Middle English Dictionary Entry
shel(le n.
Entry Info
| Forms | shel(le n. Also shil(le, shul(le, chelle, (N) sselle & (early) scel(e, scille, sculle & ? shēl(e & (errors) shoelle, schulde, slelle, (late) scele; pl. shelles, etc. & shellus, sheles & (late error) scellys. |
| Etymology | OE scill, scell, scyll; for sense 5. cp. AF eschielle, eschelle, eschile, vars. of OF escüele; for sense 6. cp. MDu., MLG schelle, schille. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) In general, the protective calcareous or chitinous outer covering of an invertebrate, a shell; (b) the shell of a mollusk, crustacean, or an echinoderm; also fig.; also in proverb; (c) ~ fish [OE scil-fisc], any animal that lives in water and has a shell, a shellfish; ~ of galice, seinte james ~, a scallop shell worn to signify that one had made a pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella in Galicia; muscle ~ [see muscle n.(1) (a) & (b)]; oistre ~, an oyster shell [see also oistre n.(c)]; also, as an image of worthlessness [quot.: a1500, 1st]; (d) fig. ?a covering, circumstance.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.215 : Alle oþere [creatures] þat beeþ i-made haue schilles [L testas], ryndes, skynnes, [etc.].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)59a/a : No beest..wiþ schelles haþ bladdir, out take þe Cortuga.
b
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)543/24 : Concha: scel.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)7.725 : Every fissh which hath a schelle Mot in his governance duelle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)8.2120 : For what man that in special Hath noght himself, he hath noght elles, Nomor the perles than the schelles; Al is to him of o value.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)260a/b : Snayles..closeþ hemself wiþinne here schelles in stede of houses and of castelles.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)289a/b : Þer is a manere kynde of yrchouns wiþ a white schelle and white pykes.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)96/11 : Þer er..so grete snyles þat in þaire schelles three men or foure may be herberd.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)165/30 : In plastrynge þe wombe wiþ a plastre þat is made of..snayles wiþ here schelles broken.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)161 : Of oystrys and muskelys..it is ordeyned..that such maner of fyssh with shelle [ID(1): peyscoun de escale] be seld by the handys of tho same men that bryngyn hem to sellyn.
- a1450 Hrl.Cook.Bk.(1) (Hrl 279)23 : Putte on þin Oystrys; loke þat þey ben wyl y-wasshe for þe schullys.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)54/8,9 : Take þe snayl qwyche þat beryth þe schelle and breke þe smale ende of þe selwe schelle and fange iii o[r] iiii dropys þat wele come owt þer-of.
- a1475 Limn.Bks.(Brog 2.1)77 : To make tornesole..take gum water and put hit into a schelle of an oystere, [etc.].
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)112a : A Schell: Coclea, Concha.
- ?c1475 Direct.Sailing in Hak.Soc.79 (Lnsd 285)20 : There is grete grey sonde and smale blake stonys and grete whit shellis.
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)34/155a : Coclea..testa: the schel of a fysche or off a snayle.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.107 : It haþe þe name margarita for it is founde in shellis..of þe see.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)16/78 : A muskel, in a blewe shel, had enclosed a Margaryte-perle.
c
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.15 : Þere is also plente of schellefische [Higd.(2): schelle fisches; L cochleæ] þat me dyeþ wiþ reed fyn.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.181 : Oistres and schelle fische, þat beeþ..lowest in bestene kynde, passeþ but litel þe perfeccioun of lyf of treen and of herbes.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)161a/b : Shellefysshe [L pisces clausi in conchis] waxeþ whan þe mone waxeþ.
- c1400(a1376) PPl.A(1) (Trin-C R.3.14)6.9 : An hundrit of ampollis on his hat seten, Signes of synay & shilles [vr. chellis] of galis.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)5.pr.5.33 : Thilke wit cometh to beestis that ne mowen nat moeven hemself..as oistres and muscles and oothir swich schelle-fyssch of the see [L conchae maris].
- a1450 Treat.Horses (Sln 2584)125/523 : Þei takeþ iij parties of vnsleked lyme & ij of poudur of oistur-schellus.
- c1400 Interpol.Rolle Cant.(1) (Bod 288)69 : By þis greet fisch ben undirstonden alle oþere fischis, boþe schel fische and scalid fisch.
- (1455) Acc.Yatton in Som.RS 498 : To gaderyng of oyestere scellys [read: schellys], j d.
- (1459) Will York in Sur.Soc.30237 : To Sir John..j payre of bedes..and j crucifix and j Saynt James shell hangyng at the same bedes.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)8/15 : There byne also oftyne take..many-maner Shelle-fysche.
- a1500 Now god þat syttyst (Cmb Ff.1.6)p.239 : Falsehed and sche byn bothe of oon substaunce, Alle be they not worth an oyster-schelle.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.107 : It haþe þe name margarita for it is founde in shellis which ben cokelis or in mosclys & in schellfyssh of þe see.
d
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)3039 : Coueytyse, he was þi fo; He hathe þe schapyn a schameful schelle.
2.
An eggshell; also, fig. ?a hiding place [quot.: a1500(a1400)]; hen) egge ~; egge) ~ ful, a measure of volume.
Associated quotations
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)43/14 : Nim curfettan wyrtruman and cnuca hy and wring þærof anes æȝessculle fulle þæs woses..and ellan wyrte wurtrumem, nim þanne and cnuca hy and wring þærof ane sculle fulle.
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)201 : Au diner li donez des ouwes, Si les attires a les eus; Oustes l'eschale [glossed:] schelle [vr. chelle] einz q'il hume, L'entruit ausi e le aubume.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.397 : Whanne þe ey was i-smyte of his lappe to þe grounde, a dragoun leep out of the schelle.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)295b/b : Pigmei..maken hem houses to wonyen Inne of feþeres & pennes of cranes and of þe schelles of here eyren [L ouorum putaminibus].
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)572 : A fesaunt hem fleiȝ amyddes; An eye he leide..Þat eye braak, ich ȝou telle; A dragon crepe out of þe shelle.
- c1400 Femina (Trin-C B.14.40)25 : Cast a way þe shulle [F le chale] ere he neme hyt, þe Reme also & þe wyte.
- c1425 Arderne Fistula (Sln 6)2/24 : The quitour and filthe went out ich day als mych as an egg-shel miȝt take.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)458/15 : Take..of þe schelles of an estrisshe eye.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)9/36 : Temper it vpe with an egge schelle ful of white wyne.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)27/10 : Tak..a hard egge sothen with þe schelles.
- ?a1450 Macer (Stockh Med.10.91)72 : Ciatus is as mikel as an hen ey shelle [vrr. schull, schulde] may holde.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)3695 : Fewlis en-blanchid..ware proudly depaynt..As þai ware shapen o þe schell to schew to oure eȝen.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)44 : In the shelle [F l'escaille] of an ey she shulde wel putte an hool oxe.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)81a/a : Caste þeron..of eiþir half eye schelle ful.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)112b/b : Caste þeron þis poudre: Recipe quyk lyme, schellis of eyren, [etc.].
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)858 : These brethellys..Be they be crepte oute of the schell [rime: tell], Yet mvste they laydys love.
- a1500 Bring us (BodPoet e.1)p.286 : Bryng vs in no eggys, for ther ar many schelles, But bryng vs in good ale.
- a1475 *Sidrak & B.(Lnsd 793)5173 : By þe egge schelle vnderstonde I shal Þe firmament þat closiþ al.
3.
(a) The shell of a nut or of a fruit considered a nut, a nutshell; ~ fruit; note ~, a nutshell; also as an image of worthlessness or poverty; wal-note ~ [see wal-not(e n.]; wal-note ~ ful, a small measure of volume; (b) a bean pod or seed husk; ?~ strau, ?a shell-straw, mote; ?a piece of husk; pome-garnete ~, a pomegranate rind; ben in ~, fig. to dwell obscure.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)236a/b : Þer wiþinne is a schelle..þat wexeþ harder and harder, and þer wiþinne is þe note kernel.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)23828 : Þair spede ne es worth a note-schell.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.252 : On a walnot with-oute is a bitter barke, And after þat bitter barke (be þe shelle aweye), Is a kirnelle of conforte.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)175b/a : Þe place oweþ to be defended..wiþ a litel note shelle or a grete.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)186b/a : Rose..and þe schelle oþer þe hose of akkornes.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)196b/b : Nux indica, a grete note, and cuppes beþ made of þe schelle.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)443 : Schale notys and oþer schelle frute: Enuclio.
- c1450(c1440) Scrope Othea (StJ-C H.5)61/27 : In as mych as the note is better than the schelle [vr. slelle], it is seide to the good knyghte that he schulde not sette so his thoughte in felicite that the pursuyng of wurschip be lefte ther-fore.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)14683 : Luytel notes þey toke & holede þem, þe kerneles out schoke; Þey dide y þe schelles fyr & tunder, Brymston & flax.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)15/9 : Þe oolde feble man schal vse þis deuyn drynk at morn and at euen, ech tyme a walnote-schelle fulle.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.141 : This Cithero did write so subtily alle the batelle of Troy that hit semede as inclusede withynne the schelle of a nutte.
- c1475(c1450) Idley Instr.(Cmb Ee.4.37)2.B.2328 : Ye take fro the pouere that they shold by lieve, And make hym as baare as a note shelle.
- a1500 Mayer Nominale (Mayer)719/8 : Testa: a schelle, vel cortex nucis.
- ?a1500 Othea (Hrl 838)80/2 : Lyke as better is þe kernell þen shyll, Ryght soo excedyth honour all hauour.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)229a/b : Þe vertu þer of..is y-feyned..wiþ benes y-scheled and y-broke and þe scheles y-þrowe aweye.
- c1440 Thrn.Med.Bk.(Thrn)78/12 : Tak..& boile all samen & powm garnett schelles in poudir.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)170/5097 : Ye, baw, my sheele straw in yowre ey.
- a1500(?c1425) Spec.Sacer.(Add 36791)166/30 : This John..was in schelle and dwellyd in granys til the tyme that his wordes were fulfillid be commyng of Crist.
4.
An unspecified shell as an image of worthlessness.
Associated quotations
- a1400 Cursor (Frf 14)23828 : Þaire speche is noȝt worþ a shelle.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)10054 : He biddis here..That sche no more be so bolde To crye..Off thynges that is not worth a schelle.
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)14797 : Thei [Greeks] were noght to him worth a schelle.
- a1450 Gyle & gold (Sln 2593)p.256 : Ther is non man worght a schelle, But he cun plete with wryt or bylle, His neybowres for to spylle.
5.
(a) A vessel, dish, drinking vessel; also in proverb; maser ~, a maple drinking vessel; warri ~, ?a drinking vessel of knotty wood; (b) a shallow bowl or tub for use in applying medicine; (c) ~ ful, a small measure of volume [quots. perh. belong to other senses, e.g., 2. or 3.(a)].
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Lay.Brut (Otho C.13)2677 : Man nam an ho[nde] one scele of reade golde.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)5.449 : Þe same kyng heet arere postes, and honge þere schelles oþer coppes [L cyathos vel calices].
- a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10)42a/a : Missorium: a lytel shelle.
- (1446) Will York in Sur.Soc.45104 : De vij warry shelles, vij d.; De maser shell, ij s.
- (1456) Will York in Sur.Soc.30201 : Unam murram cum uno browne shell.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)33/40 : Syche savour as þe newe shelle takithe, when hit is eldder hit kepythe.
- a1500(c1410) Dives & P.(Htrn 270)1.128 : Quod noua testa capit, inueterata sapit: Sueche as þe sherd or þe shelle or þe vessel takyȝt qhanne it is newe, sueche it sauouryȝt qhanne it is eld.
- c1500 King & H.(Ashm 61:Hazlitt)336 : God forbot that we it spare To drynke..bryng me forth my schell, And every man schall have his dele.
b
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)95a/b : Anoþer maner, þat þe medicynes in water of her decoccioun be put yn glandaly or in a congh [Ch.(2): in a bolle; L in gandali vel concha], i. shel, & sitte he þere.
c
- c1450 Med.Bk.(2) (Add 33996)66 : Take grene plantes of asshe..& kepe þe water þat comes out at þe endes a shelfulle, and þe juce of cynchen þre schelfulle, [etc.].
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)51/15,52/2 : Take..a schelle-full of elys-gres..and a schelle-full of hony and medele hem to-gedere.
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)109/14-15 : Take..þe Ius of senigrene ii shoellefullis, and of hony a shelfull.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)13/18-19 : Take a schille ful of wos of betoyne and a schille ful of wyn and a sponne ful of hony, [etc.].
6.
(a) A scurf, scale; a coating, layer; also, a blemish; (b) a piece cut from a surface, a shaving or chip; (c) a piece of tree bark; (d) a board or plank; (e) ?the hollow shape of the so-called 'shell teeth' (outer incisors) of a young horse.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.MQuad.(Hrl 6258B)255/16 : Nim gate horn & leȝe to fyre þæt he byrne on fyre; do þanne of þa scille on niwe fæt.
- c1350 NPass.(Rwl C.655)128/192* : Qwat hit neyede þe day Of paske..men schulde telle A loumbe wiþ outen wem & sselle.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)86/7 : Þouȝ þat þou clense þe rotid boon wiþ schauynge or wiþ filynge with violence, neuere þe lattere kynde wole afterward don awey a schelle of þilke same boon.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)189/3 : Furfurea ben a maner of squamis, i. schellis, þat comeþ of brennyng þat is in þe skyn.
- c1475(1392) *MS Wel.564 (Wel 564)107b/b : If þou clense þe boon with schauynge or raspynge, neþeles kynde wole aftirward remeuen aweye a newe schelle.
b
- c1330(?a1300) Guy(2) (Auch)p.454 : A targe..About his swere he hint; Nas neuer wepen þat euer was make Þat o schel miȝt þerof take, Na more þan of þe flint.
c
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)224/711,226/711 : Take a scele [read: schele] of an oke & like þat it be welkyd & touge and wete it and do it in þe poudre..& do þe schele wiþ tre [?read: þe] powdre þerin.
d
- 1409(1338) Doc.in Nicolas Navy 2476 : xx sparres de keyne, xiiii plankes & shelles de keynes.
- (1438) *Acc.Exch.(PRO) 44/17 [OD col.] : Plankes et shelles de quercu.
e
- c1450 Diseases Horse (Yale 163)36 (fo.51a) : In þe inneris tethe next the eye tothe..take an old bladde & grave a-wey the shele [Cmb Ll.1.18: shelle] þer-wyth.
7.
A potsherd; a potsherd (?or shell) used as a scraper or surgical tool.
Associated quotations
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)21.15 : My uertu defailed as a shelle [WB(1): shord; WB(2): tiyl stoon; L testa].
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Job 2.8 : Sathan..smoot Joob with a ful wickid botche..which Joob schauyde the quytere with a schelle [WB(1): sherd].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)55a/b : Tyme of remouyng þe suture is when it haþ complete his ende; Maner of remouyng þat þer be put som test [Ch.(2): some schulle; L aliqua tasta], i. shel, vnder þe poynt And be þrede kutte aboue þe teste.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)72a/b : If the bone..be strong, it bihoueþ þat it be persed wiþ many holes wiþ crepanez, one nere anoþer, to þe quantite of a taste or shelle, After þat þu wilt put out of the bone.
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)14345 : With A pott scarth or with a schell he scraped þe scabys on ylka syde.
8.
?In surnames and place name.
Associated quotations
- (1227) Lib.R.Hen.III.1 (PRO C 62)41 : Reiner Shelebel.
- (1272) Inquis.PM Hen.III280 : Philip Schelaker.
- (1333) Sub.R.Stf.in WSAS 1089 : Alanus Shelester.
- (1400) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)7.44 : [The manor of Stanley with a plot of pasture called] Shelrawe.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- (1424-5) EEWills5631 : I wull he haue my grete maser þe which I calle zele, for þe terme of his life.
Note: Does this word actually belong to shel(le n.? Is initial letter a "z" or a "ȝ"? (The editor says the latter.)--per REL
Note: New spelling
Note: For sense 5.(a).--per MLL
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Jul.Artist.Recipes (Jul D.8) 145/2 : Tak brasile and shaf hit small in an oyster shull, and whan þu hast yshaue ynogh, tac fressh gleyr and cast þeron and lat hit stonde.
Note: Additional quot., sense 1.(c). New spelling (shull).
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. shell.