Middle English Dictionary Entry
shil(le adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | shil(le adj. Also (early SEM) sille. |
| Etymology | OE scill |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Loud, resounding; also, shrill, high-pitched; (b) clear, audible; also, melodious, sweet-sounding, pleasing to the ear.
Associated quotations
a
- c1275(?c1250) Owl & N.(Clg A.9)558 : Seie me nu, þu wrecche wiȝt, Is in þe eni oþer note, Bute þu hauest schille þrote?
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)6069 : A schille horn þai gun blawe; Togider þai gader her felawe.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)213 : Þemperour on his stif stede a sty forþ þanne takes, to herken after his houndes oþer horn schille.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)333b/b : Schille [L Perspicue] voices beþ lowde & draweþ alonge and filleþ soone al þe place as þe noyse of trumpes.
- c1405 Chaucer CT.NP.(Elsm)B.4585 : Shille [Heng: So hydous was the noyse..Iakke Straw and his meynee Ne made neuere showtes half so shrille].
- a1425 NHom.(3) Leg.Suppl.Hrl.(Hrl 4196)19/172 : Þe prince þan cried with voice ful schill.
- (a1438) MKempe A (Add 61823)107/13 : Þer was sche howselyd euery Sonday wyth..lowde cryingys and schille schrykyngys.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)446 : Schylle and scharpe [KC: schille, lowde]: Acutus, sonorus.
- a1450 For lac (Tan 346)29 : Floytes shille..so loude crye, Almoste atteynynge to the firmament.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)139/43 : But what arte þou with steuen so shylle, Þus in my slepe þat spekis me till?
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)112b : Schyll: Sonorus.
- a1500 Partenay (Trin-C R.3.17)2209 : A messyngere..with full shil vois cried right loude tho.
b
- a1300 Bestiary (Arun 292)449 : Mirie ge singeð ðis mere & haueð manie stefnes, manie & sille, oc it ben wel ille; sipmen here steringe forgeten for hire stefninge.
- c1330 Degare (Auch)840 : For murthe of notes so sschille, He fel adoun on slepe stille.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.161 : Amonge þe puple Troglodyte is a welle þat makeþ hem þat drynkeþ þerof to haue good voys, schille and clere [L canoras].
- a1425(a1400) PConsc.(Glb E.9 & Hrl 4196)9270 : For swa swete sal be þat noyse and shille, And swa delitabel and swa sutille, Þat alle þe melody of þis werld..War noght bot als sorowe and care Als to þe lest poynt of melody þare.
- c1440(c1350) Octav.(1) (Thrn)93/311 : Scho found a welle full faire and schille, And ane herbere þerby was wroghte.
- a1500 ME Verse in Anglia 92p.63 : Holy water wel y-mad, Schyl song to mak men glad, Crossis ypentyd openly, and torches brennyng louely.