Middle English Dictionary Entry
sil(le n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sil(le n. Also sel(l)e, celle, sulle & (error in cpd.) silt-; pl. sil(es, sules, (early) sullen & (error) oules. |
| Etymology | OE syll(e |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. soil n.(2).
1.
(a) A beam, large board; ~ tre, a beam; also, a beam on which the posts of a bridge rest; [some quots. may belong to sile n.(3)]; (b) a foundation, base; (c) the board foundation of a house [cp. ground-sille, s.v. ground n. 15.(b)]; ~ nail, ?nails used for nailing such boards; (d) the paved floor of a house or hall; on (upon) ~, in hall; ~ upon the flor, floor upon the foundation; (e) the base of a window, a window sill; (f) sid ~, the side board of a cart; (g) ?in surname.
Associated quotations
a
- (1350) Doc.Hatfield in Sur.Soc.32218 : In sarracione eorundem arborum in syles et aliis, 2 s. 3 d.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)449 : Traches et trenchons: Sulle-trees and splentes.
- (1485-6) in Salzman Building in Engl.546 : Euery sele tre under the water wherupon euery post shall stonde to be of square di. a yerd or more.
b
- c1225(OE) Wor.Aelfric Gloss.(Wor F.174)552/12 : Bassis: sulle.
- a1275 *Body & S.(4) (Trin-C B.14.39)78 : Þe þrittde day a flod sal flouen..Boþe of dales and of dunes þe sullen awaþ [read: away] suilen.
- c1350 MPPsalter (Add 17376)p.181 : For þe sules [vr. oules; L cardines] of erþe ben our Lordes, & he sett þe world vp hem.
c
- (1426-7) Rec.St.Mary at Hill67 : Also for a c silt [read: sill] nayl, pris xiiij d.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)456 : Sylle, of an howse: Silla, soliva.
d
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3822 : With his ax he smoot the corde atwo, And doun gooth al; he fond neither to selle Ne breed ne ale til he cam to the celle [vr. selle] Vpon the floor.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)55 : Al watz þis fayre folk in her first age, on sille.
- c1440(?a1400) St.John (Thrn)201 : Þe precyouse stones semly to see appon syll.
- a1450 Dux Moraud (BodPoet f.2)18 : Semly þer I syt vpon sille, My wyf and my mene be my syde.
- c1450(?a1400) Roland & O.(Add 31042)9 : Of doghety men I schall ȝow telle, Þat were full fayre of flesche & fell, And Semely appon Sille.
e
- (1428) in Heath Grocers6 : Payde for the new vynes that is sette byfore the parlore wyndours..Unwroughte Stapylton stoone reidy hewe for the saame, for wyndowes, wyndow jambes and sills.
f
- (1395) Compotus Newton in E.Anglian 4 [OD col.] : [For the iron work bought for carts, namely] j sydsele, & j londplate & j rast.
g
- (1327-8) Freeman R.in KRec.18190 : Johannes, filius Willelmi Sillemyn.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1400 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Paris n.a. lat.699)150 : Sulles [glossing AF: traes].
Note: New spelling: plural. Change existing pl. form sules to sul(l)es.--per MLL
Note: Meaning= beam, joist.--per REL
Note: Belongs to sense (a).--per MLL
- a1500 Add.37075 Gloss (Add 37075)15/102b : Bassys of howsys or sellis.
Note: New spelling: (singular)--Also..sel.--per MLL
Note: Belongs to sense (b).--per MLL
Note: Postdates word