : Tanesolfe.
- (1265) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)280 : Scillestane.
- (1269) in Mawer PNNhb.& Dur.177 : Silvedene.
- (1271) EPNSoc.55 (Stf.)116 : Schareshulle.
- (1276) EPNSoc.13 (War.)283 : Okschull.
- (1284) EPNSoc.8 (Dev.)280 : Schelston.
- (1285) EPNSoc.35 (West Riding Yks.)192 : Bacsolve.
- (1285) EPNSoc.55 (Stf.)116 : Sarushylf.
- (1290) EPNSoc.32 (West Riding Yks.)85 : Self.
- (1297) EPNSoc.31 (West Riding Yks.)249 : Scheflay.
- (a1300) EPNSoc.13 (War.)283 : Oftesulphia.
- (1316) EPNSoc.31 (West Riding Yks.)249 : Chelueley.
- (1323) in Wallenberg PNKent27 : Th. de Schelvelegh.
- (1328) EPNSoc.13 (War.)197 : Scelefhull.
- (1333) EPNSoc.30 (West Riding Yks.)329 : Hunself.
- (1370) EPNSoc.55 (Stf.)116 : Schareshill.
- (1412) EPNSoc.12 (Ess.)77 : Chellay.
- (1417) EPNSoc.11 (Sur.)249 : Gumshulf.
- (1434) EPNSoc.35 (West Riding Yks.)192 : Bagsholf.
- (1440) EPNSoc.30 (West Riding Yks.)329 : Howenchelfe.
- (1475) in Mawer PNNhb.& Dur.177 : Shyldeyn.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1194) in Pipe R.Soc.n.s.5154 : Walterus Waterchelf
Note: Antedates sense (e).